Desert Baroque

Baroque
16x20 oil on panel

After focusing on smaller paintings while tinkering with my technique I was eager to take things larger. I'm not sure I'm done with this painting, but I promised myself that I'd set it aside and not touch it for a bit. I like it and want to leave it in a bit rougher a state than I traditionally have. I enjoy the blocks of color, the distinct shapes that become form. I want to resist my urge to refine this to near photographic reality. I believe the feeling has been captured and I want to leave it there.

I started with a drawing of the opulent blossoms on a succulent at our doorstep. I kept all lines straight 

A poor photo taken at my easel, with my own shadow cast across the image. I started the painting with my focal point, the cascading section of the blossoms that caught the light.

My next step was to move to the opposite end of the value scale and establish some of my darkest darks.

Now I begin to work on the all the areas in between - the parts of the luscious blossoms that were in shadow.

More

And more 

When I completed the image I felt that the dark of my background was too deep, so you can see here that I altered that and then spent some time looking at the details of the plant forms and strengthening the shapes created by light and tone.

The finished image is at the top of the post.

I've been painting, just not posting!

I've been altering my style slightly, which has required retooling my process, habits and the way I look at my subject. It's required a lot of focus, a lot of small paintings and a sense of humor. 

I returned to my favorite subject - the endless beautiful forms found in plant life - while I push myself toward abstracting the shapes they present. Some times it works better than others, and I have to remain fully concentrated or else I find myself blending value shapes as I have in the past. 

I'm deeply engaged with this, and like where I'm headed. Hope you do too!