Echoes
Echoes – acrylic on canvas, 36×24, © Michelle Basic Hendry (click for larger image)
I am having a love affair with this house. This is my second painting of it and a third is on the easel. I am not often moved to paint something more than once, but, somehow this building and its landscape call to me.
Hawthorns are scraggly, scrubby trees and difficult to paint. I think I nearly ate a hole in my stomach doing this one. As this is a large canvas, errors can be glaring… and acrylic doesn’t ’scrape off’.
As an artist, one is always learning. I take more from some paintings than from others – a happy accident becomes a technique and others are more hard won, drawn from many paintings. I plan to take some time this week to study Hopper and Wyeth since, according to a couple of my readers, the WIP version ‘echoed’ their compositional styles. Being from Ontario, I can’t quite fully commit to the starkness and the trees stay – but perhaps the next one might exist without them.
I have always admired Wyeth and I am sure that creeps into the subconscious. I did notice that both artists had a fascination with old and abandoned buildings. It will be a wonderful opportunity to look more closely at their paintings.
The post card/invitation is in the works and I will be posting it at some point this week or next. All of the details for the show will be on it, in case anyone might find themselves in Muskoka in August!
For a slightly larger image of the painting you can visit my website: Michelle Basic Hendry
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June 23rd, 2008 at 7:44 am
I love this version Michelle. Nicely done.
Love,
Linda
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:00 am
Gets more beautiful all the time!
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
Thanks Linda and Kinsey!
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Each version has it’s own appeal but this one when you click on an enlarged view is stunning…I can almost feel the velvety grass…the sky is amazing! Can’t wait to see the third painting!!
cheers
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
wonderful work!!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Thanks Heather! I expect that the third will be ready sometime in early July…
Thanks PRand!
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
This work has a wonderful sense of atmosphere. It reminds me of a Wyeth painting. Though, your work seems more psychologically “bright” whereas his seems more somber to me.
Again, well done!
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Beautiful work! The tree is wonderful!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
JWP – I tend to like to bring hope into subjects that could otherwise been seen as sombre. I am really flattered by the Wyeth reference – I am a fan…
Thanks to the Hawley’s! That tree was quite a challenge….
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Interesting composition and light.
The tree is great and a nice cotrast to the soft sky.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I was definitely thinking Wyeth! Nice work!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Interesting! I see a huge difference in your work from the winter. It is brighter, happier and less sinister. Your work certainly reflects your mood. I like the cheerful side better. Hope to make it to your show.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Both are wonderful, Michelle! Again, fantastic variety in those greens!
June 24th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Thanks John, Helen and Jean..
Nice to see you martin – it’s been a while! I’ll have the details on the show up shortly….
June 24th, 2008 at 11:18 am
an accomplished finished work…
June 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Very lovely. I love the way the light hits the house. Very effective!
June 26th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Thanks eddie – The photo is unfortunately too small to really show it off…
Thanks Lana! I hope your project finished well too! I hope to see it posted on your blog!
July 5th, 2008 at 7:51 am
This is a wonderful painting! I love your style!
July 5th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Thank you, Cindy!
July 6th, 2008 at 12:16 am
[...] area in August. This is the back side of the post card is above – the front is the painting “Echoes“. I hope some of you out there are able to join me on opening [...]