Sunday, August 18, 2013

more greens




I thought that after two green paintings I'd move on, but
I feel this urgency, like I must discover every shade of green through my paints.



Corn field green. Dappled sunlight green. Haiku green.
The changing of green to another color--
dying grass, autumn leaves.




 Edges and spaces--
 the light between pine needles, a smudge of wild rose.



Next I will focus yellows and blues--maybe that will help me understand green.

butter, buttercream, buttercup yellow, sunflower yellow, delphinium blue...



My studio is in a warehouse with about 200 other studios. One of the artists (a cartoonist) stopped by, and seeing the paintings across the room asked if I was making color charts. I had to laugh. Maybe I am. Charting all the greens of nature. Trying to, anyway.



24 comments:

  1. Hello Jen, I think that this is a year for greens. Last year when I was home there was a big drought, and everything was dry and straw-colored. This year was much wetter, and I was greeted by a symphony of greens.
    --Road to Parnassus

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    1. "a symphony of greens" is a beautiful phrase!

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  2. I do like the contrast of your freeflowing greens with the regimentation of their spaces. It's like beauty in a prison yard.

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  3. I think you're bringing outside it, as you're wont to.

    xo Jane

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  4. My favourite colours Jen, they are so beautiful and restful.

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  5. Colour charts - in them selves they too are little works of art. I love your shades of green and can't wait for some photos that show them at home Jen. Amanda x

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    1. You're right--I've seen some wonderful old color charts. That would be a fun thing to collect. And I'm one of those people who can't leave a paint store without dozens of color chips.

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    2. "Colour charts - in them selves they too are little works of art"
      I quite agree. They may make a good patchwork.

      "Next I will focus yellows and blues--maybe that will help me understand green" I think it's a good approach. Sometimes you can find an unexpected discovery when you are not too much after.
      Enjoy painting, Jen!

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  6. These greens have a litle more blue, yes? So maybe that's the next natural progression...blues. There it's decided.

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    1. Yes, I think something like 2/3 blue, 1/3 yellow. We'll see...

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  7. If I said that they'd make interesting decorator pieces in a psychiatrist's waiting room, would you be offended? You know, of course, that greens and blues are thoughtful, meditative colors, or you wouldn't be "messing about in" them.

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  8. I'm really motived artistically by seeing these. I suddenly want to see how much red I can add to the greens before they're no longer green. Moss, olive, khaki, etc.

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  9. Jen... Moving from the brights of summer- greens, blues, yellows to the jewels of Autumn would be an interesting progression... Especially since you are so inspired by nature and your lovely Catskills. Can't wait to see more! Happy painting... Susan

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    1. I like the idea of progressing seasonally!

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  10. Yes, I can see a touch of yellow and blue on your green charts, though for me they look like some green objet.

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  11. these are great. go follow your obsessions! xxx

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  12. I love all the greens and the way you have accentuated them with the borders. I find this at once stimulating, and restful. x

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