Saturday 15 May 2010

The Killer

The Killer


I have been having a terrible time trying to get back into painting. For a time it was the constant pain and the need to take strong medication. Then when I was ready to paint again, I found I had lost everything I had ever had. I painted, one after another, only to bin them.


So many of you have taken the time, and given me some very good advice. You have either posted a comment, or sent an email. I am so grateful, hence my thoughts on my other blog about how precious time is. That you have time to give me makes me feel humble.

On the basis of the advice given I have in the last two days or so decided to a few things. I have changed back to pastel, and may try again some watercolour. I have materials to hand, but have no urge to feel the need to paint. If the urge comes on I will give it a try.

So here is the first. I looked at a pastel paper and thought I would do a fast and quick sketch. I decided to do it in one fast movement of colour. It is not the best tiger I have ever painted, but it is certainly not the worst.

It well probably go the same way as so much in the past few weeks, but at least I have got something on paper. What is more I feel brave enough to share it with you.

So please feel free to be as critical as you like. The painting took 25 minutes using pastels on white pastel paper.



This blog is linked to my other where I use this artwork as an example of one who surely kills:-

The Killing of Precious Things

9 comments:

  1. Ralph, I think it's good that even though you are not painting, you are at least 'pushing colour' across a format in another medium in the meantime. I find that the feeling that I am doing something clears the clouds or whatever is stopping me from creating. Interesting tiger - do you know he doesn't look like a killer to me, but in 25 minutes!! That is amazing.

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  2. This is so much better than I could ever do, Ralph. Here's hoping and praying that your muses return.

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  3. 25 minutes???

    I have an artists friend with this same problem. When art pours out of her quickly, though magnificent, she deems it unworthy. She can't fathom it could be good, because it was so easy to do. On the other hand when she toils over a painting trying to paint in a fashion that she forces herself to learn, her work lacks emotion. As hard as I try to convince her to paint what comes natural, she can't seem to acknowledge its credibility.

    Ralph, when art pours out of you quickly, it is the true artist in you painting. You may think your muse is gone, but he's just waiting for you to recognize he's been there all along...

    You're tiger is lovely.

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  4. I 'wasted time' yesterday to sketch and admire a flutter of butterflies, which made me think of 'tigers'! Odd that, and here is your tiger. They were exactly the colours of your tiger, they were not Monarchs. I spent a good half hour with the butterflies. The time was precious!

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  5. Très bon choix Ralph pour une bonne reprise, puisque je sais que les fauves font partie des thème que vous affectionnez. J'aime beaucoup...

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  6. If that is what you accomplish in 25 minutes, i'd say you haven't lost much. I'd say your doing great.

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  7. Wow Ralph, 25 minutes? Really? I can't wait to see what happens when your muse returns. : )

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  8. Ralph, there is a season for everything...this is just a different season for you...advice?...only to be still and present in your season so that you can hear and feel where you may be lead to. a great tiger by the way...

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  9. I quite like the Killer Tiger, although I think he really did not seem too mean..Boy do I understand the terrible feeling of not doing art..yet you are so willing to get in there and do it..and a word about Susan's friend..it is hard to believe that we could do viable and emotional art quickly but I "waste" a lot of tme thinking about art, about what I want to do and how I am going to do it and then when I finally get to the studio and put paint on the palette..I paint very quickly..that is my style and it took me a long time to accept that that is how I work! Especially when other students are working on paintings for a long time and I have a series done! But I have to be true to me and hopefully your friend will realize that she works the way she does and it is ok.

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