Over the last few months, I’ve been curious about the history – evolution – style – trend of artists to paint in increasingly less detail and use fewer strokes in their pastels or oils. I haven’t had a lot of time to research this or to experiment myself, but there was a good post today by Sara Winters – who does beautiful work – and she was referencing a written piece by Armand Cabrera on “The Superiority of Simplicity”. I read his piece several times, because for me, this is like trying to understand abstract art in a way, and appreciated a guideline about ‘putting in no more detail than can be seen from two feet away, because paintings aren’t meant to be seen closer than that’. I think that’s all my brain can absorb for today on painting in a more simple manner.
And now that I’ve actually looked at Armand Cabrera’s work on his website (in addition to reading the article), I’m completely depressed and inspired. It is breathtaking.
We had our neighborhood ladies afternoon drawing and painting club today, and I painted a pastel of these apples, working to keep my strokes to a minimum. It was very hard, because I was a drafter for twenty years. But here is my first attempt.
Apple and slices, (s)paringly
(and if you put the word “apple” in the search box to the right, all apple-related posts will show up.)
3 responses so far ↓
1 Jo C. // Jul 30, 2009 at 5:46 pm
This looks great. I will check out the links later.
2 Joanna // Jul 30, 2009 at 10:57 pm
‘Must agree with Mom! Well…I’m probably not gonna check out the links. But, the apple and slices look great.
3 Regina // Jul 31, 2009 at 6:26 am
Jo and Joanna – thank you both! The photo is not quite right (too white) – but it took a lot of self-control not to keep painting away on it. One positive in trying this simplification is that I use less of my pastels…
Leave a Comment