Friday, 12 August 2011

Slowly but surely

In a week where I've thrown a great deal away, I'm very pleased that I kept this painting. It was abandoned in disgust a few weeks ago when, after several attempts, the face would just not form. The paper buckled under the weight of layered collage and acrylic. I grew angry and made half-hearted attempts to put things right... but we all know that never 'wins fair maiden'.

Then, despite anger dissipating, I returned at her with a knife - the art kind and did away with attempted realism to take a more abstract approach. The knife loved all the texture and layer that was already there and a different woman began to emerge, influenced in part by Amy Winehouse - wild, tragic, lost.

I like this direction. I'm not sure if it's finished - or indeed any good but I like its edgy and raw quality and it's certainly an improvement on what was there before. What do you think readers? I'm submitting her to Paint Party Friday for some critique.
By WrightStuff at August 12, 2011
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47 comments:

  1. Diane12 August 2011 at 11:09

    I think she is excellent--do more!

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  2. Nicola12 August 2011 at 11:10

    Wow she is sooooo beautiful!!! I'm so glad you kept at this one I think she turned out fantastic! The energy in this one is great and I love your colour choices, very inspiring indeed :0)

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  3. Šolanje na domu-Waldorf12 August 2011 at 11:25

    I'm so glad you stuck with her. She is beautiful. I love all that texture.:)

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  4. SHERI COOK12 August 2011 at 11:54

    Amazing what we come up with when we push through. Her eyes really steal my attention the most. Great piece! HAPPY PPF!

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  5. Netty12 August 2011 at 12:34

    This is fab Lisa its wild and raw and little edgy just like Amy Winehouse. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  6. Unknown12 August 2011 at 12:38

    She does look wild and lost and a little scared. So if she can invoke all of those feelings you are doing good!!

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  7. Shells12 August 2011 at 12:41

    Wow, great job.

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  8. Clare12 August 2011 at 13:08

    as i was looking at this art work - i thought she looked like amy winehouse - i love the story behind this work - how you wanted to give up but pushed through, reconsidering, reworking - what a pity amy winehouse could not have done the same.

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  9. Yvonne12 August 2011 at 13:39

    So glad you decided to keep her and try something else because I love how she turned out.

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  10. Marcia Beckett12 August 2011 at 13:39

    It is very expressive and wild! I love it. Reminds me of the Fauve painters.

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  11. carol l mckenna12 August 2011 at 13:40

    Great painting ~ you kept with it ~ Bravo! !!!
    Happy PPF ~ namaste, Carol (Share the Creative Journey)

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  12. Maggie12 August 2011 at 13:47

    This is fabulous, and well worth saving! There is a very Amy Winehouse look about it...bold, sad, and beautiful!

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  13. Heather12 August 2011 at 14:13

    i like the edginess and mystery of this...and the color choices.....ahh, you are insprining me to 'throw away' isn't that the best feeling?
    happy friday to you!

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  14. Valerie-Jael12 August 2011 at 14:14

    Great piece, I love it! It was worth the lot of work you put into it! Valerie

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  15. Theresa Plas12 August 2011 at 14:26

    Wonderful! Love that you used the knife on her. Amazing texture!

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  16. Jenn Girl12 August 2011 at 14:51

    Very cool! Great texture, one of my favorites of yours!

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  17. Cindy 12 August 2011 at 14:54

    I really like her, glad you went back to her. always love seeing what you do. love the colors, take care.

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  18. Victoria12 August 2011 at 15:33

    Lisa...spell-binding...she is totally brilliant!! Definately Wow-factor for me...LOVE it!!
    Shine on..you are amazing!
    Victoria

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  19. Joni Nickrent12 August 2011 at 15:44

    oh, loving this...the texture, colors...AWESOME!

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  20. EVA12 August 2011 at 16:18

    I saw Amy Winehouse immediately and wondered if she was you inspiration. Very bold and awesome painting!

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  21. Christine12 August 2011 at 16:39

    She's just beautiful, I see Amy Winehouse in there.

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  22. Unknown12 August 2011 at 17:10

    I LOVE her- wouldn't change a thing; she is oozing with passion, LIFE and attitude! Gorgeous work!

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  23. Anonymous12 August 2011 at 17:32

    i'm so glad you didn't throw her away-she is fantastic! i really love the colours,texture and style of this piece. just gorgeous!

