Redoing A Painting

At least once a year I vow to stop going back to old paintings, but it never lasts.  Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't, but I'm happy to say my latest redo took my painting from "meh" to a piece I am really happy with.  

This is how the painting started out.  It was ok, but not great.  The set did not flow in a way that looked good to me.  Everything on the canvas seems to be on it's own instead of working together.  If you go from left to right, the apple and pear are together, then the bowl of fruit, then the vase.  You may be wondering why I did not change this up as I was working on the painting, but sometimes you don't realize that things are not working until you have the finished piece.  It's frustrating for sure, but that's how it goes.  Not everything you do will be great.  

The Art Guild was having a show called Red! and of course I was making myself nuts by setting up a very complicated still life that is going to take months to complete.  Luckily, a friend suggested doing something a bit easier and I realized that I had this canvas sitting around the studio.  I was happy with the vase so I left that alone, but everything else was repainted.  

I started out by changing the background from green to red.  Then I repainted all of the fruit.  I put another coat of red over the apples and pears, and then changed the green apples to red and added some grapes in front of the vase.  I also repainted the metal dish.  It was a little too rough for my liking, so I cleaned it up a bit.  Last, I repainted the wood shelf to make it integrate into the new painting.  

Red Vase With Fruit, 16x12, oil

This is the new painting.  I like it so much better.  I feel like everything is now flowing across the canvas in the way that it should be.

The painting was accepted into the Red show, and in a huge surprise, won first place!  

Don't be afraid to change something up if it is not working or you are unhappy with the finished product.  I'm already on to another redo!

Georgia O'Keeffe: Visions Of Hawaii At The New York Botanical Garden

Happy New Year, all!  We're going to file this post under "better late than never".  Last summer, a friend and I road tripped up to the Bronx to see Georgia O'Keeffe's Visions Of Hawaii exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden.  Georgia was hired by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company to spend nine weeks in Hawaii creating paintings of the local flora and fauna to be used as ads by the company.  (Seriously, how can I get a gig like this??)  The results were amazing.  The paintings are so colorful and beautiful.  Looking at them is like being transported to Hawaii.

The grounds of NYBG are beautiful.  A true oasis in the middle of New York City.

After a beautiful walk through the grounds, we got to the exhibition.

And now, the paintings!

Bella Donna with Pink Torch Ginger Bud, 1939

Cup of Silver Ginger, 1939

White Lotus, 1939

Hibiscus with Plumeria, 1939

Untitled (Hibiscus), 1939

Pink Ornamental Banana, 1939

Heliconia, 1939

White Bird of Paradise, 1939

Heliconia, Crab's Claw Ginger, 1939

Pineapple Bud, 1939

Waterfall No.1, lao Valley, Maui, 1939

Waterfall No. 2, lao Valley, Maui, 1939

Waterfall No. 3, lao Valley, Maui, 1939

Waterfall, End of Road, lao Valley, Maui, 1939

I love so many of these, but my personal favorites are the Pink Ornamental Banana and the Waterfall, End of Road.  Some of these paintings were done back in New York City, but many of them were done while in Hawaii.  As someone who is an incredibly slow painter, I'm always amazed when an artist can accomplish so much in a limited period of time.


After the exhibition was over, there was a room set up with maps and other cool memorabilia relating to the trip and the paintings.

I always wonder about things like the telegram.  I wonder if Georgia could have ever imagined that it would one day be part of an art exhibition.

As you can see, this exhibit was huge and it's not done yet.  In addition to the art, the NYBG had a collection of plants and flowers that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe on her trip.  I'll have those for you in my next post.

I hope you enjoyed this look into one of the most interesting shows I've seen in quite some time.

Wallflowers At The Art Guild Of Port Washington

Just a quick note to let local readers know about a great show happening today at The Art Guild.  The reception for our big floral show, Wallflowers, is happening today from 3-5 pm.  I have two paintings in the show, and I'm thrilled to say that my Sunflowers won third prize!

Cherry Blossoms, 20x16, oil

Sunflowers, 20x16, oil

The Art Guild is located at 200 Port Washington Blvd, Manhasset ( LI ), New York.  Come join us if you are in the area.  New York City readers, the building is a ten minute cab ride from the Port Washington station.  Hope to see you there!

Mauritshuis Museum On Instagram Stories

The Mauritshuis houses an amazing collection of Dutch and Flemish art from the Golden Age.  I've not been lucky enough to visit the Netherlands yet, but you know it is on my list, and the Mauritshuis will be one of my first stops.  I am a huge fan of Dutch and Flemish art and have been very influenced by the Golden Age painters in my own work.

Until I can get there in person, I happily follow their Instagram account.  Recently, they had a great Insta Story showing the details of a beautiful painting, Forest Floor Still Life With Fruit And A Wicker Basket Of Flowers, by Abraham Mignon.

I have never saved photos from an Insta Story before, but I loved this painting so much that I took screen shots so I could study it further, and I thought you guys might like to see them as well.

This is really one of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen.  It has everything.  Flowers, fruit, insects.  All of the things that make the Dutch paintings so amazing.  I've been studying these shots since they were posted and will continue to do so.

One of the amazing things about Instagram is being able to see art from around the world.  If you love Dutch and Flemish art as much as I do, give the Mauritshuis a follow.

Mauritshuis
The Hague, Netherlands