Title and Medium
Emotional Outburst (from the photo reference British Wildflowers 3). Oil on canvas board. 24 cm x 19 cm.
Artist's Statement
Some months ago, I have wanted to do again an abstract painting. I liked the original photo in which all the details were overwhelmed by the green color which masks any focus point. But I didn’t know, before, how to interpret the picture: did I have to paint it like that or not? I wasn’t convinced. I decided to alter the colors on my computer in order to search something close to a feeling of explosion, like a fireworks.
I didn’t forget the Monet exhibition in Grand Palais (Paris) too, which helped me to study the fragmented color range, alternating wet dashes and dry ones. I did this little painting in two steps, separated by ten days. No black, no earth pigments. No drawing before. I spread only a translucent underlay of acrylic red and purple to delineate the surfaces.
What I'd Do Differently
- I know that I have not totally reached the abstract state. My mind is still full of taboos linked with the realism.
- I think that if I several times copy this work, maybe I could get rid of this limitation. I will use different formats and mediums (for instance, pastel oils).
- Mostly if I wouldn’t forget to drink a glass of marvelous French red wine before, of course ”in moderation”, as the saying goes! That could help, it seems, to blow down the taboos!
Marion Boddy-Evans, Painting Guide, says:
What a glorious dance of colors! Monet is definitely the artist to study for this as his later paintings get more and more abstract. Especially if you can see his painting in real life -- and in Paris that's definitely possible, even outside special exhibitions. Lucky you!If it were my painting, I'd add a little dark green tones to the area of green in the center back. By comparison to the rest of the painting, it looks flat, and I think some dark will lift it.
