Saturday, January 26, 2013

Bo & Odie Completed

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 40"

Whew!  This turned out to be more challenging than I thought it would be.  Tried to "rough" 'em up, make it more painterly, but I couldn't bear to muck up the eyes and so it kept moving back toward a more finished surface.....  I think it'll be ok, though.  All that's left is to varnish it and haul it 1200 miles to deliver as a belated wedding present.  Even if the recipients view it as a big ol' white elephant, I'm ok with that; they can put it in the dogs' room in the basement.

An aside about giving artwork as gifts:  Caveat Emptor.  Especially with anything bigger than a loaf of bread.  People like what they like, emphasis on "they/them" -- and not YOU.  In this particular case, I went ahead anyway for several reasons: 1) recipients are related to me, my niece and her new husband   2) recipients are huge dog-lovers and 3) some 35+ years ago I made some "art" for her parents' wedding present, and it was definitely a whiter-than-white elephant, right from the get-go.  To their credit, my brother and sister-in-law never let on to my much younger self (not an artist then) that it was anything but welcome and appreciated.

Point is, I would die of mortification if I ever saw that "art" again; artwork is relative and has a shelf life, some longer than others.  Just because it claims to be art doesn't mean it can't be disposed of in due time.  I know my tastes have changed over the years -- haven't yours?

1 comment:

  1. turned out really nice.. they look soft-eyed and soft-skinned. i know about 35 year old paintings coming back to haunt.... eek

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