This header is a pastel painting I did in 2009 is of a place in the Netherlands, my country of origin, after a photo shot by Dick Witte.

Some of the painters who have influenced me:
Mondriaan, Hopper
O"Keefe, Weyeth
Singer Sargent
van Gogh, Rembrandt
Picasso, Escher

Since this is my second blog page, it generally takes me longer (sometimes very long) to reply to your comments, but I do read and love them!

Monday, January 18, 2010

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

Some design problems need to be worked out. 

So I made some sketches.
- direction of the light coming from the eye:
influences the direction of the bridge
- bridge: straight, or going in a bend?
- with both sketches, the viewer's eye goes 
away from the focus  (not good!)


- with this direction of light,
the pillar on the bridge pulls the eye, 
the bridge and the water together


© Bridge over Troubled Water, 24 x 30, Oil, St.Germain

- choppy water, something new to paint !
-a fiery, yet stormy sky
-still to do: painting the supports of the pillar 
to the bridge
- will do when I get the painting back home!

18 comments:

Diane AZ said...

The painting is beautiful! I especially like the brushstrokes in the sky. The sky out my window resembles that right now, which is unusual for this area.

DawnTreader said...

One of my absolute favourite songs by my absolute favourite singers and songwriter... And I like your painting, too! :)

Jeannette StG said...

Diane,
Thank you, Diane, a sky in China was inspiring to this one! Guess you don't have many fiery sunsets in the desert, huh? In CA they're very common.

Monika,
the songs they have written are so easily flowing, and together with the addition of their distinctive voices it makes for a very artistic combination.

The Muse said...

Thank you for leaving your Friend Description Word :) Your joining in the play was a welcome addition to the day!

I found your experiment intriguing..one we as artists, at times take for granted...that others see and know how we get perspective and views... :)

I find the final work omnipotent...

Jeannette StG said...

Muse,
Your presence at my blog is heart warming. Looking at your blogs you are multi-talented. On of it is organization! How do you have the time to do all of these blogs?:)

Thank you Muse, I first would do the whole enchilada/process on the main blog, but my posts became too long.
Thank you for your kind words:)

NORA KASTEN said...

Jeannette, I left a comment to you on the wrong blog. I see what you're doing now and I really like it. . . Nora

Jeannette StG said...

Nora,
You're welcome on both blogs! It was only a few months ago that I started this 2nd blog page -because I also like to tell about my life, but it became to messy for my sense of order, so I separated the art (a little) from my rambles about daily life.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Jeannette: Wonderful to see your art project in steps.

Unknown said...

It's interesting to see the progression and read what you are thinking as you work.

Jeannette StG said...

Tom and Stine,
At this blogsite I discovered that people are not only interested in the end product, but they like to see the process.
This has become kinda like my niche -because not many artists focus on that aspect, except for Egmont.

The Muse said...

time...ah the thorn in a muse's wing...LOL well, i sleep little...

my head stirs...i have to write, or paint, or draw...or something...

there seems to be no stillness...
and i love the frenzy of inspiration :)

Jeannette StG said...

Muse,
I know the feeling of "I have to..." do something creative:) but I usually also need some time to unwind!
This morning I lost 3 comments in doing the comment moderation on the main blog - if you are one of these, I apologize!

dogimo said...

Great painting! I almost wish this were as far as you'd take it, but I'm also interested to see what you're talking about adding.

Isn't it a shame we can't 'save a copy' of a painting before we proceed on? :-D

Thanks for including the rough studies as well. Very illuminating.

Jeannette StG said...

Dogimo,
Sorry I forgot your name. My painting is still at another place, but I wanted to ad some very faint lines connecting the pillar to the bridge, so people know it's not the letter H... Do you think it's already obvious that it's not the letter?

A Lady's Life said...

this picture is certainly very expressive and has much to say
Very nicely done :)

Jeannette StG said...

A Lady's Life
Thank you! it's off the beaten (painting) path for me, but I hac very good reactions to it:)

dogimo said...

@jeannette stgermain - "dogimo" is fine! My name is Joe, but you can call me either (after all, I picked "dogimo" myself!).

It definitely reads as a bridge support structure of some kind. With the curvature of the road, a realistic cable setup could be a challenge, but then challenges are what art is all about!

I just love how clean the beam of light is, but that wouldn't necessarily be harmed by the lines you'd need to put in. After all, a true light can withstand what it must perforce reveal.

Jeannette StG said...

Joe,
Thank you for the input...that gives me more to consider...maybe I have to get over my uncomfortableness of putting the eye in the sky, and see it as a concept-painting rather than a literal (in reference to leave off the cables for the bridge...)
I thought decision making would come easier with age, but no!