Sunday, January 13, 2013

Seeing Red

watercolor on 10" x 8" Daler-Rowney Langton Prestige NOT paper

I changed radio stations and heard what could only be described as Calypso-Mexican music.  Something came over me.  I decided that I had to paint green clouds in a red sky, and that nothing in the picture would be its true color.

As I got deeper into the painting, it seemed to me that the surroundings may have been reflecting an inner turmoil inside the house.  It felt slightly frightening.

Or maybe it wasn't that at all.


Per my favorite critic, I could have been envisioning a colony on Mars.  If so, you saw it here first.  It's something to talk about, if only anyone would listen.

Sketch from life in small moleskine

It is probably better, though, that you read a good book.  (Do you think her child will go to Mars?)

Sketch from life in small moleskine


31 comments:

  1. Wonderful!
    I especially love the pregnant lady deep in a good book.

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  2. Oh I likey, its so different from and like the music had a great spell on you : ) I dont see Mars but more like the Greek Gods palace in the skies and the heavens are open and ready to unleash all the mythical creatures within it... I love it when you find cool music that takes you to a new zone to create in, my son just got me in to music that I just cant get enough of and I love drawing and painting to it. Ended up with me ordering a few CD's yesterday, cant wait to get them. You should check it out (dont mind the first band name), but "Two Steps from Hell" and Thomas Bergesen. Fantastic music. I also like your people sketches, especially the lady reading.

    Great work again Da!!!

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    1. I listened to your son's music. Wild. It's actually not dissimilar to my favorite band, with the proviso that mine is much, much, much softer, in that there is a certain virtuosity and unpredictability about the music. My favorite band, by the way, is (or must be judging from the number of cd's I have), the Pat Metheny Group. If I start listening to these, though, my productivity would probably shoot through the roof!

      But I tell you, your music sure matches my picture! Greek Gods for sure!

      OK, my confession - I heard the music after the picture but thought it Mexican Calypso sounded funny and might be good for a cheap laugh. Does it exist? This music sounded like it. And it was late, and I was tired, and I wanted to post, so I made probably my worst-written post ever! So it goes..we must move on.

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  3. I like the red everyone is so terrified of it you took control and it looks good

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    1. I wasn't terrified of it until the picture began to terrify me! It had quite an effect. Thanks!

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  4. Great idea, love the red sky with green clouds. It's so un-Dan.

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    1. Maybe I'm red sky/green clouds Dan and now I'm out of the closet! Maybe not.

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  5. Looks like the world is on fire, hope the house is a safe haven! Great sketches.

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    1. As I painted and saw what was happening, I thought of fire and poor people caught in this situation. Unimaginable. I really thought of it more though as an external manifestation of turmoil in the house. Thanks.

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  6. La belle melange! A beautiful chaos! So glad you are experimenting! Fun sketches too!

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    1. Thank you! I didn't know I would inspire French! It's good to experiment, but I want to settle down..eventually.

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  7. I like when you see red! Nice painting; stay tuned.

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    1. Why thank you! I wasn't sure about it, but like it more and more with passing time.

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  8. Hummm, what happens when you hear classical music?!

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  9. I think your house in red surroundings is awesome! The guy on the left in the 2nd sketch reminds me of the Governor of New Jersey...and I'm glad the lady is reading a paper book instead of a kindle..it just looks more like reading for sure. All good work~!

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    1. Thanks so much! Yeah he does look something like Christie.

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  10. And why not a red sky ??? It gives warmth to the whole piece!
    As for your characters, their attitudes are so well rendered ! I love them, particularly the last one !

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    1. Thanks Martine! You are right, I need to bend a bit. What struck me was that the more I tried to stretch things, the more ordinary everything looked - even with the different colors. It was an interesting exercise.

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  11. messes like this I sure wouldn't mind you making a lot more :D Nice red scene and again, all the people are well capture(your specialty!) Thanks for your comments on my Black Ops 2 post.

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  12. I love it!!!!!! Apocalypse or ranging fire (unfortunately like in Australia atm) come to my mine when I look at it.

    Sketches are good too especially lady with her book.

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    1. Yep, it felt apocalyptic to me and I thought of fire when I saw it develop. Mostly Hades. Or marital discord or family violence, or something. I will experiment with colors more, I think, but red, maybe not so much. Thanks!

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  13. Red sky... hum... Mars... or Sailor's delight :-) The pregnant lady reading a book... she is the hope of the earth you know... that she is willing to bring a child into this world.. to love and nurture and watch grow into an adult marry and have children of their own in her old age, she'll have grand children to enjoy... that's what I see in that picture anyway... hope, and love and the future bright and beautiful.

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    1. You see so much.. I always love and appreciate your comments Captain, thanks!

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  14. Green clouds! What fun! Isn't it interesting how meaning is changed when you change the color of something simple like the clouds? And sky? Fun and interesting posting! Go Dan!

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    1. It sure is! This was darned interesting to do!

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  15. Well as the only person here that's been to Mars - but was sworn to secrecy which is why I never mention it - I can tell you that you've got it right in your painting, but I can't tell you why or I would have to kill you (I'd bore you to death talking about aeroplanes!).

    Red Sky at night, Shepherds delight
    Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning
    Red sky over the spire
    ooops the church is on fire!

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    1. This must be good to inspire poetry from a Martian! Thanks, John! I bet you were a naughty little altar boy.

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  16. The building is just lovely with it's fiery background. And your figure drawings are always great.
    After sitting here for too long, I have no other analysis. Sometimes a green cloud is just a green cloud. :-)

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