The Evolution of a Painting : in more pictures than words

As I was preparing to write this post it occurred to me that it would be good to have James contribute or write this post about how a painting comes to life.
After some discussion we came to the conclusion that I would post images and write briefly about them here and that James would return to blog Aponovich52 and tell the more complete story of the Evolution of a Painting.

The concept sketch is the seeing, thinking and drawing all coming together on paper.

 The Underpainting
was created by James in one sitting, a very long day! It was vital for him to capture the energy of the moment. The warmth of the Burnt Sienna offers a balance to all the greens and cool colors that James used to paint the landscape and Agapanthus.
The Burnt Sienna will dry quickly allowing him to paint over it in a day or so. Time is of the essence!

Adding color
 James began with painting the flowers ( he complained a lot about them) since there is no telling how long the blooms will last. As he paints the blue of the flowers, he begins to paint the distant fogged in landscape of the island in order for him to balance value and color while creating the atmosphere he is seeking.

He begins to see the entire painting.

Almost there.
The painting is coming together. James lightens, darkens to push the distant landscape back and pull the terra cotta pot with agapanthus and the ivy covered wall  forward.                

 Agapanthus, Appledore
oil on canvas, 40" x 50", 2013
James Aponovich

voila!

complete



To read about the Evolution of a Painting in James' words click on Aponovich52.

The painting is complete and will be included in James's upcoming exhibition at
Hirschl and Adler Modern
730 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY




all images copyright James Aponovich 2013
and cannot be printed or used in any manner without permission of the artist, James Aponovich

The Clock is Ticking......Work Continues In the Studio

Coming upon this photo was like meeting an old friend.
This picture of Sunflowers was taken in  James' studio in our old house.
My studio was in the room through the door way at back of the photo.

This room, James' studio, and the things in it feel all so familiar to me and the memory of taking this photo of the in progress painting with the sunflowers is vivid.
 I was interested due to the fact that both the canvas and subject matter could share the scene. On the canvas is an under painting put down relatively quickly in earth colors like Burnt Sienna and Raw Umber. So here the "process" of creating is captured.

Sunflowers, Appledore
James Aponovich
oil on canvas

As paintings progress they take on a life of their own. Comparing this image of the completed "Sunflower" painting it can be noted that James changed the shape of the vase. In terms of color he stayed within the same color family  as the flowers; he chose to use the yellow Busatti fabric. The landscape is coastal New England and in particular Appledore Island, one of the group of islands known as the
Isles of Shoals. The Shoals are interesting and somewhat mysterious or even could be said a haunting place that has attracted artists and writers for centuries. The landscape of the islands captured James' imagination.

James in his new studio.

The new studio is working out very well for James. Moving took some time away from painting and preparing for his upcoming show at Hirschl and Adler Modern, but he has settled in and has been painting up a storm!
The ceilings are high and the large windows supply good light, although the days have been rapidly getting shorter on light as they do this time of year. He is pushing through with his Kolinsky sable brushes, which by the way are getting impossible to find any more. Why?

The work he is creating is very exciting. He continues to use the inspiration provided by our garden and our trips  to Italy. The landscape of Umbria and Tuscany are very ordered. Looking at the paintings of artists like Perugino, Raphael and Lippi also leave their mark in his memory.
Many of the paintings are strongly American and influenced by the rugged coastline paired with the history of painters that have worked here before, Hassam, Marin, Harley and Kensett to point to a few.

Always carrying a sketch book and pencils, James works from sketches he draws on site, whether it be Appledore Island, Down East  Maine, Panicale Italy, Rome or our own garden. The drawings are the vision that fuels the painting.

Sometimes things just do not work out the way it was planned!
While James was sitting back and just looking he knew what he had sketched in with paint was not working. Too heavy. The bottom was not relating to the top. It was not at all what he envisioned for this painting. A long mornings worked wiped out in minutes. He knew immediately that the painting felt better, lighter.....more air to it.

I will keep you posted and let you know how this story goes.

Onward.

HELEN ELIZABETH POPPIES and Appledore Island

An early star in our garden is the oriental poppy 'Helen Elizabeth'. This poppy has made several appearances on paper and canvas in our studios. The stunning color and graceful form makes it eye catching in the garden, and irresistible as subject matter for paintings.


An early star in our garden is the oriental poppy 'Helen Elizabeth'. This poppy has made several appearances on paper and canvas in our studios. The stunning color and graceful form makes it eye catching in the garden, and irresistible as subject matter for paintings.

The detail of the painting, Appledore: Still Life with Poppies, ( Johansson) shown above , is an example of one of those poppy inspired paintings. This painting is also a tribute to the gardener Celia Thaxter (1835-1894) and her garden on Appledore Island, part of the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. From vintage photographs of Thaxter's parlor it is known that she arranged flowers from her garden in glass vases, so I followed that direction in my painting. I read, and loved the idea, that she would start seeds in soil filled eggshell halves at her home on the mainland then carefully transport them by boat to the island where she planted them in her seaside garden. Thaxter, a poet, invited artists and writers to the island where she kept a cottage and her family had a hotel. The artist Childe Hassam (1859-1935), was a frequent guest on Appledore. Hassam painted the island and Celia's garden extensively, giving this place a lasting significance.

The garden has been restored and can be visited during summer months by contacting the Shoals Marine Laboratory at:
www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_reservation.php
Just a note: Appledore Island is really worth a visit but better to go after the huge population of Black-backed Gulls have finished nesting!
Before a trip to Appledore Island we recommend reading the following two books.
One Woman's Work, The Visual Art of Celia Laighton Thaxter,by Sharon Paiva Stephan
Childe Hassam, An Island Garden Revisited, by David Park Curry