"Winter Corn," an oil painting by Lesley Spanos. © 2008, all rights reserved.
“Winter Corn”
Oil painting on panel, 10 x 8″
A farm in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Ever start something one way, just to have it turn into something entirely different? That’s what happened with this painting. It meandered into something else of its own accord, and I just went along for the ride.
I’ve noticed while browsing the blogs of Different Strokes artists that some also do another event called Virtual Sketch Date. It’s similar to Different Strokes: An image is posted, and artists have a week to create their interpretation of it. I hope the VSD folks don’t mind me dropping in! I also hope I’m doing this right and didn’t take too much artistic license with the photo. If you want to see the reference image and all the cool art that was created from it, check out the site here.
This is how the painting began. I started with an orange-ish ground, so I could lay down the snow in the field first, then scratch out the corn stalks. Plus I like the warmth of an orange ground peeking through cold snow.
I worked on it for an hour or so, but the more I painted, the more it didn’t look like me. It looked like a bad copy of a Thomas Kinkade painting, all goopy and sentimental and nostalgic, like a glitter-dusted Christmas card my grandmother would love. But as much as I hated it, I was going to leave it alone and post it, because they can’t all be winners, right?
Well, the next day, I couldn’t stand looking at it. “It’s already a mess, so I’ll just declare it a total loss and play with it.” Feeling a lot less pressure than before, I started stabbing at the canvas with a bristle filbert and lots more paint than I usually use. I’ve had Van Gogh on my mind lately and it was looking a little Van Gogh-ish, so I expanded on that theme. I know there will be people who prefer the first version, but I’m much happier with this one.
Here’s the painting earlier in the process during the second session. I’m not sure if it’s night or day in my scene. My light got a little confused, but the painting is really pretty the way it is, and I’ll take pretty over accurate any day.
Since I piled on a lot more paint than I usually do, I’m not sure how long it will have to dry before I can ship it. It will be available on Boundless Gallery when it’s ready for $125 with free shipping in the US. (International shipping at actual rates.) If you think you might be interested email me using the Contact form and I’ll let you know when it’s posted for sale.
Lesley, welcome to the Virtual Sketch Date. Newcomers are always welcome here and you followed the submission rules to a T so we like you already.
Both of your paintings are lovely, but I must admit the final version has more appeal because of it’s uniqueness. I especially love the blue in the tree. And can I say, since I work in watercolors, I am AMAZED at how drastically you can change an oil painting mid-stream! Thanks for showing the steps. I found them very interesting!
Very VanGogh-ish indeed. Love the liberties you took with this, so fresh, different. Welcome to VSD…lots of fun.
Since I have begun to paint in oils I appreciate your showing your progression and description of your creative process. I love the play of oranges and blues!
carol
Yes, Van Gogh is the first comparison i thought of when admiring your painting. There’s so much raw energy in what you have created! I also think that making the stone building red improves the composition. Thank you for including some of the process, that’s very helpful.
Oh I love it!!! this a wonderful piece very much in the style of van gogh – I love the figure and the moon / sun and the trees -
I have to get my 2cents in. I love the colors and that van gogh look.
I like your initial start but I love the final painting! It does have a Van Gogh look. That was my first thought.
Thank you for the progression photos – I liked them as well, but love the final piece. Very “Starry Night” in one way, but unique to you also – the tree is really nice and I like the person trudging along – it adds a lot to the painting.
So Van Gogh like. What a nice intrepretation of this reference.
Great homage to Van Gogh, as we’ve all said. The sky is very distinctive and the tree is a knockout. It all works really well. Is it dry yet?
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Thank you, Stacy, for the warm welcome. I am already looking forward to next month’s challenge! Oh, and I do love oils for their ability to cover mistakes. I worked in watercolor for awhile, and I had to be so CAREFUL all the time. In oils, I get to change my mind. Which I do, frequently.
Thank you all for your nice comments! You’ve made a newbie feel very welcome. I’m still trying to get around to see everyone’s work.
Andy, it’s still a little squishy.
Oh…both are so lovely, but the Vincent Van Gogh version particularly appeals to me. Gorgeous work!
MD
From Kincade to Van Gogh in one painting!
I liked the cornstalks on the orange ground in the Kincade version, but much prefer the Van Gogh version!
I keep imagining crows in the sky.
This is fabulous!
Welcome to the Virtual Sketch Date. Hope you do them each month.
I love seeing the stages the painting went through;l thanks for posting them. Yours seems, more than the others, to be an aerial view–it’s a nice perspective. And I love your colors!