From the Artist: This is my first effort using a knife. I struggled to find a subject but decided to keep it as simple as possible. I explored endless landscapes but lacked inspiration (and expertise with the one knife I possess) in my initial exploratory efforts so gave up anything too complicated and settled for a simple negative.
Not sure if it has worked but my resolution was to meet the monthly challenge of the projects, no matter what, so will be glad to hear what you think. Doing these projects has kept me focused--- and painting! Not sure if I would do another knife painting, but who knows.
From the Painting Guide: Never mind the question of whether the result is a "good" painting or not, you've been successful with it on several levels. You took on the challenge, you tried a new painting technique, you persevered with it, and eventually got to a point where you were content to stop and declare it finished. Painting is never solely about achieving a "perfect" final result, it's about the activity of painting. Each painting builds on the paintings you did before it.
As for the result, I think it's striking and has a strength that comes from the simplicity. I'd say it's definitely an approach to pursue.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Negative Space: Notice how strong the shapes of the black paper are; it's a great example of how important negative space is in a painting. (And it applies in any painting, not just a limited color one such as this; it's just more evident here.)
I find it particularly effective on the mother's face, less so on the child. I likely wouldn't have recognized it as a child without the title, though I "read" it as a hand holding something. It's too late now the paint is dry, but I think scratching into the paint (sgraffito) to create a sense of individual fingers could've worked well.
Edited to add: When I saw the thumbnail photo in the gallery index which is automatically created when I add a page to the gallery, the child was suddenly was extremely clear to me, far more so than in the larger photo.
Not sure if it has worked but my resolution was to meet the monthly challenge of the projects, no matter what, so will be glad to hear what you think. Doing these projects has kept me focused--- and painting! Not sure if I would do another knife painting, but who knows.
From the Painting Guide: Never mind the question of whether the result is a "good" painting or not, you've been successful with it on several levels. You took on the challenge, you tried a new painting technique, you persevered with it, and eventually got to a point where you were content to stop and declare it finished. Painting is never solely about achieving a "perfect" final result, it's about the activity of painting. Each painting builds on the paintings you did before it.
As for the result, I think it's striking and has a strength that comes from the simplicity. I'd say it's definitely an approach to pursue.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Negative Space: Notice how strong the shapes of the black paper are; it's a great example of how important negative space is in a painting. (And it applies in any painting, not just a limited color one such as this; it's just more evident here.)
I find it particularly effective on the mother's face, less so on the child. I likely wouldn't have recognized it as a child without the title, though I "read" it as a hand holding something. It's too late now the paint is dry, but I think scratching into the paint (sgraffito) to create a sense of individual fingers could've worked well.
Edited to add: When I saw the thumbnail photo in the gallery index which is automatically created when I add a page to the gallery, the child was suddenly was extremely clear to me, far more so than in the larger photo.