Silver Globe Pitcher: Overpainting Stage 3

(detail)

Here's a sneak peek at my little self-portrait in the silver globe pitcher.

I thought I wouldn't get much done today with so much juicy politics to watch, but Obama's Inauguration speech this morning (9am my time) was so energizing that when it was over I was too jumpy to watch more on TV, and I was out in the studio painting all day. I did listen to live NPR dissection of the day's events all day.

I've been reading the book "Flow", which is all about how optimum human experience occurs when we focus on challenging work, so I particularly liked this part of the President's speech:

"...there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

Who can disagree with that?

See the previous blog post about this painting here.

Comments

[Liz]

That line in the inaugural address made me think of the line in Babette's Feast (Isak Dinesen): "Throughout the world sounds one long cry from the heart of the artist: Give me the chance to do my very best!"

Very cool self-portrait!

-Liz (hm from adl)

[Sadie Jernigan Valeri]

Ooh, I love that quote!! Thanks for posting it, Liz :)

[Sadie Jernigan Valeri]

I added a link to to the book I referenced, "Flow". The full title is:

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

By Mihaly Csikszentmihalhi

It's a great read - I'll post a full book report when I'm done with it!

[Sadie Jernigan Valeri]

I really, really tried but I still got the author's name wrong:

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

is the correct spelling.

[Johnnie Sielbeck]

Thanks for all the great color information and links - I'll have to devote a chunk of time to the Handprint site. I usually use terra verte and alizarin, but I think now I'll try the sap green and magenta...

I really like your emerging self portrait - makes me want to put my nose up the screen so I can get a closer look!

[Sadie Jernigan Valeri]

Oh you'll love magenta and never go back to alizarin. I used to love alizerin but it can have a "deadening" effect, whereas a good brand of magenta just melts into a mixture.

Try Mars red, too... yummy!!!

I like the sap green because it is nice and dark but also full of color and very transparent. It sinks into a dark mixture, and a tiny touch in a light mixture makes a beautiful "stain" of color.

And a good expensive cobalt makes all the difference, a lot of cheaper brands are chalky so invest in a good tube, it will last you forever.

Yay, have fun! And that Handprint site can suck you in for days!

[Spatula]

I love it, Sadie! There's something so fun about this figure peering back at the viewer. And the reflection is appropriately fuzzy and further back, but still so much visual information. Definitely a spark of extra energy.

Obama has this way of making people more driven to do their best. It's a cool talent.

I love that Babette's quote, too.

And concur on the magenta > alizarin.

[Laurel Alanna McBrine]

I also love that book (by the guy with the super long, unspellable name) which describes what is wrong with traditional school timetables where children are forced to change activities every half hour or so. It is impossible to experience flow under those circumstances.