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  24. peggy gatto12 August 2011 at 18:05

    I love the texture and color!
    Outstanding painting!

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  25. Virtual Boy12 August 2011 at 19:19

    Wow, this is amazing! I love the rough look, gives her lots of character~

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  26. Catherine Denton12 August 2011 at 20:06

    Love it! All that texture is fantastic. I'm glad you came back to her. And thanks for visiting My Blog

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  27. Giggles12 August 2011 at 20:49

    I capital L...LOVE her!! I love the skepticism in her face, not to mention your amazing use of color! So glad she didn't hit the trash.... I love how edgy she is too! There is a damsel in distress air about her! You should make prints of her!! You are so talented...I love visiting here....thanks for the inspiration....so sad about Amy..

    Hugs Giggles

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  28. carlarey12 August 2011 at 20:51

    Oh, I'm glad you kept at it and didn't toss this one out. I like this a lot, and it does seem to bring Amy to mind.

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  29. Pam Tucker12 August 2011 at 21:00

    Thank heavens you didn't trash this one! You always do color brilliantly. I love the texture also. She's got that Amy vibe. I definitely LOVE it! :)

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  30. GlorV112 August 2011 at 21:17

    Hi Lisa. Oh she came out excellent!! It's a good thing you kept this painting and introduced it to the "knife." You did a great job in adding all the different color and this piece would be very nice a prints. Happy PPF!

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  31. SwirlyGirl12 August 2011 at 21:42

    I recognised this as Amy Winehouse before I even read your write up, love the colours xx

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  32. Lesley Edmonds12 August 2011 at 23:44

    I love her. Because of the the turquoise in the background and in her eyelids she appears almost see through. Fabulous.

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  33. Carola Bartz13 August 2011 at 00:41

    wild, tragic, lost - yes, I can see that in her. Very vulnerable, so raw. And absolutely beautiful. To me she appears finished. This is a stunning work of art.

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  34. Rosie Kaplan13 August 2011 at 02:17

    I really like this - powerful and in your face.

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  35. Melisa13 August 2011 at 03:37

    She is FINISHED and looking great!

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  36. Carousel Dreams13 August 2011 at 12:19

    Oh wow! She is fabulously tragic and flawed - so interesting...you are too clever!

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  37. Anonymous13 August 2011 at 13:43

    I agree with all the previous posts. I do see the resemblance to Amy Winehouse too. It's very impressionistic which is one of my favorite genres. Beautiful!

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  38. Geckostone13 August 2011 at 14:27

    Oh wow, she is gorgeous! I love the abstract touch, what a great idea!So glad you had the faith to keep going, it was well worth it! She is stunning! Deb

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  39. Fallingladies13 August 2011 at 14:30

    Yes, She's great, I love this style, I wish I could do this but I end up too tight!
    -Andrea

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  40. Anne Butera13 August 2011 at 16:41

    I think it looks wonderful! What an inspiration to all of us who get frustrated when our artwork isn't going how we want it to. Sometimes that's all it takes to launch us to the next level.

    Happy PPF!

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  41. Heather Foust13 August 2011 at 20:17

    I really love this!!! Very cool!! That is what i do all the time. I set it down and then pick it up weeks later. I have a couple of things going on at a time.

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  42. Cameron14 August 2011 at 07:51

    I love her...and prefer to give her a Flamenco Dancer persona! :P

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  43. Concetta14 August 2011 at 09:47

    I am so glad you didnt throw it away, its amazing!

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  44. C.14 August 2011 at 16:32

    What do I think? Its a step into a different realm- a glorious step! Can't believe there was ever one thing about it you didn't like!

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  45. JessiVille14 August 2011 at 19:25

    Wow! With all these comments I'd say you've got a hit! She is fabulous! I love the edginess and bold impressionistic style you captured. I do see Amy W. in this one. So colorful, so tragic. Beautifully and powerfully done Lisa! LOVE her!
    Jessi xox

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  46. Karen Isaacson15 August 2011 at 03:27

    love the abstract nature of it - the way it so vividly captures the features and powerful expression but is also kind of blurry (okay, maybe that's not the word I mean, but I can't come up with a better one). beautiful portrait.

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  47. Michelle Walker23 August 2011 at 04:49

    So hard not to abandon...i am please when i dont but sometime the frustration is too much. Well done for just putting it aside.
    Mxo

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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