October 5th, 2009
“Next Exit, Hill Street” Oil, 11″x14″
Maybe I rely to heavily on my own prejudices in deciding what is good art but it seems to me that when you can take my least favorite subject matter and transform it into a piece of art that I would enjoy looking at for the rest of my life, then you are an artist in every sense of the word. You have moved me beyond where I thought I could go. I am not a fan of urban landscapes but I am now a fan of the way Jennifer McCristian paints urban landscapes (as well as her other works).
What I like about “Next Exit Hill Street”
Soft edges - You can feel the haze in this painting. You can feel the depth in this painting. Much of this is due to the wonderful way Jennifer handles her edges and she does it without sacrificing her drawing in anyway. Just look at those light post!
Depth - The edges help to define depth in this painting but so does the the cooling of the values from front to back. With the exception of the sky there are only two major values after you pass the Highway signs….just a wonderful display of limited value and the use of color to define form.
Warm and Cool Colors - They are everywhere! This painting vibrates even with the limited capabilities of my computer monitor.
Look and Enjoy!
Posted in General, Jennifer McChristian, Oil Painter, landscape, urban | No Comments »
September 23rd, 2009
“Details of Venice” 12″x16″ Oil on Canvas
I hesitated to post Miro’s work because it is very different from my particular artistic bent. Then I realized I could not stop looking at his wonderful paintings. The more I looked at them the more apparent it became that his compelling style had captured my imagination. The colors are great, the compositions are compelling and ….. well you can see, via the links below, it’s very difficult to stop looking at his work.
What I like about “Details of Venice”
- Prejudice - I love Venice! It may be the most paint worthy place on earth and this little painting really sums up that feeling you have as your heading down the canals enjoying one little picturesque window after another.
- Style - I don’t talk about this much when speaking about paintings because I believe it is something an artist just simply has. It is a reflection of how the individual sees the world and the way he naturally applies paint. Miro’s means of applying the paint makes viewing one of his paintings a journey. First you see the whole of the subject and it’s impact on you and then you get to take a wonderful trip through all the patches of color and paint.
- The Basics - This painting is a great example of how you can put paint on a canvas in any manner you choose and as long as you have good drawing, good color, good values and good composition you will end up with an exceptional work of art. Miro’s means of applying paint moves his work well beyond just these basics to a very enjoyable experience for the viewer.
Look and Enjoy!
Posted in Miro Sinovcic, landscape, urban | No Comments »
