Harvest Depth – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2006

It is most difficult to keep writing while in the throws of moving – even more difficult to keep painting. It is fogged in today and the day is kind of monotone. There are plenty of workers out this morning picking berries in a day that I assume was very similar to the scene above – painted last year.

When I created this digital painting – it was a combination of commentary on the orange flags – indicating spraying had been done – and the likeness of the workers and the fields and how in sync it all seemed – beautiful and a little painful – all at the same time.

The work is peaceful, a tad monotonous, and a little uncomfortable. This digital art is successful I think at capturing the feeling of the Salinas valley – and the labor which makes our food supply available.

See Also

• What’s in an apple? Buying organic, healthful produce becomes increasingly complicated – thoughtful Commentary on our Food Supply, labor supply, hidden facts, etc.
• Harvest Depth – availability of original prints for above digital art painting

Flat Runs – digital art – painting & original prints – Dan Beck 2007

This is my last completed digital painting – finished last week sometime. It was started after the first same themed piece and prior to the last featured piece from more of the true perspective – if there is such a thing.

The work was inspired by a drive-by moment witnessing three field workers racing their strawberry flats to the staging area or truck – I didn’t notice.

It is more about feeling and understanding than actual viewing and therefore a view from above is just as true – but it wasn’t what I wanted and I started another piece before I finished this.

And though I think the other two pieces are more original art for me – I do love the bright color and some of the digital art twists, turns, and copy and paste which are not always utilized in my work.

See Also

• Sea of Backs – perception here is also based on understanding
• O’Reilly — Scott Haefner: View from Above – most interesting results to search term “view from above”

Field Run – original digital art – Dan Beck 2007

I decided I wanted another take on the Flat Racing. I really enjoyed being a witness, but I also wasn’t sure I had said all there was to say on the subject.

The first version and digital painting captured the movement quite well, but the scene around was rather abstract and unknown. Here I have tried to give more of the perspective of looking up the rows of the strawberry fields.

This is a more detailed version of what I had seen. I am not sure if I like it more or less, but it required more time to play with it and more time to convey another aspect … that the other workers weren’t even paying attention to the race of strawberries right next to them.

I often talk of perspective and understanding – both of these takes on the same scene are original art and a unique view – they are just coming from a different perspective albeit both are mine.

See Also

• Related Artwork – some related digital paintings that are set up for purchase of original prints
• A Different Perspective – good article about looking at the positive in life
• A Different Perspective – Dada without Duchamp – for the art historian who really does want to grapple with the questions of original art

Flat Racing – original digital art -Dan Beck 2007

Always a good feeling to create a work of art which not only captures what you are trying to communicate, but feels like it is original art – particularly in the sense of standing apart from other peoples’ work.

Not sure which day, yesterday or the day before, that I saw the three workers running with their flats – not so much a competition since they clearly had not started running from the same place – but they were boogieing up the rows of berries. Don’t know if it was a pick and run event or just an impromptu breaking up the monotony of the day.

I don’t think I would personally last too long out there picking berries – long hours bent over picking – but this looked more like a fun race rather than the piece work shuffle. This was camaraderie not rushing to get paid.

I am glad I got to witness the strawberry flat racing – it lifted my spirits too.

See Also

• Base of the Mountain – another light look at strawberry picking – but more the way it looked than the way it is
• Strawberry Ricotta Fool – not sure how my parallel searching arrived here – but just makes you think how far a distance from field to table

Fielding – digital painting / original prints – Dan Beck 2005

This is the first time I looked at the landscape and was struck that I had to start including figures. I saw the field workers picking strawberries and the unnatural curvatures of their backs and knew I had to paint them.

I created a backdrop – colorful, abstract, and hot.

At the time, I had not done much with drawing or painting figures using a mouse and the computer and wasn’t even sure I could pull it off. The skill involved in painting on the computer – though related to drawing with pen or pencil is different.

Each of these figures was done with basically one big stroke of the mouse – the colors imparted fall on the inside of the curve. I am certain I took a few stabs at it – I typically can erase one such stroke.

I still create figures mostly this way – the first outline of a figure needs to capture the essence of the individual I am creating. I don’t know exactly how I see the figure or even how I have made the process rather unconscious. Understanding is useful, but much of the time with art and life it is a tool to make things more intuitive.

See Also

• Original Art – discussion of what makes original art and different meanings of same
• Figures Art Gallery – other examples of figures – mostly from 2005 – others can be found using the blog image index
• Oxnard Strawberry Workers Gallery – thought this website painted a picture with photos and words that enhance what I was expressing above

Field Phlat – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2006

The fields seem like they go on forever. Imagine the feeling of having to pick all those fields – imagine a world which seems to intertwine with your body itself.

