Changing the Light

Gregory Becker wrote

on 26 Jan 2010 9:27 AM

This is a painting that I did from my imagination. This was done with a limited palette typically known as a Zorn  palette. I used Titanium white, Yellow Ochre, Cad Red and Ivory Black. It is a 12x24 inch painting on canvas.

The first painting was my first attempt but the clouds looked very dull. So I mixed some warm colors and slowly began adding them to the clouds. I repainted the sky and finished the clouds afterward I realized the entire key had to be changed and so I repainted the whole painting, subordinating the whole painting to the key that I think worked much better. This small change in the clouds lead to overall changes that make the painting work.

The smallest change leads to the greatest potential.

Cheers

YSokolov wrote

on 26 Jan 2010 9:42 AM

Gregory,

I really like both of these paintings, and somehow the first one appeals to me a bit more. May be the dimness of the mood. Great job! Can't wait to see more of your work.

helen sullivan wrote

on 26 Jan 2010 12:36 PM

Gregory,

Thanks for sharing both paintings.  This is one of those "teachable moments" whichever painting one prefers.  The first one strikes me as a winter, right before the snow falls, painting.  The second seems a bit more like late fall, because of the warmer colors, I'm sure.

Gregory Becker wrote

on 26 Jan 2010 4:22 PM

Thank you for your comments.

Ysokolov...I like both versions also but I really wanted to turn on lights for a stonger impact.

Helen...Your right also. Yes that is exactly what I was thinking. One looked like winter because of it's coldness and the other like mid Autumn.

The thing I am currently exploring is how light looks in the morning as opposed to sunset. Sunrise colors are affected by different atmospheric conditions as opposed to sunset colors. So I am looking into the conditions that most affect those changes and can be discriminately applied according to principle.

I'll try to record it.

Thanks for the input guys. 

Margo5 wrote

on 26 Jan 2010 7:02 PM

Gregory, these are really nice. I love the way you captured the angle of the sunlight as it begins to peak over the ridge as opposed to the rays as it is sliding down below the horizon. You have been working really hard and your persistence is paying off.

Gregory Becker wrote

on 26 Jan 2010 7:22 PM

Thank you for looking Margo. The more I know about light the better my paintings. Working with color I have come to realize that color is light.

j.b2 wrote

on 27 Jan 2010 7:14 AM

The 1st one appeales to me as it's nice & cool, an evening coolness...

Gregory Becker wrote

on 27 Jan 2010 4:40 PM

I personally see the landscape in two ways. The first is how the landscape invites us into its' world and desires us to be a part of its' interiors. The other is how a landscape can open its' arms to embrace the viewer as if it wants to be a part of our interior. When both are happening between the viewer and the picture and that kind of connection is taking place, it strikes a good balance. That is why I like the second better. I think it represents a better 2 way invitation.

I hope that didn't sound too corny.

Thanks for taking a look J.B.