Wendy Ervin Fine Art
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Nothing says Christmas like an Abstract

11/29/2013

6 Comments

 
Say goodbye to Autumn...the Christmas season is upon us! We "cheated" and began decorating a few days before Thanksgiving. Anyone else? I mean, Thanksgiving was SO LATE this year! 

There are so many things to love about the holidays: music, food, decorations, lights, parties, presents...and COLOR. Color is everywhere, all the greens and reds, blues and whites, the silver, the gold, everything sparkling and making us feel....what? What do you feel with the colors of Christmas? This is a serious question; I really want to know! Take a moment and make a quick comment to this post...what colors speak to you, how do they make you feel, what color would you wrap yourself up in if you could?

I have a canvas in front of me waiting for inspiration and paint. I want a Christmas painting for my family room, a big one. It's very difficult for me to come up with a concept for this one. I've scrolled through online examples of holiday themes. I've looked through Christmas cards, magazines, and photographs but everything seems either too precious or too complicated. What I finally arrived on is an abstract with the focus on color. But what color, or colors, and why? 

There are tons of books about color theory and whole disciplines in art for Colorists. Once I thought that's what I wanted to be; now I've seen the light and am much more humble in the face of color and color theory. I mean, just ponder for a day or so what "color" even is! 

Soooo, back to my canvas...abstract with a suggestion of a tree, or trees, colors that complement but don't compete, that speak of warmth and joy, that don't overstate the obvious, something fun and freeing to paint and that hopefully looks awesome on our wall. If it's not terrible, I will post my progress and share the journey. Abstract is unfamiliar territory for me. Which, of course, gives me yet another opportunity to learn stuff. 

Ok, now it is YOUR turn...I would love to see comments as I blog, so I've given you a basic question about color and how it makes you feel. It's pretty easy to submit a response, which by the way, is not the same as replying to the email (many of you do so and I appreciate all your sweet words!). At the bottom of the email is a little phrase that says "read in browser". Click that and it will take you to my website blog page where you will be able to post a comment. I know, I know...it's unfamiliar, intimidating, feels risky, maybe even tiresome, but you, too, can rise to the challenge and join me in cyberspace!
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6 Comments
Janet
11/29/2013 12:16:38 pm

Colors....how do they make me feel? Well, blues seem spiritual, serious, cool, peaceful, soulful....I love greens even though they are hard to paint. Green is restful, relaxing, pleasant, peaceful. Purples are lively, strong, secure in themselves. When I look at newer color schemes for Christmas I find that while I like some and appreciate their beauty, to me Christmas will be the traditional multi-colored trees like I had as a child and like I did for my children. As for as what to paint , well only you will know that my dear. Good luck and enjoy the process.

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Betty
11/29/2013 12:39:13 pm

While I agree with those who love love love the traditional red of the poinsettia variety, there's something so wonderful contained in the essence of a true burgundy red...red that is warm and engulfing, red that invites you to dream of the possibilities of Christmas Eve as a kind of magical reality. And then again, maybe it just reminds me of a really fine glass of wine.
What continues to amaze me is that while that "magic" of Christmas is never ever seen in reality, I continue to believe that what I am longing for in a perfect Christmas is an actual reality somewhere. And I'll bet you that burgundy red is a major player in that reality!

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Shirley
11/29/2013 10:43:34 pm

I am not a fan of primary colors and certain combos are jarring to me. As for Christmas colors I love sparkly clear lights or odd color combos. I can't wait to see what you end up with. If you aren't finished by Tues. Chad's Christmas Lights are now on. They are on Hwy 109 near me. and could be a source of inspiration.

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Betty
11/30/2013 12:38:51 am

On another note: I am so excited that you have decided to do an abstract for your Christmas piece! Something wonderful happens when there's only you seeing the form of "something else" inside an abstract. Cannot wait to watch the progress. I'll bet there are times when you want to pull your hair out and times when you refuse to fix dinner because the painting is working itself out so well. Thanks for allowing us to peek over your shoulder now and then.

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Brad Hill
12/3/2013 08:33:56 am

These questions you pose are so metaphysical. What is the essence of color, what does it evoke? What is the hermeneutic of color? A deep blue, maybe metallic, speaks of depth (like the blue holes in the ocean), of open sky above, it pulls me into depths or up into heights, but doesn't allow me to just "remain."

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Janis D Oetgen
12/24/2013 03:04:43 pm

Color? I love color, but I play with fabric rather than paint. But I love your paintings by the way!! I've had fun with adding the bright lime green with the traditional red in decorating- seems a bit more fun. I would wrap myself up in a deep periwinkle blue.

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    Hello! My name is Wendy and I am passionate about oil painting! Whether in the studio or out in Mother Nature, I get lost in the experience of capturing on canvas the moment and the feel of what I am painting. I pour my love and energy into every single piece of artwork and I hope it shows! This blog is a place where I can use words to talk about art, painting, life, faith, things that make me laugh, and things that inspire. I love every response, so don't be shy about leaving a comment...

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