When Inspiration Strikes
cracked-pntg
Cracked 5"x5" Oil on Belgian linen (still wet)
Hi!
When inspiration strikes, you have to act on it.
The last time I painted a brown egg, I had to stain a white grocery
store one brown.
You see, I was determined to paint an egg for the Strada Challenge.
I'll tell you the reason some other time.
But I simply wasn't going to pay five bucks a dozen just so I could
paint one brown grocery store egg....which tastes just like the 99cent
a dozen white eggs.
I might have been willing to pay more if there had been a farm nearby.
Farm fresh eggs of any color are much more flavorful than eggs that
have been sitting in cold storage for who knows how long.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago.
A woman in my Community Group just had a baby, and the group pitched in
with meals for her family to give her a break.
Her husband gifted me a dozen eggs as a thank you for the casserole and
coleslaw I dropped off. I didn't even know they raised chickens until
then, so it was quite an unexpected treat.
When I opened the carton, I was further delighted to find several
different colors in there.
Childhood memories of feeding chickens and gathering eggs in just about
every color of the rainbow came flooding back and I knew I had to drop
what I was doing and paint them.
As I did so, it occurred to me that creative flow is as fragile as
these eggshells. I've learned that when inspiration hits, I don't have
to make it take its turn just because I'm working on something else.
...that is unless I am on a tight deadline.
So it appears that in among teacups, bread, and feathers, there will
also be eggs. I've got another egg painting started and planning at
least one more.
Below is one of the reference photos I took to help me work out a
pleasing composition.
browneggsinbowl-pref
Photo-reference
This is full of intriguing subtleties that I'm dying to capture.
The variations in color, the translucence of the bowl, another Amish
Butterprint by the way.
Even the chickenyard debirs on the eggs...
Not used to eggs quite THIS fresh?
Just remember, ALL eggs start out this way before they are washed and
sorted.
Oh, but I am captivated by the elusive play of sunlight, dipping and
rising over and across the humble scene.
This is at the very root of what inspires me; seeing the immense wonder
in ordinary things.
When that happens, I MUST paint it. There is no hesitation, no waiting
for the right moment. THIS...is that breathless right moment.
That inspiration will stay with me as the skill part of my brain kicks
in.
I plan to record the process so I can share it with you.
I'll still work from life, but I have the photo in case my still life
arrangement gets somehow rearranged. There's little chance that those
shadows will fall exactly the same way again.
This one definitely deserves to be painted larger than life. I'm
thinking a 20 incher at least. One thing is for sure...
I'm buying my next carton of eggs from the kind new papa who gave me
these.
Now into the studio, after coffee and birdsong, of course.
Be well and contented this week,
Jan
Daffodil 4"x4" Oil
Daffodil 4"x4" Oil
P.S. Spring Giveaway is next week, and I've got just the thing to
brighten up any cloudy day.
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