Imagine both the magnitude of harvesting out of necessity and both the importance and smallness felt all at the same time.

Though my world is nothing like the strawberry pickers, I identify with this figure. His world is vast, beautiful and seemingly endless. His task is not ever fulfilled by himself but he must nevertheless start the process.

He is in pause – from beauty, from vastness, from being overwhelmed, by just the humbling nature of where to begin.

It is in our nature to work the impossible…

See Also

• Original Art – the unique nature of art and the original contradiction that multiple prints can be originals
• Wooster Collective: Taking a Moment To Pause and Take Stock in Life – a fine line between inspired and overwhelmed – happy and tragic – the search was “take pause”… there are many connections though I know none of these people
• Outhouse Studios: Original Art & Music – availability of original prints for the above featured digital paintings

Strawberry Alley – digital art print – Dan Beck 2007

It is kind of typical of me to be somewhat contrary. So to feature a simulated art print from a digital painting which I have already recently featured – makes total sense for a new category called “Original Art“.

I am really not that big on praising my own work. To say I like something I have done is one thing – but a claim of complete originality would be preposterous.

However, I believe my work to generally be my style – I also know I am not the only one who sees this. It is always intended to be mine and always intended to be original.

Because the work I am featuring at Outhouse Studios is created as a digital image – every print created is an original – probably not a one of a kind but the way it was intended and a first generation original print.

See Also

• Original Art – discussion of what it means
  
• Should the Legal Meaning of ‘Originality’ Be Altered? – someone else’s more detailed discussion – Rich Text Format (html/highlighted version linked above). Would we really care so much about proprietary rights if money weren’t a concern?

Strawberry Alley – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007

Down the road from me is a view – that has been catching my eye since I first saw it seven years ago. It changes through the seasons but always has these overlapping hills through a small window through the eucalyptus trees.

Whether it is plowed and furrowed or actually producing berries – I am drawn to it. For whatever reason – perhaps a matter of the right timing I have not chosen to paint it up until now.

Perhaps I wasn’t ready – a difficult view to give justice to – but I am happy with this rendition. I am finding that this image is translating the kind of pleasure I feel when I look at the actual scene.

I added a couple of extra hills here and the eucalyptus is kind of bamboo like – and so perhaps it is more of a “strawberry fields forever” than the alley that it is.

No matter – I find this to be a very pleasing digital painting and am looking forward to seeing a large art print for a more optimum effect.

See Also

• Checkerboard Valley – an earlier work with overlapping hills and portrait orientation – depth can be a little confusing in this piece but still quite pleasing with the quick figure in the foreground
• The Eucalyptus of California – everything most anyone could want to know about eucalyptus and more

Two Pick 2 – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2006

Since this image is in the center of the blog banner, I thought I would feature it again. This piece shows off some of the digital nature of its inception.

Many people looking at my finished pieces think that they are watercolor – in many ways they have the characteristics. They are layered and the colors are somewhat translucent and that quality of water comes through.

But then again – there is just about always something which cannot be done using watercolor. And my position, is one of using what I have to express myself.

In the above digital painting, I used patterns as part of my paint on the strawberry mounds. And I think that is a bit of a digital give away.

See Also

• Two Pick 2 – art print options and availability for above digital painting
• Transparent Watercolor Society of America – I loved the title – being a punster – and appreciated the many examples of watercolor work
• handprint : watercolors & watercolor painting – although I didn’t see a single image, I was most impressed with the extensiveness of the resource – if one is looking for info on how to and what to buy

Color Pick – digital pen painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2006

This is my second attempt at using at pen pad for digital painting. The colored sweat shirted pickers I had seen earlier in the day – and I thought I would take on the harder challenge.

I feel very uncoordinated using the new tool – compare:

Harvest Depth – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2006

I actually like some of the looseness of the top piece, but the bottom is fluid and controlled - technically superior.

Who knows what the future holds – I may learn to like the graphics tablet more … or less.

If you are interested in art prints from either of these digital paintings or any others that are on the blogsite, please email:  specialorders@outhousestudios.net.

See Also

• Image Guide 1 to Blogsite
  view other Exclusive to Blogsite images – strawberry pickers – a current common theme
• May 10, 2001-Vol32n31: Capaldi explores preferences for tastes
  how we learn to like foods is quite akin to learning to like a particular tool