Painting Finished

After working frantically for the past 5 days, my painting is finished and ready for selection for the Botanica exhibition.

 

When is a painting finished?

When you look at it and nothing jumps out at you.

If there is something not right, which may just be an inconsistency of tone, and you think "it wont matter, no one will notice". That is extactly the first thing people do notice, as it would be bothering them as well.

 

When you have made some adjustments and know there is nothing else to do to make it any better.

I like to leave it for a day or so, and not be in such close contact with the painting. Then look at it with fresh eyes.

 

 

 

 



It is interesting just how much you can get done when you are not doing anything else!!! I worked on other projects early morning and until quite late at night, just to be able to paint in the day.

 

Now to put this project to bed, and perhaps even relax for a while.







Strelitzia reginae

The selection deadline looms for the Botanica exhibition at the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. In fact, it is on this Saturday.

 

Since returning from overseas, work has been hectic, but I had an urge to do another painting for the exhibtion. While in Mt. Tambourine, Qld last year I collected an incredible dying Strelitzia reginae specimen. The gnarly, dried flowers and sepals form a twisting web of movement. This is what attracted me.

 

I did the initial drawing and colour study on Sunday, then began painting on Monday. Work has progressed really well and I am excited about the progress. Not finished yet, but here are a few stages of the process.

 

The flowers and sepals
 

 

Seed pods and seeds

 

I hope to finish this painting today. More washes and focus on tone. But before I do that, must do assessments on my External Students assignments.........