Monday, November 10, 2008

Still Life on French Easel


Here's an 18x24" acrylic still life I set up with my wife's birthday flowers. I had fun painting it. When I finished, I wondered if purple was the best choice in the background... maybe I just don't see much purple in paintings and so it seems unusual.

5 comments:

  1. Hi Elliot, I like the purple here, I think its great. I like this piece but have a thought though. the 'value' of the easel and brush (the diagonal shape) may be too light as I find the diagaonal is taking my eye off the bottom of the canvas. I think if you could darken them some it wouldn't attract so much attention and the eye could roam throughout the other beautiful colors. Brian

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  2. Hey, thanks Brian. It's actually an easel with a pallet sitting on top and then a "carrying" strap of the easel draped over the pallet... not sure how that reads. Anyway, so you're suggesting to tone down the value of the pallet and that strap? Or do you think the easel as well?

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  3. Hi Elliot, yeah, I would darken the strap and the easel both, the paint box is fine. Just a suggestion. If I cover those bright values with my hand, the purples, yellows and reds really start to sing, but when I lift my hand, the palette and strap demand all the attention. Brian

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  4. Yeah, I definitely see that. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

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  5. Hey, Elliot, I like the purple. Unusual is sometimes good in art.

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