I HAVE A LITTLE CONFESSION HERE.
If you’ve spent any time in Ray’s gallery, you know his medium of choice is pastels. (Chalk, as some of you call it.) If you’ve seen any of his pieces “in person,” you also know that he paints with great deal of detail that is not typical among pastel artists and that his subtle way of layering pulls you energetically into his work. His fans say he is extraordinary at what he does and I agree. He says he has much to learn – that he has not yet mastered the “it” factor that he wants to experience with pastel.
So, when he said his muse was leading him to try his hand at oils, I thought “Why?” Well, actually it was not that simple and that is the confession part. It was more like, “Why the #@!&! would you want to start at the beginning with oils when you can do with pastels what you can?”
“It” factor or not, it made no sense to me so I proceeded to apply logic, to convince him to reconsider. (Yes, I had a bad momentary muse-lapse. I would NEVER have done that to a client – something that Ray was quick to point out.)
Caught, I regrouped and stepped aside from my misdirected logic. (After all, hadn’t experience shown me that when it comes to art, Ray’s muse has not let him down?)
The fact that I am writing this post tells you I’m inspired by the quality of what I see coming out of his studio. AND the fact that he paints faster than he pastels … okay, not a verb but you get my point … has me very excited because I am getting to see MORE art.
Sherrie McGraw Still Life Article
Ray’s passion is chiaroscuro (the dramatic use of light within a painting). They say if you want to learn, copy a master and that is what he did for this first piece. He copied a modern-day master named Sherrie McGraw and this is what he came up with as his first attempt at oils.
Ray’s Copy of Sherrie McGraw Still Life Article
Well, shut my mouth.
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I like “when he pastels”… You just may have created your own little neologism. I know I will steal that use at some time in the future.
If Ray’s first attempt is any indication, I think he will be masterful in his new medium. And why not broaden his horizons? Happy you saw the error of your ways, Bernadette. What gifts you have in store!
“Neologism.” What a great word, Sharron. You sent me to the dictionary on that one. Always a good practice … dictionary diving, that is!
MISSING the error of my ways does not seem to be an option … at best I might be able to stall
There are always SO MANY ways of “correcting course” and I may have tried them all!
Appreciate the comments!
Deep colors of beauty.