Painting a Series
Farmer's Palette, 6x6" Pastel on sanded paper
Have you ever gone to a museum or gallery opening and noticed how the works somehow relate to one another? This theme, or better understood as a "series" is a common way for an artist to communicate his or her idea. Painting a series of work doesn't mean you're running out of ideas to paint, but is a way to tell a story in a more intimate or deeper way. A series is like pushing an idea to further the experience till it's exhausted. Using the what, why, or where this subject was painted helps to appreciate the body of work. A series can be related in size, color, subject, or any other curious thought provoking idea, so that it can communicate in such a way that the body of work stands well together, or individually.
Some of you may recall I have been working on painting a series of landscape scenes of my family farm. I've come up with "Variations on a Scene"...how simple is that? Anyway, some of my previously posted studies have moved onto the larger sized formats.
Harvest Glow
Estuary at Dusk
Color Field
A series can sometimes take a lifetime for an artist to complete. What a feeling it must be to make that mark! Because of the nature of my life with family, it will probably take me some time to complete this series. Hopefully I won't tire of the idea before the flame goes out. Posted above is one of my 6x6" studies that may end up as a larger piece for the series. I do these "studies" first to see if it fits into the series.
Labels: farm, landscapes, Painting a series, painting a theme
posted by Brenda Boylan at
April 06, 2009
2 Comments:
I have been enjoying this series. The subject and color choices really appeal to me. I have been working on a series lately and really enjoy exploring one subject area in many different ways. It also helps me grow in my art.
Thanks Miki for your comments. I'd like to hear what you've learned from your own series too. I'm not sure if this one will make it to the larger body of work, but it is so much fun to take the idea or viewpoint and create it in different lighting, perspective, and mood. And of course, I will probably be interrupted a few times along the way with other work...that it sometimes becomes a laborious task. Hope that won't be the case for both you and me.
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