Michelle (Basic) Hendry - Fine Artist & Author

Artist and Author - Landscapes and Ruins

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Winter's Return

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Michelle Basic Hendry
Winter’s Return, 24×36, acrylic

Winter has returned with a vengeance around here and as I struggle in the studio with new pieces, I tend to look back at some of my favourite paintings. I can get frustrated with what I am doing and ask myself, why do I keep trying? That is usually a good time to go back and look at what made one painting or another so special to me.

The painting at the top of this post is called ‘Winter’s Return’. It was inspired by an accidental photograph of heavy snow clouds, hours before the first snowfall of the season in November 2005. I remember my enthusiasm when I brought the image up in Photoshop and I immediately knew it had to become a painting. I had been experimenting with new sky techniques in the month previous and saw the opportunity to try something completely new for me. My expectations were low and my passion was high. That painting was the result.

Painting can be a joyful experience and my best efforts are applied to what I am passionate about. The disasters or disappointments seem to follow when I am trying too hard or perhaps I am not ‘feeling’ my subject matter.

This past week, I know I have been trying too hard. The results ended up stiff, even though I captured a completely new light effect. I had to go back with a little less worry and be prepared to completely ruin it to give it a fighting chance. I think after letting go of the struggle, something of value emerged.

There is no question that I have been tripping over my own expectations!

Expectations are a killjoy…. And when the joy is gone, so is the life of a painting. I am currently reading Robert Genn’s book “Painter’s Keys” based on a series of seminars the artist gave in the 90’s. Genn talks about the child in the artist being the source of great art – because of their freedom to experience their subject and their observation skills. Children see with fresh eyes and are not worried about conformity! When we are less concerned with how people will view our results, we are free to experiment – to play!

So, play I shall!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kinsey Barnard

    Thanks for this post Michelle.

    “There is no question that I have been tripping over my own expectations!”

    This fits me to a tee of late. And, was a timely wake up call. 🙂

    Kinsey

  3. sara

    Hi Michelle,

    I love this painting, you did a wonderful job.

    I know what you mean about expectations getting in the way and how paintings get too stiff etc. It is a constant struggle with me to let go of all of this and just play. And like you said the best paintings come from doing this.

  4. Michelle

    Kinsey – Realizing it can be half the battle! 🙂

    Thanks Linda! 🙂

    Thanks, Sara! The joy is the reason we started – you wonder why we find it so easy to forget!

  5. Lana

    VERY nice! I recently did some painting “play” as well. Sometimes you have to put the stress of attention & intention in the back seat for a while & just have some fun.

  8. Deb

    Well first of all – GORGEOUS shot! I have to say, as I love photography and taking pictures myself, the best shots are the ones that are least expected or the ones that you didn’t have to try so hard for… It always happens that way for me.

    Interesting, right?

  9. Michelle

    Hi Deb! That image is actually the painting! 🙂 I didn’t post the photo…. perhaps I should? If I could even find it now….

    But you’re right about the best photos being least expected. That said – they do not always make a good painting…

  10. Kris Cahill

    You took the words right out of my head with this post. First off, this painting is great; the sky is fantastic. I know well that trying too hard, struggling. Then there’s the joy of simply flowing with the work. This is what I am working on having today in my studio, and so it was nice to visit you for a bit of inspiration.

  11. Riz

    Oh wow!
    Your painting never fails to dazzle me.
    This is a really good painting. I love how you paint the skies. It looks almost real.

    Great job!

  12. Michelle

    Hi Kris! – I love how inspiration spreads… Thanks for the compliment!

    Thanks, Riz! Skies and trees are my favourites! I think a good sky tells the most about the mood of a piece…

  14. Michelle

    Thanks, GlossGreen! This one made me think of the silent still cold just before the storm begins – as if everything is waiting…

  15. Vince Fazio

    I like the effect of the sky carrying all the depth. Great relationships in the color scheme. Was the basis for this one of your color field underpainting strategies? (I mean besides the inspiration…which, as you say, is more essential.

  16. Michelle

    Hi Vince – I actually painted this before learning about field colour. Interestingly enough, though, it does appear to follow a violet field fairly closely – and very well could be reproduced using that method.

    I did, however, use a limited palette. I made my grays with burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and dioxazine purple. I used white to keep it all cool and to lighten it when required. There is a speck of quinacridone red in it to imply heaviness to some of the clouds. No black in this one…

  19. Kinsey Barnard

    Michelle:

    I was just skimming the stats for my website and your blog was listed so out of curiosity I clicked on it and it brought me here.

    I think I am more impressed by this painting than I was the first time.

    I love trees. I was just in Central California where the oaks are magnificent.

    Sorry for the double comment but I WAS compelled! 🙂