What's New

continuation of sketch requires deliberation

On Site 1 Plus - digital art - digital painting - Dan Beck 2007

I believe this is the last finished painting - it is a continuation from an on site work which I did a couple of weeks ago. I had seen so much more than I had had time to put into the original 40 minute sketch.

Having said that, I am not sure if this is a method I want to continue or not. There is something quite pure about the original painting - the continuation - with developed texture and depth is certainly more thorough; but I am not sure it adds anything essential to the original fresh sketch.

I handled the paint in a way reminiscent of Bold Glimpse because I have been looking at the piece a great deal and feeling like I had something special there.

Though I do like the finished work above - perhaps it is because I was taking too many directions here - following an on site feeling, developing, and perhaps mimicking while trying to remain fresh and bold at same time.

See Also

• Bold Glimpse - availability of original prints for piece the bold painting style was inspired by
  
• Digital Art - discussion of the varied possibilities this art form takes
• Wu Guanzhong 吴冠中 (b. 1919) - found this gentleman’s work through an image search - its original simplicity appeals to me plus born the year of my mother

simplicity, colors, and composition combine

Sunset Startled - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck 2005

I was pretty happy with this digital painting when I finished. Sometimes it takes a while to appreciate the work one has done and other times it is immediate. I find the same to be true with music I’ve written.

I kept the fence simple and the green field very austere as well. But that little squashed setting sun was pretty right on - and the complexity of the horizon itself quite fascinating.

What I think mostly is that it is pleasing in its colors and in its composition - enough to make one feel good. And if I recall correctly, it was a really special evening .

See Also

• Sunset Startled
  gallery page - enlarge/details - availability of art prints for Sunset Startled
• Low Sun
  More pictures and info from site sighted in text
• Earth Science Picture of the Day
  the separation and squashing of the setting sun - but moreso

Simplicity, Irresistible Play, Improvement, Doubt

Unfinished state - Horizon 2 - third stopping point

The first two unfinished stages to this piece can be found below or by clicking here.

I added a great deal of texture from the last stage, but the point of this writing is more about the different directions one can go.  After making all the changes, I wasn’t so sure I had improved over the original feeling of the piece. There is always beauty in simplicity. On the other had one needs to enjoy the process of creating enough to feel the accomplishment.

Next stage of Unfinished Horizon

Between the top stage and the bottom stopping point, I wasn’t sure the direction I wanted to go. But I started playing with some copying and pasting - a computer tact that is sometimes irresistible. 

The work does now look more collage-like but it is also feels more dynamic - but then where is the simplicity of yesterday?

See Also

• The Beauty of Simplicity
  A Modern Take on the Issue
• Global Collage| empowering artists + audiences
  When looking for collage info - found this interesting site