Lara's Artwork: Paintings, Sculpture, FoodArt, Photography, etc.

Lara said:
I think I know what you're thinking Nona (it's been 2 weeks since you asked RR so I hope you don't mind if I step in with my thoughts). You're coming from a true artist perspective, but, as you know, we have to keep in mind that the name of Bob Ross's show was "The Joy of Painting". The key word is "Joy"…getting non-painters and newbies excited to give it a try. He wasn't appealing to the professional juried gallery artists who have matured over time into developing their own styles and use of original thought. Rather...

He was appealing to the beginner artist, or the person who doesn't think they can paint, the person who thinks painting is too hard, the person who doesn't have time to paint (Bob completed his paintings in 30 minutes using BIG paint brushes), the person who is afraid to try. He showed people how easy and fun it is and he indeed got a lot of people to start painting and have fun with it. He was also therapeutic. One guy said, "He's more effective than Zanex for relaxation" :)

The only problem is that most people didn't continue to develop into true artists but rather just continued to do BobRoss-looking paintings because he didn't give them the skills to do that. But he could only do so much in 30 minutes. It's TV.

RadishRose…I don't think Bob Ross was before your time. His show ran from 1983-1994. The last show was 20 years ago. He died of cancer at age 52.
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I enjoyed watching that show just to see how it was done. I didn't even bother to try it myself. My artistic talent isn't in painting or drawing.
 

Thank you Ameriscot.
Here is a painting I did in acrylic paint on a floor tile 12" X 12" because I wanted to use the texture as a challenge to add interest and dimension.
I also used black and white and gray oil pastels on the tree trunk and scraped it with a razor blade against the texture.

The vertical greenish lines you see in the sky and the dark green grass are not there in real life…that's just a reflection from the light from my
camera bouncing off the 3D texture. But the tree trunk looks exactly as pictured.

I'm uncomfortable with the broken limb…it just looks odd to me. Also, I should have had the
bird facing toward the trunk because if would have drawn the viewers eye into the painting more.
 

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Lara said:
I think I know what you're thinking Nona (it's been 2 weeks since you asked RR so I hope you don't mind if I step in with my thoughts). You're coming from a true artist perspective, but, as you know, we have to keep in mind that the name of Bob Ross's show was "The Joy of Painting". The key word is "Joy"…getting non-painters and newbies excited to give it a try. He wasn't appealing to the professional juried gallery artists who have matured over time into developing their own styles and use of original thought. Rather...

He was appealing to the beginner artist, or the person who doesn't think they can paint, the person who thinks painting is too hard, the person who doesn't have time to paint (Bob completed his paintings in 30 minutes using BIG paint brushes), the person who is afraid to try. He showed people how easy and fun it is and he indeed got a lot of people to start painting and have fun with it. He was also therapeutic. One guy said, "He's more effective than Zanex for relaxation" :)

The only problem is that most people didn't continue to develop into true artists but rather just continued to do BobRoss-looking paintings because he didn't give them the skills to do that. But he could only do so much in 30 minutes. It's TV.

RadishRose…I don't think Bob Ross was before your time. His show ran from 1983-1994. The last show was 20 years ago. He died of cancer at age 52.
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It is not his technique that irritates me as much as his manner, Lara. As if he were talking to kindergarteners. Both his and Donna Dewberry's methods are great for anyone comfortable with them. In fact, at a convention once I even ended up in one of Donna Dewberry's seminars. Very nice and interesting lady. But, would not like to use her one stroke method.
 
Lara said:
Belize Flower with Dew Drops and my daughter
(painting by Lara from a photo by daughter Julie)

Thank you kadee and Merlin for the encouragement.
My painting is acrylic paint 5" X 7". The center is actually a brighter red and orange and the leaves are a pretty green.
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Nice...reminds me Georgia O'Keefe's tropical enlarged flower forms and vibrant colors. Love her flowers.
 
Thank you Nona. I used various colors of the oil pastels above^ for highlights and shadows. The light brown may be the tile showing through as well because it was light brown. I played around with all the colors until I reached the desired affect…and even scraped with a razor edge to highlight the texture.

The picture below of the Row Houses, Cat and Blackbirds on the Wire, was originally done in acrylic paint which I sold on Ebay for a song and a dance. There were 30,000 contemporary paintings for sale in Ebay at the time. I missed it so I did this one in plain soft pastel from the memory of it. It comes fairly close I think but the painted one was best by far. I never do as well when trying to do a second painting of my original. It's never as good.
 

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I love the tree with the bird Lara, the tree itself looks alive with detail, and I like the bird looking away, seems very thoughtful. :)
 
Agree Lara, impossible to duplicate a previous work. That inner spirit, the creativity, that helped to create the initial piece is gone. Your row houses make me sad, despite the brilliant colors. Not the birds and cat...but, the houses themselves.
 
