Three Lives

These Three Thistles
Painting size 15" x 11"
These Three Thistles started its life three times. I first started with some washes of colour leaving white spaces to capture the clumps of jonquils that have sprouted in my garden. Having a failed attempt at a jonquil painting last week I could see this new one heading the same way. Funny how some subjects just don't behave and will not appear on the paper as they do in my mind. I put the wash aside not wishing to work on it just to put it in the bin but yesterday I put it back on my work table for its second life to use it as practise for a new technique. Forgetting the jonquils and with no interest other than trying something new I went ahead and added more paint and then added a few bits of torn medical gauze - a technique I had seen demonstrated by Karlyn Holman. When dry and the stringy gauze removed my application had produced just a few subtle marks and once again I put the piece aside. My third attempt to create something came this morning when I intended on painting a larger piece of Thistles in their spent stage which I had photographed in a creek bed in their dozens when we were away a couple of weekends ago. I had my fresh new half sheet paper ready to go when I looked at my twice used smaller piece and thought perhaps I would use it to get the feel of the spent Thistles first. I am so pleased I did because its third life provided a great start with its textured background so I could just concentrate on adding the flower heads and stems and none of my previous work has been wasted as I have created a finished piece that has captured the subject to my liking.
Standing Room Only

This is a photo my husband Ian took this morning showing dozens of Cormorants on our Jetty. The weather is so windy, cold and very rainy. Hundreds of these birds are flying up and down the river and when the weather gets a bit much they plant themselves on solid ground. Unlike a lot of my art friends who are enjoying their warmer weather we are definitely in winter.




Comments

  1. You started your post with a tongue twister. This third thistle attempt has really worked. You have created a lot of atmosphere. Third time lucky!

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  2. Thanks Polly, hope you enjoyed the tongue twister, I couldn't resist using it

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  3. The thistles look great! I liked hearing about all the techniques you used on this. It had a mind of its own, and worked itself out.

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  4. A classic case of a painting that wants to live! You gave it the life it deserved, Lorraine. Persistence, work, and problem-solving to the rescue. Very lovely. And I love your husband's photographic eye.

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    1. Thanks Terry, getting problems to solve like this certainly improves ones skills, just hope the skills are remembered next time LOL

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  5. Your persistency paid off, the thistles are awesome, and I really like the background too !

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    1. Thanks Jane, this was as much about the bg as the dead blooms

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  6. Lorraine - wow you certainly recovered this painting. Looks beautiful . You inspire me to take out some of my failed ones and give them a chance to be saved. Have a wonderful day.

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    1. You are right Debbie - it is a worthwhile challenge to try and make something with all those we thought would not turn out well

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  7. I love this piece Lorraine, and what a great story it has! It's a lesson for sure, and your background preps really proved to be perfect for your terrific thistles. The heads turned out so well. Thanks for that cormorant photo too. You're right, we're hoping it won't be as hot this summer as last.

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