Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Brush Work

Here is a scene in acrylic of a country road, farm truck, and bridge out on the Sacramento Delta. Last night, I completed the road with some long, sweeping brush strokes. Now long sweeping brush strokes are not a bad thing except in my painting they came across as cheesy like a cheap street harlot. I painted over with short overlapping strokes pressing down hard on my flat brush. I also put down a darker value and just a few criss crossing short sweeping strokes. Also glazed back the background foliage on the right, put a little more color and razzamatazz paint strokes on the right side of the black top, and toned down the truck a bit more. Much better! IT'S THE NEXT DAY AND I HAVE ADDED MORE COLOR INTO THE ROAD...it's the top photo...I'm done...not to fuss any longer!

14 comments:

Barbara Muir said...

Hi David,

I love how you write. I've never thought of brush strokes as being like a "cheap street harlot." But ya learn something every day. I put you on my blog list, cause cheap harlots or not I also love the way you paint.

Take care,

Barbara

David Lobenberg said...

Thanks, Barbara, for adding me to your blog list!

Anonymous said...

Hi David. I'm noticing how you glazed the far right bunch of bushes with an opaque, sky color. I'm very interested lately in learning velatura. Been experimenting with opaque glazes in a current work. I need that sense of an object being wrapped in its atmosphere.

Nick said...

From this side of the road, it was V. 2 that had the most effective asphalt job, and I liked the bit of spatter. What the heck is that thing on the left, something they dragged out of LAX?? RE Silvina's remark, I have always tried to remind people that what's behind an object/subject is also in front of it. Does that make sense?

David Lobenberg said...

Silvina: So that's what I did...did some "velatura". Never heard that term before...cool!...thanks! Another good method of glazing is with a rag. Happy velaturaing to you, Silvina.

David Lobenberg said...

Why Nick , you watercoloring, guitar playing bad boy... that thing on the left is cantilever bridge. In fact, it was designed and built a few years before the Golden Gate Bridge, and by the same man! There are lots of these cantilevers on the Delta to let larger boats go by. No way it's going to get off the ground with that huge piece of cement as part of its working action.

Arti said...

Hi David
found you on Milind's blog and I am glad I did!The turban man that you painted was really a lovely painting! I am taking the liberty to follow your blog...I a sure I will enjoy it...
cheers,
Arti

David Lobenberg said...

Welcome Arti. I'm so glad you have found my humble blog. We artists always need a certain amount of humbleness otherwise how can we progress with our artistic efforts? Milind helps me stay humble with his wonderful acrylic and watercolor paintings. I'll be posting my Turban Man paintings soon.

Mike said...

Valtura sounds like a place in Southern California! ;-)

Way to go on these, Dave! Interesting comments, too , Nick! This really is a very good painting, Mr. Lobentura.

wayne said...

Love the complementary colours here -- really zings! Also tend to be attracted to structural forms such as in this piece. Brilliant! cheers
~ ω

David Lobenberg said...

I think that's Ventura, Mike. Lobentura...has a nice ring to it!

David Lobenberg said...

Thank you Wayne. Always appreciate your comments.

Joanne said...

Your work is great. I love the way you have put on the paint. Great brush work.
http://journeysinart.blogspot.com/

David Lobenberg said...

Thank you Joanne!