the rising of the moon

Much of the time, I use a camera to take pictures of what I intend to paint, then import those pictures into Photoshop, edit them around, patch in different parts from different photos, mess with the color and so on until I get exactly what I want. Then I usually overlay a grid, pencil in that same grid on my canvas and work from that.

This is not one of those paintings. This time, I wanted to see if I could still paint well without those crutches, so I set up this arrangement of a red viola, the smaller violin, and a grapefruit. My wife & I took a ride out to the local fabric store so I could pick out a yard or two of the right fabric. I wanted the kind that has a pattern that “reverses out” when light hits it. I like that effect.

Then I set it all up, pulled up a chair and went to work. I rested the grapefruit on a small vase, and then removed the vase after painting the grapefruit in order to paint the background behind it. Looking close, you can see my reflection on the front of the viola.

This is oil on canvas, about 18″ x 24″.  My idea was to try to depict a landscape with a rising moon behind it. The instruments were supposed to represent the ground, and the strings electrical wires.  The paisley pattern in the fabric was supposed to represent clouds in the sky.

That really doesn’t come through, but I like the painting anyway.

Previous articleThe Daily Planet, Vol. 27
Next articleA Letter From Sendai
I am a middle-aged artist and musician who was born and raised in the Southern United States. I have a Flickr page where some of my artwork can be seen : http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmccue/ I post various creative things on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BMcCue7 And you can hear some of my modest musical compositions here: http://home.mindspring.com/~safeathome/artandmusicofbuddymccue/id8.html

74
Leave a Comment

Please Login to comment
17 Comment threads
57 Thread replies
0 Followers
 
Most reacted comment
Hottest comment thread
16 Comment authors
KQµårk 死神SequimBob2whatsthatsoundADONAIPatsyT Recent comment authors
  Subscribe  
newest oldest most voted
Notify of
KQµårk 死神
Member

Fantastic work Buddy. Obviously your realist technique is extraordinary but I catch your spacial surreal spacial overtones as well. The way the orange is seemingly suspended and the use of lighting and shadow adds a delicately whimsical nature to the work that breaks up some of the staged seriousness many realist painters don’t use to add a deeper interpretation of reality.

Or my delving into the expanded meaning of this piece could be full of shit. But that’s my favorite part of viewing art every observer has a different POV as to it’s deeper meaning.

Truth
Member

Fantastic work Buddy. Obviously your realist technique is extraordinary but I catch your spacial surreal spacial overtones as well.

KQuark, you cloak in words what I feel, but couldn’t express reasonably.

SequimBob2
Member

Buddy: I’m still wrestling with the concept that your painting is not a photograph. The reflection of the violin is amazing. Wow! I’m blown away.

PocketWatch
Member

This is more my usual style, though… A view of Lake Truckee, near the Donner Pass in Truckee, CA.

[imgcomment image[/img]

jkkFL
Guest

Now that looks like a painting!
PW, you need to create a photography page- we have a blooming Arts section in process!
Buddy has his painting, 2ccp has his computer art, wts has his PoohParodies.. we’re on a roll!

Truth
Member

PW, did you see Bob’s Eagle post? That was exactly what I had on my mind with my suggestion to you how to post your nature pictures…

PocketWatch
Member

Here’s something completely different…

[imgcomment image[/img]

jkkFL
Guest

Is it some sort of oxidation??

PocketWatch
Member

jkk – actually, yes. It is a stack of large steel I-Beams that are rusted and have welding grit all over them. I was looking for just geometric shapes to use as backgrounds and this caught my eye. I liked the colors and the disorientation of not quite being able to see what this is.

jkkFL
Guest

Amazing! I got one right!

whatsthatsound
Member

What masterful technique you have, Buddy. I keep looking at it trying to find a brushstroke! I am astounded this is not a photograph. And all the more impressive that you are self taught. Amazing!

ADONAI
Member

Fantastic detail, Buddy. I really enjoy this one.

And I am in no way jealous or resentful of you artistic expertise….. 🙂

PocketWatch
Member

Per our earlier discussion, I quickly dug up a photo that I took out in the Rockies, near Lake Tahoe…

[imgcomment image[/img]

PocketWatch
Member

Perhaps a little larger would be better…

[imgcomment image[/img]

PocketWatch
Member

Oops! Don’t know what’s going … lemme check the size in the library…

*** EDIT ***
Don’t know why this is displaying so small… the library says it’s a full screen sized image. If you right-click on it and select View Image, it comes up full sized…

Truth
Member

That’s beautiful, PW. I’d so love to see more from the Rockies. Maybe AdLib needs to create another new section, something like: Images from America, or better still: Nature pictures. (there are better expressions, just an idea to define the subject)
They could also be in the Art section of course, but I would like to see several pictures, and yes, I would like them to have their own place. It is soooooo good to get a respite from politics etc once in a while.
There are such incredibly beautiful places on this earth, and I really like to look at them. Sadly I discovered the breathtaking beauty from Japan only now, when there is so much damage. But I’m in awe about the beauty I saw.

