Gold Vase and Gong
11" x 14"
Oil on RayMar board

A few weeks ago I posted a blog entitled "Understanding The Value of Values". It was posted both on my Blogspot blog and on my Fine Artists Studio Online blog. For some reason ... probably because understanding values is so much on an artist's mind, there was quite a lot of back and forth in the comments - especially on my FASO blog. I found the dialogue quite interesting and I believe it helped me to think even more deeply about the subject... perhaps it even helped me to finish it with a bit more understanding.

The above is my painting after the second three-hour "sitting" for this still life in my class with Johanna Spinks at LAAFA. I like it.

I ended up darkening the "gold pot" quite a bit just so I could get the glorious color that was reflecting into the dark side of the pot and still keep darks in the dark and lights in the light. I think when I had added in the reflected colors originally during the first "sitting", I messed up the values because the colors were of a value that should have been in the light family. I also darkened the center area where the gong is because I wanted it to recede. It wasn't one of the important players in this still life.

All in all I'm happy with the way I captured the light's journey across the objects. I think the eye travels around and finds different interesting objects on which to rest momentarily. I was also happy that I was still able to keep the festive colors. Because the vase had become the subject of much discussion online and struggle in class, Johanna ended up giving me the pot of gold at the end of the class. - She made me smile again.

Happy Holidays, fellow bloggers. May your days be filled with interesting challenges that keep your mind busy and filled with joy.