TY SeaBreeze. Nona, you're very tenderhearted. Actually, although my painting makes them look a little shabby, many renovated row houses these days are worth millions of dollars, the owners enjoy not having to deal with yard work, they enjoy city living, and feel safer tucked within the masses. But I know exactly how you feel about the row houses that are in old run down neighborhoods. Is that what you meant?
 
Hmmm, Lara...that question would take some digging. No, did not view them as shabby or run down neighborhoods per se. Your partially opaque windows make me think of the lives lived/hidden behind them. How many families that had never ventured further than a few blocks from those row houses. How many immigrant families.... How many children... ??? The stories behind those windows.
 
Your artwork is so Beautiful Lara, and Thank You So Much for sharing them with us. You are Blessed with exceptional talent, and I really enjoy seeing your paintings. It's very hard to pick a favorite because they are all so unique and pleasing to the eye. I like your style! :)
 
Oh, I see what you mean now Nona. The ultimate compliment for an artist is to know it made someone ponder. Thank you.
Thank you Misty. Your avatar makes me think of a white cat I painted.

Here it is. I painted this one on a floor tile too but didn't work with the texture like I did with the previous painting. I just painted the whole thing in acrylic paint. I purposefully matched the eye color with the butterfly. Too cutesy for real art according to gallery artists (educated guess) but wouldn't be bad for a hallmark card probably.
 

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She is wonderful, especially her expression and the fur, Lara. I agree, about responses. It is nice when you are told your work is beautiful, pretty ect....but when it evokes a emotional response...priceless.
My stuff is mostly whimsical...like to make others smile and laugh. And to laugh myself. Have not painted anything "serious" for quite a few years. I do not want to give this guy up. He makes me smile every time I look at him...I hope he makes whoever buys him smile also...

zendog2c022.jpg
Zen Dog....
 
Nona, I stared for a long time at this endearing little face and fascinating technique. Yes, whimsical and fun.
Don't sell him…ever…never let go of whatever makes you smile. Thank you for sharing him.
I've been wanting to see your art but had no idea you were as talented as this! Pen, ink, and colored pencil?
 
Nona, I love the imaginative designs within your image. I don't consider my Cat painting true art since it looks too much like a photograph. Same with my Dogwoods.

I've got others where I've gotten away from that photo look and gotten more creative like my painting I previously posted of the Deforestation Thoreau quote….oh and the glass ball (sphere) somewhat. But I really want to go further with loosening up. It's going to happen now that I'm retired. Feel free to post more! So fun to see.

Oh I just saw your post apple…thank you. It helps to get fresh outside opinions.
 
Love the White Cat and Blue Butterfly, Lara.......Very Special, and you can see the cats interest in the butterfly in the cats Beautiful Blue eyes. I envy your artistic talents. :)
 
Lara said:
Nona, I love the imaginative designs within your image. I don't consider my Cat painting true art since it looks too much like a photograph. Same with my Dogwoods.
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Ahhh Lara...if that is the style you are comfortable with, can relate to....explore it. Not true art? Think about Michelangelo and all the Realistic era Renaissance painters. In Europe Realism is even becoming popular again...think they call it Photo-Realism.
 
ndynt said:
...Not true art? Think about Michelangelo and all the Realistic era Renaissance painters. In Europe Realism is even becoming popular again...think they call it Photo-Realism.
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The renaissance paintings are realistic but nothing like a photo, as you know, for multiple reason i.e. showing expression through medium and technique..but renaissance is closed, done. No one will ever improve on it. Then there is fine art photography…open forever because, with all the new technology improving and simplifying daily for the average person, zoom, macro, special effects apps, etc…it opens up a new world to so many with fresh insights. But that's a different medium altogether.

I've seen the photo realism of today, and while it's impressive to have skills to reproduce a photo exactly as you see it, but by hand, what's the point? The photo already did what needs to be done and probably better. Expression is the key word when it comes to discerning what art is and isn't, in my opinion.

So that's what I'm saying about myself. I want to start being more expressive. I've done that with some of my paintings but I want to go further with it. I don't know if I have it in me but I'll soon find out…and I'll work on it til I do :)
 
Very nice, Lara! The white cat and the blue butterfly seem to be communicating! .....Misty's avatar, come to life for sure! There are photo purists, who claim not to alter the image, but according to this link, that is nonsense. http://www.canvas-of-light.com/2011/02/why-a-purist-in-photography-is-nonsense/

"Photography is about the vision of the person behind the viewfinder, combined with his aesthetic sense. Vision and aesthetics result in the interpretation of the scene through the photographer’s mind. Photographers have the power to create, to freeze time and deliver a message while excluding surrounding elements. Just as a painter puts on canvas his own vision, a photographer paints with the light and uses his own art to create art".
 

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