Monday, March 14, 2011

Cropping Queen

I love to crop. In our Critique Group I'm known as the Cropping Queen which is probably not what artists really want to call me when I suggest cropping away hours of their work. But, as with reworking, sometimes you have to let go of a precious area or two to get a better statement. One of the challenges of cropping occurs when a painting has a couple nice areas but they are at opposite ends or corners. In that case, you might be able to get two paintings out of one.

I've gone through my inventory and scheduled pieces for upcoming solo and groups shows and find that I need more work! I came across a 2006 painting that I like too much to wash off and rework, but it isn't great the way it is. I'm thinking about cropping it into one stronger statement or maybe into two small paintings.

Below, I've posted some of the cropping possibilities and I'd be pleased to hear comments from anyone who sees a clear best choice. The last image at the bottom is the painting the way it is today.






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8 comments:

  1. Dolly SmithMonday, March 14, 2011 at 1:50:00 PM PDT

    I like the third one down.

    I have been thinking a lot about you lately. I am largely self taught and have been mentally flipping through classes I have taken. Yours is the only one that actually had any impact on my art- and the impact was HUGE. So, thanks for that- I wish I could take a pastel class from you.

    Dolly

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  2. Barbara Benedetti NewtonMonday, March 14, 2011 at 2:07:00 PM PDT

    Hey Dolly, good to hear from you. I would love to have you in a class again but I don't teach any more (my upcoming class in CA is an exception). Wishing you all the best!

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  3. Dolly SmithMonday, March 14, 2011 at 6:21:00 PM PDT

    Color me pushy. Have you considered a web class?

    Dolly

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  4. Barbara Benedetti NewtonMonday, March 14, 2011 at 8:42:00 PM PDT

    I am mentoring a couple pastel artists via email. That's sort of like a web class isn't it? I'll think about it.

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  5. Karin GoeppertMonday, March 14, 2011 at 11:55:00 PM PDT

    To me the strongest is definitely the second one. The one with the slanting trees. In my mind it has a kind of abstractish qualitiy and tension to it that makes it interesting.

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  6. AnonymousTuesday, March 15, 2011 at 12:10:00 AM PDT

    I love to crop too....but it is easier with watercolour paintings....especially if you are working on mounted Wallis or mount board grounds in pastel! I really like the first one, but I like the third one too. Have you considered cropping more of the foreground out of the third one, to make it square? I always enjoy your blog and work.
    Maggie

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  7. loriann signoriWednesday, March 16, 2011 at 5:30:00 PM PDT

    Hi Barbara!

    I like the long thin vertical(second one) and the square version the best. You can't go wrong. happy painting, loriann

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  8. Jala PfaffMonday, March 21, 2011 at 2:35:00 AM PDT

    I love to crop, too. it's amazing how many different paintings one could make from one, and how much stronger they often are. My hardest part with cropping is deciding amongst the myriad tempting possibilities.

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