jkkFL
Guest

PW- that has a soft, dreamy quality..
I Like It!! 🙂

PocketWatch
Member

jkk – That’s what I was going for, so I guess it worked! Amazing what a few trees and soft light can do…

jkkFL
Guest

Oh my, Yes!
You have an artist’s eye, as well!
Now when you teach HRH to paint… 🙂

PatsyT
Member

Fantastic Buddy!
Do you use oil or acrylic?
Is this a photo of the painting or a scan?
What size is this work?
I know you said grapefruit but I instantly thought of this music

Prokofiev – Love For Three Oranges

httpsh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyBcthsZHw&feature=related

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Buddy, in a rush, real quick reply, wonderful work…and by the way that is not a pasley print, that is what is called an acanthus motif or acanthus leaf, I do know my fabric prints….

PocketWatch
Member

I have a question:

Is photography art?

I’m interested in others’ opinions. I’ve heard it both ways.

BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Yes…to me it is

Truth
Member

PW, of course it is!

And btw, Happy Birthday!

flowers

PocketWatch
Member

Truth… Um… happy birthday?

AdLib
Admin

Whoops, clicked the Thumbs Down by mistake! Hate when that happens!

Anyway, is it not your birthday?

PocketWatch
Member

Truth & AdLib – Actually, it is. I am trying to figure out how fox knew. I must have told her at some point, but I don’t remember doing so. Ahhhh…. old age is a bitch, isn’t it?

I’m not much of a holiday guy… I spent so many years on the road, I sort of got over the habit. One day is pretty much like any other. Sometimes I forget what day it is… it’s all pretty much the same to me.

But, having said that, I thank you. And I do appreciate the flowers!

Truth
Member

🙂

jkkFL
Guest

LOL! do you remember how many candles we should put on the cake??

😉

PocketWatch
Member

jkk – Wouldn’t want to burn the place down!

As I recall, it’s 60.

Truth
Member

Someone on OT congratulated you earlier, I just follow suit… so if it’s not your birthday, then you get some flowers just because.

AdLib
Admin

Absolutely, there are a number of artists who are photographers that I enjoy. Anyone who says photographers aren’t artists doesn’t visit museums too frequently.

Here’s a few from one of my favorites, Elliot Erwitt, whose work I discovered at MOMA:

[imgcomment image[/img]

[imgcomment image[/img]

[imgcomment image[/img]

Artist50
Member
Artist50

PW – I absolutely think it’s art – well I suppose it’s not always good art just like all paintings aren’t good art. Good photographers have a wonderful eye for light and they know how to use their instrument! I just read “Just Kids” by Patti Smith who was a lover and friend of Mapplethorpe and his work was quite remarkable.

Happy Birthday – I celebrated 60 in the fall. Funny how you still feel the same inside, isn’t it?

foodchain
Member
foodchain

I’m sharing this with friends. My husband is a “moon child” and we’ve been known to chase full moons around, especially blue moons. Moonrises over water, or any clear horizon, are haunting, as is this painting. The isolation of your moon gives me the same sensation. I love it.

kesmarn
Admin

Buddy, I saw this painting on your flickr page and it was one that really, totally leapt off the page at me. I loved it.

Those art show judges were idiots!

I hope that stranger appreciated the gift you gave him.

It’s tough being an artist. It’s a very private occupation, and yet success in it depends to some extent on the approval of others. So you’re constantly in the position of placing one of your “children” — your creations — out there to be accepted or rejected by the cold, cruel world. It’s nerve wracking! And it takes courage.

This weekend, I’m told we’re supposed to have a “super moon” in the skies. Larger and brighter than usual. So this was a great time to put this out there. Thanks for sharing your talent with the Planet, Buddy.

Artist50
Member
Artist50

I wish I’d been the lucky recipient of this painting – I hope he appreciates it. This is a lovely painting that’s finely executed. People don’t appreciate realism because they know they don’t have the talent to pull it off. Thanks for the website tip the other day, I’ve enjoyed reading it. I’m really agreeing with Ross’s philosophy.

Truth
Member

Artist, I do appreciate realism, Buddy is just marvelous at that! And I’m really a nut at drawing, so some of us can appreciate the gifts of others. As a matter of fact, I’m very glad he can express what I never could.

AdLib
Admin

It’s such a lyrical and lovely painting, a wonderful work!

Truth
Member

Well said, AdLib.

escribacat
Member

Gorgeous. It reminds me of a wonderful film I saw years ago called “Zen Noir.” The film has a recurring theme of an orange (okay yours is a grapefruit) and how the whole universe exists within the orange.