Still Life with Pears, Plums and Raspberries
12 x 16, oil on canvas, 2011
(painting no. 2)
The pears I painted last week as studies are now placed in a more complex composition.
This painting is part of the "Black Painting Series".
The background is eliminated so that the focus is only on the objects and their reflections.
It is a study of contrasts in color and value, white tissue and black background.
Thematically it refers to a 19th Century Philadelphia painter, William John McCloskey, who was a student of Thomas Eakins.
McCloskey is now known as the "wrapped fruit painter".
William John McCloskey
Lemons
10 x 17, c.1890
Both McCloskey's and my painting are very much in the Western painting tradition with articulated form, perspective and surface detail. However, I went to an earlier source for inspiration, the Southern Sung Dynasty of China.
Mu-ch'i
Six Persimmons
ink on paper, c.1269
The painting is a brilliant example of intuitive composition.
The placement of the fruit is perfect.
Love the new style, featuring the fruit against black, very riveting and dramatic.
ReplyDeleteLove the new style of painting. Very much like the Mu-Chi and McCloskey references offered -- you are the perennial teacher. Thank you for teaching me about your work! MORE!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for following along on this journey across 52 weeks. Watch for the references to Italy and Italian painting!