Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Rear View Mirror


Core of a Rose, graphite on paper, 4" x 4"

Its funny how when you look back at work you did years ago a lot of it makes you cringe but other pieces still feel right. This piece leaped out at me recently because I have been thinking about abstracts and expressionism increasingly. I have to admit I am now really enjoying colour but monochrome still has a real magic for me - especially in photography.

Determined to get back to some serious work over the next couple of days after suffering a block in my creative urge.

12 comments:

Billie Crain said...

you sure know how to draw a rose, Anita. so far, that ability has alluded me.

Katiejane said...

Wow, this is so very good! I love all this shading. It's perfect.

Jeanette Jobson said...

I am impressed with your flower ability - well a little envious in fact.

I do like how this fills the page and becomes abstract as your mind figures out the shapes.

I agree that monochrome has a very special feel to it that colour can never compete with.

vivien said...

this is lovely

I have those divergent feelings - I love colour but sometimes it's so nice just to work in charcoal or to use a very subtle muted palette

- from the Fauves to Gwen John!

it's just another aspect of colour though - the lack of it for a change :>)

Teresa Mallen said...

A lovely rose Anita. I love the composition of the piece. I have several reference photos of roses waiting to be turned into art. I never tire of their beautiful curves and folds!

Mary said...

I have always loved your graphite work, you have a great talent for any medium you work with but there is something about graphite that attracts me too, from time to time.

Anita said...

Billie - please note that I did not do the whole rose!

Katie Jane - thank you!

Jeanette - when I did this I was trying to see if abstract worked in graphite.

Vivien - when I was doing a portrait recently my husband said but you can see what colour it is - even though it was in graphite!

Teresa - I tried painting roses. Did a grisaille but got bogged down by colour glazes. I want to learn to do them loosely.

Mary - I think Graphite is almost one of the most forgiving of mediums.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Roses scare me almost as much as pansies, Anita particularly if I try to treat them loosely.

This is an engaging study, wonderful shapes and shadows. I've always been a fan of your graphite drawings. I blame your shoulder injury for your creative slump, you were creating an incredible range of beautiful work before that happened - remember? You will be again.

Margaret Ann said...

Thisis so rhymthmic and beautiful...gorgeous edges! :)

Lisa Lorenz said...

Ah Antia, this is beautiul. I love those macros of roses.

Dianne Mize said...

Lovely drawing. Has a haunting landscape quality in one sense, and in another it reminds me of Georgia O'Keefe

pattrsnd said...

I love this Anita...very nice!

all artwork is copyright of Anita Murphy 2006/2007/2008/2009