Friday, May 15, 2009

Simplicity

Simplicity
5x7

This little painting has an extremely simple composition.  When I was done with it, I was surprised that I liked it.  I used only five colors even though it reads as basically two colors - red and purple.  

From this painting alone, I could learn so much.  Such as to keep it simple with all my painting.  For me it's harder to keep it simple than to tweak a painting into something else.  There's that fine line that all painters deal with at a certain point in their painting.  Sometimes I'll have something good going and I want to add another color, which will change everything.  Then maybe one of the kids will show up, the doorbell will ring, or the dog has to go out.  I'm stopped from going overboard.  And I'm grateful.  

16 comments:

Diane Hoeptner said...

Yep, been there done that. This is brilliant, love it!

Kathleen Krucoff said...

Hi Janelle. This is lovely. My husband always tells me to keep it simple. I so enjoy seeing how you are evolving your work. Great stuff!

neetzy said...

Oh I can so relate. This is a great painting! You have all the essentials down. I have been working on a painting that I can't simplify. I complicate it. I tickle it. I eventually kill it. Maybe I should try a 5x7. That seems too small. I bought a couple of 8x8 square canvases. That is about as small as I can go.

Judith Reidy said...

If there is anything I have been observing in great art of the past and today, is the judicious restraint of color and sensitivity to tone. this is particularly so in atmospheric paintings of which both of us have an acute interest.

Janelle Goodwin said...

Hi Diane, Thanks. Love your bigger flower paintings!

Hi Kathleen, Your husband is a wise man. Thanks!

Hi Neetzy, 5x7 is almost too small for me too. 9x12 is perfect for a smaller painting for me. Let me know how the square go. Thanks!

Hi Judith, Beautifully said! I like your recent poetry!

Dale Sherman Blodget said...

I join your other commenters in relating. Beautiful painting, Janelle. What is your critique blog? Is it quite full?

Fábio Cembranelli said...

Love your almost monochromatic painting. Nice group of warm colors, wonderful.

Joan Breckwoldt said...

Janelle, I love this. You are right about how powerful simplicity can be, but it has to be done right and you have definitely done this one right! It is a fine line between being TOO simple though. Some of my unsuccesful paintings are just too simple, now that I think about it. Can't wait to see the next one!
Joan

Joan Breckwoldt said...

I am intrigued by Goodwin Cottage but the link doesn't seem to be working . . .
Joan

Jala Pfaff said...

Wow, this is FANTASTIC!!!!! I absolutely love it. Don't touch it!!!

Janelle Goodwin said...

Hi Dale, Thanks for visiting my blog. I checked out your work and I think it's fantastic. Re: the Critique blog, I'll get back to you on that. It's quite new so I need to get more information.

Hi Fabio, Nice to hear from you, as always!

Hi Joan, Some of my paintings are too simple too - I guess it's a matter of putting in more details. I'm still studying this avenue. Thanks for mentioning Goodwin Cottage. It's just kind of fun to put up photos so people know me better.

Hi Jala, Thank you so much!

Deborah Paris said...

Well done, Janelle- its lovely!

Silver said...

simplicity is good.

there's a lot of soul in your painting, Jan. ;)

loving it,
~Silver

Janelle Goodwin said...

Thank you so much, Deborah. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with this process. In fact, when I tried to do an alla prima the other day, it didn't feel right!

Janelle Goodwin said...

Hi there Silver, Thank you, I appreciate that. Funny, the only people who call me Jan are people from my distant past. Interesting.

Laurel Daniel said...

I love the limited palette in this one. Gorgeous color scheme.