Christopher Stuart
"Brass Fish and Succulents"
8x12, oil/linen panel
2009
Hey Brian- Here's the latest. It was challenging to look down at a subject. Not sure that I ever did that before. I was interested in the way light interacted with the different types of surfaces... the needles on the back cactus seemed to hold the light, while the brass fish bounced it. Give me your thoughts, bro.
-Chris
4 comments:
Wow man, you really got this one! Your color is getting much better already and really like how you are treating your shapes and the surface. The three cactus feel really good, the fish is feeling like brass. I also like the composition - still life for me has always been something that I've treated as encountering everyday living - so the compositions reflect that - especially the placement of the viewer. I feel like you have done that well - it isn't too forced or too self conscious - it feels more natural like "oh, I look to my left and see...cool." You know what I mean? Great job. Some things to think about: I feel like the treatment of the pots are realized to about the same level - perhaps merge some of those smaller distinctions together to allow the space to be more felt and natural. Keep playing with that beautiful and very poetic balance of obscurity to specificity. Keep up the great work bro!
Also, the passage of color under the window sill is not quite as beautiful as you could make it - especially after you had done all that work to set up such a beautiful and very felt color experience of the table in shadow and light.
Very nice drawing as well.
thanks for the comments. those are great suggestions. i am still struggling with obscurity. i think it might be that i am working so hard on getting my shapes/drawing accurate with minimal info. once i get it, i don't want to destroy it. in the past, i got some obscurity through my natural building process of loosely roughing in, and realizing more as needed. i haven't been doing that lately because i want more precision. maybe i should do that, but be precise with my refining? suggestions? the dark section of the fish could also relate more to the table shadow color. i think there's too much local color there.
there are lots more fun objects around my house that will challenge me. one is a chinese good luck beckoning cat that is gold vacuum plated plastic. i think i may paint that one next.
yeah man, just keep on painting and you will get it in no time - you seem to be on the right track.
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