Thursday, February 3, 2011

Enough is Enough

I always feel like I’m preparing for January like a battle. Stock up supplies (pumpkin bread and chocolate) preparing for the months ahead lit only by the blue light of my monitor screen I order a gross of woolly socks for everyone. Mittens, earmuffs, long underwear flu shots Perpetual layered clothing (at least 5-6 layers please). And still I limp away at the end of it wounded and weary. But ALIVE.


I'm done with a deadline and now I have about 45 minutes before I have to start my next one. But I have a painting I've been wanting to fit in so I'm going to take a break and do it.

I have a question for you, whoever you are. How do you know when you are done painting? I don't have a hard time answering this question for other people, but I have a devil of a time answering it for myself. Maybe you can help me?

While I was painting this picture, my husband said I should stop it right about....



















































Here.





I can see his point. Let some of the drawing show through, it kind of has a wood blocky look to it.

But in the end I couldn't do it. My need to fiddle with things won out and I kept going.





































But was I right? I honestly can't tell. Please give me your opinion.

thanks awfully,
Amy
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8 comments:

  1. thedoodlegirlFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    You were totally right. Though I love all of the different versions, the bottom one is the most full and complete. It is beautiful.

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  2. Kristi ValiantFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    I agree with your choice to keep going. The added shadows gives it so much more depth and a focal point. Without the shadows above and on the sides, my eyes would drift off the page. It needed closure. That said, I absolutely adore the second one where just her face and the floor are painted dark. It makes me think more Norman Rockwell for some reason. I would totally frame a print of that. Love your floor texture, btw.

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  3. Allison FouseFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    Amy, I bought a book for one of my sons a few years ago and I fell in love with it because of your illustrations. Then, maybe about a year ago, I picked up a magazine (Junior Hilights, I think it was?) and was reading the story to my middle boy and was so impressed that, although it was vague, the family appeared to be multi-racial. I was fairly certain that it was one of your illustrations and upon looking further, I turned out to be correct! I decided to look you up online to see what else you had done/were doing and found this blog which I have been following for a few months now. Your illustrations stand out for a good reason. You know what you're doing. Trust yourself.

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  4. Amy June BatesFebruary 4, 2011 at 3:33 AM

    First of all, thanks for the different perspectives. It is hard to see it yourself sometimes :) I still feel like I need to push this picture a little. Maybe if I stick it in the closet for a month it will be clearer to me what it needs. THat or the magic closet fairies will finish it for me.

    Secondly, you should all check out each other's blogs because they are fabulous! and I am now humbled. In a good way.
    Thanks,
    Amy

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  5. Phyllis HarrisFebruary 4, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    I know what your hubby was saying but I also love the last painting, too. There is so much charm and warmth with all the colored socks, etc.

    On this same subject...on a piece that's one of my all time favorites of yours...where you left just a bit of the background unpainted was in "The Dog Who Belonged to No One" where the little girl was doing cast shadows on the wall...the last spread of the book before the last page...an absolute masterpiece!

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  6. AnnalisaFebruary 7, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    the laundry color brightens the picture.

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  7. Brian KMarch 16, 2011 at 3:55 AM

    A hard call. If I hadn't seen the final painting I would have agreed with the Mr. but your added details enrich the scene. Still, as much as I love the color and painting details of the final, it seems to take away from the focus of the girl. When I look at the earlier stages I see her, and I see enough of her surroundings to know what's going on. Nice work.

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  8. Amy June BatesMarch 16, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    THanks, Brian. I'm taking a new direction now and working a lot more on drawing and shading . I love the energy and texture line can bring. Something I love about your work, actually. THe beginning of the painting in this post looks like an empty shell to me...we'll see

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