Friday 15 February 2013

PPf and face # 16 !

I painted yesterday. For about 2,5 hours...

One would think that my painting would be about finished, no?

Well, it is far from finished. By the time I almost had to get the kids from school, I was feeling very frustrated and had no idea how to progress.

This is where I stopped last week:

After reading all your lovely comments, and after looking at it on my easel for a whole week, I decided that something had to change.

I didn't like him. He looked too manipulative, too controlling, as if he was pushing her down (not that she would let him ...). So the shoulder at least needed to go ....


Aaah, better already. But a bit empty. So I stamped a bit and made some circles


While that was drying I worked out the fish on her other side, and drew some fish where his body's supposed to be. And painted a faint shoulder, because his head was hanging in the middle of nowhere ....


And then I was stuck. Couldn't figure out what was wrong but in the end I think I got it: his face was too clear, it needed to fade away into the background.

How to do that .. ?

I had to hurry, because time was almost up, and then I did something I learned in Flora's class: "when you're stuck, make a drastic move. Be bold, be brave" (it helps when you're short on time too ☺)

So I started dripping paint. Which was scary. And dripped some more, and yet some more. And ruined all my work on the fish in the process ....


But seeing it now next to last week's version, I like it much better. He's much softer looking now, he looks sweet and protective and prepared to stay in the background. He doesn't have that overpowering look anymore. I don't like controlling men, and they certainly need to stay out of my paintings ☺

Of course now I need to work the fish again , and I still need to work out the bird. But I guess by next week I'll be able to finish it.

I got half a face out of it, so this is my 16th face for the 29 faces challenge!


Now I have a question for you:  when people comment on my blog, I always click on their name to get to their blog and leave a comment too. Last week I got several comments from people that seem to be on Google+. And when I click on their name it takes me to a page where I'm reminded that I'm not on Google+ and if I want to connect with them I need to go on Google+ too. Some of them have their blog mentioned in their "about"-tab, but some don't. And if they don't have a link up on PPF I don't know where their blog is. Which bothers me, because I want to show my appreciation for them leaving a comment on my blog by returning the favour. So in case you didn't get a visit from me, this is the reason.

I don't really want to switch over to Google+, because I don't know the consequences and frankly, I'm getting fed up with all the changes all the time. I need some things to stay the same .... So if anyone knows of a solution, or can tell me what changes in case I do switch over to Google+, I'd be very grateful ☺.

Well, that's it for this week! Thank you so much for visiting and leaving your wonderful comments. Don't forget to check out the wonderful artists at Paint Party Friday and the 29 faces challenge!

Hope your day is beautiful, and your weekend filled with love and laughter. See you tomorrow with face # 17! ♥ ♥ ♥


45 comments:

  1. Beautiful Denise! I agree the man looks much softer now and more of a supportive figure for the gorgeous woman Beautiful colours = love, love

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  2. I like this version very much... the softer background is working beautifully and i like that you are showing all the stages... feels like I can appreciate your art even more seeing how you get to the finished product...xx

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  3. Love your painting, you are right he was too dominant. I have just got rid of Google plus as it was doing my head in I wasn't getting any emails from the reply comments and I could never get my head around it! I guess I not up with this techie stuff!

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  4. How fun to be inside your head hearing all the thoughts that went into all the changes...I don't like controlling any bodies so glad you saw fit to soften her guy!
    My only solution to the comment ? Is to simply go to as many blogs as I humanly can on a weekend. Sometimes I make them all, sometimes I can't. I hope over time I get to everyone whether they come to mine or not!

    I like the painting very much!

    HPPF!

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  5. I like this version too....everything seems to pop off the page even better!! Thanks for sharing your process too!!!
    Wonderful piece!!

    I feel the same about google plus...I can't find their blogs and I'm not embracing google plus...I hate the way it's set up!! Too much forced change...

    Hugs Giggles

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  6. Soo wonderful painting, Denthe. HPPF

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  7. Denthe, a curious thing happened just now... yours is the first blog I have visited today and the first thing I saw was the quote by Walt Whitman...I began my post today with a Whitman quote too! A happy coincidence!
    I really love watching the process of your work taking life, and, here, pushing the dominating one to the background was so right. I do like his face. Pensive, I think.

