Saturday 28 January 2012

Inspired by Figs and Pears


Still Life with Figs
Oil on Board  18 x 14"
Bridget Hunter 2012


Its been a while since I painted or blogged - blame it on lugging large garden pots around and damaging  nerves in the shoulder. I've read a lot instead !  And I've looked at Art Books. And I've been inspired by many images of paintings I've seen, especially a still life by Van Gogh. 
So, I went to the supermarket and bought a pile of pears, a grapefruit or two and a few figs - because of the colours - and then attempted to make some kind of composition. I've ended up with 3 paintings
though two are still at the scraping out and repainting stage, which for me can last quite a while.
This is the smallest of the 3 and when it was nearly finished I added 2 mauve lines, indicative of a pattern on a cloth which I felt the almost circular movement in the painting needed. I also added some strokes of paint to represent a chair back. I'm hoping its now a finished work, though nothing nearly as wonderful as the Van Gogh work which I find so inspirational.
Just look at those onions !





Van Gogh


12 comments:

  1. Your choice of pears and figs works so well together. I love their shapes and colours. The pear cut in half is an added bonus! Sorry to hear about your shoulder. Take care of it and quit moving those big pots!

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    1. Oh and Bridget, I lost your last comment you left on my blog and I can't figure out how to get it back!

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  2. Love it Bridget!!
    The first thing I noticed was/were the glorious colours. The green is stunning and would I be right in saying quite a departure for you??
    Then I read your text - very interesting.
    I love how you've been inspired by Van Gogh's, but yours is still so you!
    Perhaps your wee shoulder injury was a good thing?!?
    Thanks for sharing it.
    Hazel

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  3. You have some great colors here! Look forward to seeing the other two. I love Van Gogh too!

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  4. Thankyou for lovely comment about fruit choices Carol. I don't know how to get comment back either. A techie ignoramus I'm afraid.lol

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  5. Thanks Hazel. I use green a lot - you have to if you want to paint summer in Ayrshire - but never before in a still life. I appreciate your comment - for taking the time.

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  6. Hi Lisa - the other two - aghhhh - I've got fed up with them for the moment and painting a cat instead.lol I like your recent works.

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  7. I agree with what Hazel said..You're inspired by Van gogh, but your work is still VERY you and I like that! You have a lot of your landscape touch in your stillifes which makes them special. I have to admit that I absolutely love your landscapes! As you say, take a break and come back again to still lifes. But keep going..it looks great!
    Ronelle

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  8. I can't thank you enough for the comment about landscapes Ronelle. Its such a supportive community here - really helps when painting can be a solitary activity. No wonder there were schools of painters working together in the past.

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  9. This is so fantastic! You have such a strong sense of composition and an incredibly painterly approach.

    Love. It.

    Reading, thinking and allowing all of it to percolate really IS working on art too! It shows here and I'm looking forward to more.

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  10. That's so kind Melinda - I just love manipulating paint I suppose - a bit like you do yourself LOL.

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  11. This is a beautifully composed still life, Bridget with wonderful abstract shapes. I particularly love the way the colours zing off each other.

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