Friday, January 11, 2008

Something Sweet



I've been painting every day lately, and it doesn't always go smoothly. In particular I am working on a series of paintings based on old family photos, like the one I posted recently of my grandparents in bib overalls. I have another one that didn't work as well for me, although I think it has real potential. The newest one is of my great grandmother, who died the year before I was born. Maybe the painting isn't going well because I never met her, or maybe because it's larger than I usually work. Or maybe I just need to get some guts and go back into it and make some major changes. For me, the scariest part isn't the beginning of a painting, it's when the darned thing is getting close to done and I get frightened of messing up what I already have finished. My problem painting may just need to sit for a while, until I decide what to do.

Yesterday I decided I wanted something completely different, so I did a watercolor of the EDM (Everyday Matters) challenge. The challenge was to draw or paint something wrapped in plastic. I drove out to The Cracker Barrel and looked over their selection of old-time candy. I ended up with a Bit-O-Honey to eat, and a couple of these wrapped peppermint puffs to paint. I photographed the candies, graphed out the photo, and drew them the best I could, considering the maze of wrinkles and reflections in the cellophane wrappers. I used frisket to save some bright whites, then I painted fairly fast, with a bigger brush than I usually employ. I splattered, and worked wet for much of the basic underpainting, and tried to not get too picky with the sharper details. It's a little too abstract and wild for my husband's taste, but it was just what I needed to release some of the frustration I built up over the grandmother portrait.

6 comments:

Anita Davies said...

This is a stunning watercolour, you have captured the wrapping perfectly!

jlshall said...

Hi, Sherry – I've been reading your blog for a while now, but haven't had the nerve to say anything. So when I found out a little belatedly that this was National Delurking Week, I decided to stop all this lurking around and let you know how much I've enjoyed your posts and your art work. Wish I had your talent!

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

Joy, thank you for stepping out of the shadows!

Sharon said...

This is just beautiful Sherry. Brillant crisp colors, but wonderfully loose execution. My favorite so far!

MILLY said...

Sherry this is fabulous. I love the way you have used the watercolour, the little splashes add to the picture, the bright red and white against the background , it works perfectly.
Your husband sounds like mine , I always ask his opinion..but don't take much notice when he gives it. This is a stunning picture, my favourite too.

Joan Y said...

This is an incredible painting! It stopped me in my tracks! Every bit of it is beautifully rendered. Wow!