Monday, July 6, 2009

Rower





5-1/2 x 15 Oil on wood panel

This is my entry for the DSFDF Challenge for Weeks 39-40. Reference for this painting was a photograph provided by Karin Jurick on her blog Different Strokes from Different Folks where artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations. Once again painting on a prepared wood panel enabled me to crop the painting when it became evident the boats in the background were adding nothing to this piece beyond my struggle to include them. My intent was to combine the photo of the rower with one from Wet Canvas. Traces of the boats and reflections still provide a bit of color. This was fun but I prefer painting tomatos and onions! A face and hands this tiny are indeed a challenge!

James Cox at Mountain Diamond Poetry sent this poem inspired by the painting. What a compliment! Thank you very much, Jim!

The Rower

Flat out into the water,
the rower leans to the pull
then digs hard, pulls hard,
and the boat skims forward,
a rush forward
though she faces back:
looking that way
she sees where she has been recede:
where she goes
will be her late discovery.

20 comments:

  1. I like your rendition of this challenge, and think the crop works the best. Very nicely done!

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  2. I also like the crop, colors and reflections!

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  3. What a great interpretation! This rower really needed a background, and your dock is just perfect!

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  4. beautiful interpretation!It is nice!

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  5. You might not like to do those little details like the fingers on the hand in this subject but you did a fabulous job. your entry to DSFDF is great.

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  6. I agree the face and tiny hands were quite a task! You did great though. Love your additions to the subject, the added reflections behind are beautiful. Great job, very creative!

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  7. i'm with you rosemary liked the tomatoes and onions better.. this one wasn't my cup of tea.. like that you put other boats in.. sorry you needed to yank em', right back out.. but know that feeling, all too well!! like your reflections and the swells of the water.. so what is tonight going to bring?? here's hoping its some thing i dont have to struggle with, too much.. !!! LOL

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  8. Vegetables are a lot easier than tiny hands...so much for our comfort zone! Still, a nice entry...and nice cropping on your painting.

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  9. Thank you Claire, Maria and Deb! I appreciate your comments...I was thinking about trying to finish the larger painting since I didn't use the saw or knife on it yet...but think I will stay with the crop!

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  10. Thanks Sylvaine! So glad you made it to the
    cabin and that you have internet service there! I appreciate your comment!

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  11. Dominique, Ann and Glenda...Thank you so very much! I appreciate every word!! Yes, this one took me out of my comfort zone for sure!

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  12. Thanks for visiting my blog, Nithya! And thanks for the nice comments. I enjoyed visiting "A Splash of Color" and plan to go back often!

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  13. Cindi, Gotta give us both credit...we did this one...and it was a challenge! Glad you liked my water...we will have fun with the next one no matter what it is, right?

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  14. thanks for posting on my blog, Rosemary.
    You have a wonderful blog and some really great art work. Will check back when I have a little more time.
    Happy painting.

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  15. Thanks Gary! I really enjoy visiting your blog...but do tend to stay a while. Very interesting posts as well as great art! Hope you get a blue ribbon with that buck!

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  16. The additional boats add so much more interest to the composition. Very creative and nicely painted!

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  17. Thanks Gwen
    Guess I will finish the boats and maybe not crop after all. Still looking at it ...

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  18. Rosmary, you did a really nice job on this challenge, especially with the figure.

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  19. Thanks Stephen! I really appreciate your stopping by and your comments!

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