Sunday 9 May 2010

From a Distance

From a Distance


I think I have shown this painting before but in the very early days of blogging. This is one of those paintings that come as a happy accident. I was not at all happy with the painting I had begun. I decided to begin again. I took a very large brush and spread the paint across the large canvas. I then left it to dry before applying a coat of gesso and start again.


I went to have a cup of coffee while the paint dried. On my return I was captured by the faint idea of a painting. Instead of painting over with gesso I added the hint of waves and the two distant figures. Now it could be said that this was a happy accident but it was an accident waiting to happen. I had been running early that morning. I had run along the beach at North Queensferry. As I ran in the silence I became very aware of the vastness of it all. I stopped and let the sand run through my fingers. Every grain of sand all needed to make the beach. Every person needed to make humanity.

Here I was the small and tiny figure in all this trying to play my part and take my place.

So a happy accident but one that who knows happened as per circumstance.

I called it, “From a Distance,” and I still have it. I will not sell it because I have a good friend who does not have an easy life. He loves this painting and one day soon it will hang on his walls. He and I may in fact be the only two who do like it but does it matter?



This blog is linked to my other where the artwork is used:- Say Nothing

7 comments:

  1. Très merveilleux accident que celui-ci! mais aussi parce que vous avez du génie vous en avez brillamment fait naître une très belle peinture. Beaucoup de profondeur... je m'évade grâce à vous ce matin. Merci Ralph.

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  2. Yes, ribbons of light that make our physical universe.... and the etherial atmosphere - just happens !

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  3. i love the feel of this painting. Warm and comforting.

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  4. That's a beautiful painting. I just love how the colours are all so light and they all just blend together and give the painting a sense of fluidity and movement.

    I'm an art student myself, and I'm studying a Masters degree in Art curatorship, which is a great course but I'm finding it very challenging as I have no formal art background. I would much appreciate it if I could get your advice on come things every now and then.

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  5. When i look at this i see the beach. What a wonderful morning, i also see in it. The warm sun, and a cool waters.
    Lovely

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  6. This one feels so peaceful to me ... and you have captured the moment - sometimes walking away from the painting and coming back gives you a whole new perspective and so glad it was a happy accident - sometimes the painting just decides what it wants to be, doesn't it? And I love it when that happens - this one is just so lovely

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