1/4/08

Satsuma and Apricots


12 x 16 inch, oil on canvas

21 comments:

indiaartist said...

This is simply beautiful. How long did it take you to finish this one? and what is your color pallet? Thanks.

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thank you, Indiaartist, for stopping by. I worked on this painting for quite some time, mainly because once I "finished" it, I found that the composition needed tweaking. The first version had the plate behind the pewter, but without the roses. I liked the geometry of it, but decided it was too stark. It took many painting sessions, sanding out the original and redoing the plate and flowers. When you change one thing, everything changes....I almost gave it up as a lost cause.
My palette for this was cad yellow pale, yellow ochre, cad red light, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, thalo green, titanium white and ivory black.

Don Gray said...

Joan, this is a marvelous painting and your description of process is a lesson in persistence. And, for all your work, the painting feels fresh and unlabored. Oh the effort that can go into making something look easy, huh?

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thanks, Don. As the locals say here, "Yeah, you right" about working hard to make something look easy. Nothing is easy.....Sometimes, it's hard to "see" a painting after so much effort. The memory of the struggle is so strong, and one never really knows whether the "final" state is any better than the first. I have to say I'm glad that I didn't give up on this one; I can finally enjoy it, without wanting to change a thing.
Countless times, my husband, visiting the studio, with "Satsuma" on the easel, asked incredulously, "You can't still be working on that, can you?" The sad truth was "Yes!"

m collier said...

Beautiful !!!!

Edward B. Gordon said...

wonderful work, bravo !

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thanks, M Collier, for stopping by.
Happy New Year!

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thanks, Edward! Really appreciate your kind comments. Thanks for coming by.

Don Gray said...

So true about being hard to "see" a painting after a lot of effort. A painting always becomes something independent of our "intent," doesn't it? Those works are especially hard to self-critique without bias. The real challenge is to keep from being so tied to the original idea that we can't allow the painting to develop its own life.

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Well said, Don.
If my paintings develop a life of their own, so be it....
It's when they ask for a frame, a 22 kt gold leaf frame, that we begin to have problems.

Jason Waskey said...

Wow!

Very nice indeed. And I agree, it does look fresh and spontaneous.

Happy New Year!

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Yeah, you right, Don. Thank God....

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thanks, Jason!
Happy New Year to you.
Thanks for coming by; love your work and appreciate your blog. Great posts. I've linked to your site.
Always a pleasure to 'meet' another artist.

Jennifer Bellinger said...

Hi Joan,
Your enthusiasm is contageous! Loved learning the progression of this painting...excellent outcome, especially strong design. Yes, each painting does take on a life of its own, some just take longer to mature than others.
Best wishes,
Jennifer Bellinger

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thanks, Jennifer, for stopping by and for your kind comments. Come to think of it, most of my paintings are late-bloomers, slow to mature!
Wow, what an eye-opener that is...why expect them to be different? There is a certain freedom in knowing that.
Happy New Year! Love your paintings with lemons. Lucious!

donnaprizzi said...

Beautiful painting and excellent composition!

Deborah Paris said...

I really like the almost austere feeling of this and the incredibly reserved palette. Well done!

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thank you, Donna, for stopping by!
You're comments are well appreciated....

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Thanks Deborah!
It's amazing to me to that this painting survived at all.... All the wonderful feedback gives me renewed energy to do more. Thanks again.

Takeyce said...

Hi Joan.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! It's such a treasure.

Joan DaGradi Studio said...

Takeyce, thank you so much!