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  8. I love the transformation in your painting. I agree with you about Google +. I just don't understand it. I'm with Lynn - I do my best to visit everyone who visits me, but can't always. And sometimes it's a choice between making art and being on the computer, and I like to let the art win. We can only do our best. You are so sweet and generous with your encouragement. xo

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  9. Ik heb er bewondering voor hoe je doorgaat en telkens zo kritisch je hele schilderij bekijkt. En ik moet toegeven dat het een hele verbetering is nu de man niet meer zo dominant aanwezig is. Je hebt er echt een goede kijk op en het is heerlijk om te zien hoe je schilderij steeds meer vorm krijgt.
    Fijne dan nog en we zien je morgen!!
    Liefs,
    Marianne

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  10. Fabulous Denise... I love seeing your process... seeing your manipulative man becoming softer... more gentle... more protective... another gorgeous painting...

    Jenny ♥

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  11. The transformation in your work is just wonderful...Love it !!

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  12. This is terrific. I see how much you can do to change and soften the different looks. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  13. I love looking at your paintings. I actually tried to make one in the style you do--it is much easier said than done. I made the background with lots of random paint, stencils etc. But trying to figure out what to edit out was hard--but it was a good exercise to try--much admiration for how you do this.

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    1. Oh Janet, please share! I would love to see it!

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  14. Wonderful to see the transformation and hear your thoughts along the way.

    Yeah! That was a surprise going to Google+ and not finding a blog. I ended up going back to PPF and looking for their name and link there. I'm with you about Google+...

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  15. I love your thought process behind the man in the painting and I very much like how you changed it. I laughed when I read the phrase 'be bold, be brave' because I don't know if you've ever seen Work of Art - Next great Artist? But there is a frenchman on it who is sort of the artists' mentor/presenter and he always tells them in a really strong French Accent to 'be bold, be brave, be daring'!! and so when I read your post I automatically read that in a French accent!
    As for Google+ - I totally agree. When I changed my blog name to Nic's eARTh I had to open a new google email account and when I noticed when I clicked on my blog it took me to that google+ page you are talking about. I didn't really like it and it was only by pure accident when I was messing about with the setting on my blog one day that I hit on a button that allowed me to revert to commenting as my blog rather than google+. not sure I would be able to find it again if I had to but I'm glad I did as I prefer my link to go straight to my blog like you.

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  16. Love all the colors and patterns and layers!!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  17. Wonderful combination of colours and patterns and layers. I know what you mean about Google+, but I don't know how to alter it, either! Valerie

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  18. Hi Denthe. I really like how your piece came out, although I liked it from the beginning as well. Nice job! As far as Google, I have the same problem and sometimes can't comment on someone's blog. I don't have Google plus or whatever it's called but they are working on "making" us all use it so I hear. I like Blogger and like you, want some things to remain the same. Anyway, have a great weekend and Happy PPF!

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  19. I love the process and of course, your colors! I like the softer male figure, but for me the hand on the shoulder is intimidating. But that is just my problem and your painting is yours! I don't understand Google + either! I can't even find peoples' email so I can comment on their work personally. I can't always find their blog on PPF or other challenge sites because the names are usually different.

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  20. Love this Denthe! I also don't do Google Plus and I don't worry about it if I can't comment on someone who does. I don't see any reason to have to change! HPPF!

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  21. I'm really enjoying the process of your painting and love where you are going with it. Every week I say AHHH this is it and then you change it up and I love what you've done ♥♥♥

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  22. Great colors and composition make the artwork is visiual center. Saludos

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  23. Your art progression looks great! Love the different trials and errors...worth it, right! HPPF :)

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  24. awesome to see your painting coming to life
    i understand getting stuck on a piece.... waiting for the next step to come to me
    or just playing and hoping for it to be something i like and enjoy

    I also don't want to deal with Google +, too many things to deal with! not enough time to click around everywhere. Sometimes when i click on a name i get a page saying that i do not have permission. I also feel bad about that, because the blogger does not know.

    your painting is wonderful!

