Value study after Sargent

Drawing it out

Another lesson from Sargent

I've seen Sargent paintings before, but it's been a while. It seems when I see one up close it always shouts out to me what DOES work in a painting. Of course the obvious things like flawless drawing skills and bravura brushstrokes, but this time what I was being made obvious to me is EDGES.

This is what has been on my mind a lot regarding my own work. Maybe that is why it stood out to me... Or maybe it's just because his were so amazing!

Boston for the Anders Zorn show

I haven't been posting because I'm in Boston! The Anders Zorn exhibit at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum was really great. I wish I could post some pictures of the exhibit but they were super tough! No photograph, move away from the paintings and don't lean on the glass !!! Lol

The Boston museum of Art was amazing, too and they don't mind if you take photos, so l will post a John Singer Sargent here. I was especially impressed by these hydrangeas. Look at the simplicity in the first picture. See how it all comes together as you see the whole painting? Amazing !!

I have attempted the elusive hydrangeas and so I know how tough it is to see them simply. You want to over describe them because you get intoxicated by the intense color and little flowers that make up the big Pom poms.

Daffodills

Flowers are challenging. It's been a while since I've painted them and I can tell I'm going to have to work on seeing them more simply.

Silver and Strawberries

I'm taking another stab at this silver cup. It's loads of fun to paint and there is a lot to learn there. I'm still trying to keep edges in mind and gradation, too. I feel like my backgrounds could have more dimension.

I also have a ton of strawberries to eat for dinner tonight!

Lemon with silver cup

So I'm loving the intensity of the lemon, and I'm challenged by the silver.

Still, painting this was a lot of fun!