Fresh Insight on an Older Painting

Last month, I got my hands on an older painting of mine that I hadn't seen for almost two years.

"Yuck!" I exclaimed as I took a fresh look.

The painting needed varnished, but it needed more than that. I sat it up in my studio and stared at it for several weeks considering how I might use some of my newer knowledge and experience to re-work it. You may recognize it...

"A Little Dance"
MSchasteen  ~  2010

There was a lot about this painting that I liked. In person, the rich color and simple strokes in the flowers were a pleasure to take in. The background, however, left something to be desired. It seemed to compete with the energy in the subject and some of the impact of the color was lost.

Last fall, Jeff Legg taught me about glazing as well as how to consider using "space" and darkness to create a more sublime image. I decided to shoot for a bit of mystery and do something I rarely consider: going darker.

Using Gamblin Galkyd as a medium, I mixed Raw Umber and Ivory Black and began glazing the background in layers. I was timid, so it took about three layers to get to the new value I had envisioned. Once complete, I took a clean bush and removed some of the glaze to reveal bits of color I didn't wish to become dull and to break up some of the even glazing. I was fairly satisfied with the results, but something else kept nagging at me: composition.

Perhaps it is because of our "widescreen" culture, but I dearly love landscape dimensions, so I started cropping (in my mind). I agree that the original crop is not horrible, but I figure if I am going to do this, I'm going all in. This painting is linen on birch...so hello, table saw.

Finally, I am pleased. Actually, I like it a lot! Can't wait to get it into a nice, new frame. In celebration, I gave it a new title and will spice it up with a new signature, as well.

"Balance"
11" x 20" ~ Oil on linen/birch