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  25. I think your painting is marvelous. The changes you made were just the right things and it is really looking beautiful. I'm curious about this Google+ thing - will have to do some investigation.

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  26. Fantastic to see the changes in your painting, great decisions! I love the style, I am a bold-color-girl myself, although not as good as you ;-) I'll be visiting your blog more!

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  27. Loving your beautiful alterations. Fabulous WIP.

    Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  28. Denthe, I love your painting and I particularly enjoyed following your thinking as you made decisions during the process. I like how you softened the man's face - it doesn't compete for attention or worse, appear to be dominating, as you said. The warm tones on the woman are so beautiful. Great painting! Hugs, Terri at www.terrimorse.typepad.com

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  29. I really enjoy this colour pallet!!! love your work and the details!!

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  30. Thank you so much for your sweet comment. I think im going to take one of her classes. I love her art. I will keep at it, i have alot to learn but im loving it so far.

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  31. Glad you had some satisfied progress on your piece, I don't like controlling men either! Nice work on the face too. Now you gave me a good idea to leave my PPF link in my comment as some do. Although I'm not on google plus.

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  32. schitterende creatie, nu de schouder van die man weg is ziet het er inderdaad beter uit. Prachtige kleuren overigens! Een gezellig weekend!

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  33. Denthe, even though I liked the painting last week, I do agree that this week's version suits me better. Beautiful colors. About the google + thing, I totally agree. My computer is old and by the time I actually get to the page it takes a bit of time. Then when I discover I'm not allowed into the blog, I feel frustrated. Some of the google + artists do have their blogs on that page, which is helpful.

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  34. This piece is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Love all the details on it.

    Have a great day!
    Nora

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  35. Such Beautiful work! I also am very confused by Google+, in fact I think I may have inadvertently ended up one of those people who shows up as a google+, I'm not even sure? I'm going to have to do some research and figure it out, I don't want to leave people frustrated.

    Thank you for sharing your progressions on your painting, It is so cool to see and read about your progress!

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  36. I hate the Google+ !!! I can't never reach the person that posted, I do not want to use it so I can't see them! And although I opened it and have it with all the "privacy" up, I still do not go or use it.
    I tried it and if I could, I would delete it, but then it would delete my YT channel, blog and who knows what else :o(
    In YT and th blog, they keep asking if I want to switch, and I wish they still had their blog to tell them live: "nooooo!" lol
    As for the art... every step made me nervous! When i read all that you did, and it turned out great, then i felt better :oD

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  37. Your dripping was just the thing to soften her background! She is a gorgeous, strong woman. Love your work, as always!

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  38. Beautiful, powerful, stunning piece! <3

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  39. I enjoyed your process and how you are able to work on your painting. You are brave already denthe. The result is just meaningful. Love the colors too. Not sure about google + too. sorry..

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  40. Thanks for sharing your process -- it's amazing how adjustments create whole new moods. In writing, it's always important to revise and reconsider, but often in painting, we don't let things "cook," so it's always great to see when and how an artist makes revisions.
    Google plus is confusing for me too. I have it, but don't know how to use it. Getting to someone's blog is not very straight forward. I'll be glad when the program designers get a little older and stop changing things every time they have a bright idea.

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  41. Oh yes, he is much softer :) Love yor half face too-sometimes they have more expression than the whole face I think. Happy PPF!

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  42. I love seeing the progress you have made Denise. I didn't see until you changed it how much better it was with out the mans arm!

    I am struggling with google+ I am not sure how to change it, and although I keep hearing it is the next best thing, and to get in now before it's too late. I don't think I can be bothered with it yet! x

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  43. I agree with you about Google + it seems like such a pain sometimes.
    BUT let's talk about your FABULOUS painting!!! I love her stance and LOVE the results of your bravery. I liked it before, but since you showed us your progress, I can say that I agree with you - he looks like such a kind guardian now, and the whole piece is turning out beautifully! Love all the layers, xoxo

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  44. this painting has been beautiful in all its many faces!! love how you've shown the process. it is gorgeous!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! I love hearing your thoughts about my work. Because I am getting too many spammer comments, l have to use Captcha, sorry. Hope this is not a problem for you !