Sunday, January 17, 2010

Palette Knife Painting of Rowboat - "Solitude"

"Solitude"
14 x 14 x 3/4 inches, Oil on Canvas
I woke up this morning and opened the window - there is a thick fog and the sun tries to shine through it. The fog makes the morning whisper.
A couple of days ago when I started this painting, my thoughts were in a fog and this painting is of that feeling. I didn't know whether to title this "Adrift" or "Solitude" but this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson just seemed appropriate for it that I settled on "Solitude". I sketched this out using a brown pencil and when I didn't like it I wiped it off but the color that remained on the canvas after a few sketch attempts was a quiet sepia which I liked so I did this painting in a somber sepia monotone with just a touch of blue in the rowboat.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote:
"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great person is one who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."

12 comments:

Filomena Booth said...

I love your florals, of course. But, this painting is absolutely beautiful! It has a really special, almost spiritual quality - probably reflective of the mood you were in at the time.

Great work!

Art with Liz said...

You've certainly created an impression of solitude and loneliness with this painting Judy - it's really good!

JudyMackeyart said...

Fil, Liz, thank you!

Angela Elledge said...

Most definitely solitude at its best. This also has a very old world great master quality to it; very well done!

Manon said...

Just beautiful Judy! You really captured "solitude". I need a little of that...lol!

Unknown said...

You really are highlighting the scope of your talent Judy. Your ability to paint a mood and setting like this takes a lot of skill. I think you should explore this more!

David Edwards said...

Great color control, very good small painting

mario said...

Hi Judy,
I like the atmosphere in your painting and your wonderful still life!

heather noye said...

this is just lovely!

DJ said...

Love the minimalist feel of this work...thanks for the quote, also...

Tammy Hext said...

Wow Judy - this painting just grabs you - well done

Anonymous said...

A stunning piece. A great example of what can be achieved using a limited palette.
Jean