Monday, November 26, 2012

"The Phoenix Farm House" Acrylic Canvas 10" x 14"


"My Old Friend"

We artists can be odd folk I imagine.  I completed this farm house painting today in my studio from a photo.  However I painted in like it was plein air!  I didn't have any small canvases so I painted this over a muted Boston Skyline painting.  I left a bit of the skyline showing.  The house burned to the ground the day after Thanksgiving. (I posted some photos the other day.)  I always meant to get out and paint that wonderful structure.  I will never wait again. I added some bright color to it.  Brought it back to life?  Thanks for all your comments.  I very much appreciate them.
Take care my artists friends.
Michael

15 comments:

  1. This is so beautiful, Michael!! I saw your previous post with the pictures of how it looked before the fire...What a shame...so glad you were able to paint it. This is how I feel about the painting I just did of the Bay house..I'm pretty sure that my reference picture was taken someplace around Fire Island. According to the newspaper these houses are 90% destroyed by the storm...so I'm glad I was able to paint it and now I would like to keep it.

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    1. Thank you Hilda!
      I am sorry that the Bay House and so many other buildings and homes were lost in the storm. Thank you for sharing that with me. I think your painting is a great keepsake. A bit of history.
      Paint on!
      Michael

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  2. You did indeed "bring it back to life"....that is a remarkable thing to do. Painters are sometimes magicians. I especially like the foreground grasses and the green roof. Wonderful!

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    1. Thank you Celeste!
      I read somewhere that long ago people did regard painters as magicians! Especially representational painters! Portraitures!
      Thanks for all your very positive comments.
      I very much appreciate them.
      Take care.
      Paint on!
      Michael

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  3. Nice tribute painting Michael...
    I like that you gave it life. Interesting that the foreground vegetation resembles fire. Was that your intention? If not maybe it was an unconscious harbinger (one after the fact, if that makes sense... like back to the future and then back again)?

    I also love the ghost image of the city skyline,... haunting.

    Keep painting... this one again!

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  4. David,
    As always, I very much appreciate your fine comments and your astute observations!
    Thank you.
    My conscious goal for the foreground was to have it resemble the actual field but to also make it interesting to look at. My subconscious? No clue! But the fire resemblance certainly is possible. I am a huge fan of the sub conscience and how it directs my pairings! Thank you for pointing that out!
    Thank you for noticing the faint image of the skyline. When I was painting the sky, covering the painting underneath, for a nano second I thought leaving the faint image of the building was a good idea. I very seldom second guess myself. It is so very nice when someone not only notices nuances in my work but also appreciates them. Thank you.
    Paint on David.
    East Coast Michael

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  5. This one rocks!!! You made it look better than the actual photo with your colors, shading, and textures. This really came out great!!! I like the hint of the skyline showing through...sort of like a ghost of what was there.

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    1. Hi Joan,
      Thanks so very much for your very enthusiastic and very positive comments. Made my day!
      I very much appreciate hearing from you. Thanks for visiting so often and leaving such kind words.
      Keep on painting great art.
      Michael

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  7. Wow, Michael - your painting is the phoenix arising from the ashes to live on. You have immortalized this scene so beautifully. I just love how varied and interesting the foreground is and the ghostly suggestion of the Boston skyline certainly adds a whole other dimension to this wonderful painting.

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  8. Hi Susan,
    Thanks for dropping by and leaving wonderful comments. That fire was tough. I am so glad you like this painting. A very quick work for me. I tried to recreate a plein air situation in my studio. I am glad you noticed the skyline. Leaving it in from the covered painting was a nano second decision to make. I am glad I did. I am glad you also notice the foreground. That is where I seemed to work the hardest and the longest. Recreating a harvested cornfield and keep it interesting was a challenge for me.
    Thanks always for your positive comments. They mean so much to me.
    Paint on.
    Michael

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  9. Very nice Michael-it's so sad when these old houses burn down. I've done acouple where that happened also. But so good that you were able to paint it. I love that you did it over another painting.

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    1. Stephanie!
      Thank you so very much for dropping by and leaving such a fine comment! I appreciate it!
      I would love to see the paintings you did the same thing happened! I will be at your blog site soon!
      Thanks again!
      Michael

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  10. I really like your take on the issue. I now have a clear idea on what this matter is all about.. Acrylic Painting

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