Painting process sometimes, or always, gets as interesting as the final work of art itself. It is, after all, a path leading to the final execution of an artistic idea. Dynamics of the painting process mirrors not only the artists specific determinants, but the topography of the place, time, culture, as well. In a way even the time gets crucial role in the painting process. It’s been talked a lot about the right time to finish an art work . Yet for me the flow of the events has been as important as possible, too. And in a strange way, all these factors have to work in a synergy to make the magic happen. This is the simplest description of my painting process I can give.

Painting my last carnations still life paintings has been such a process. Making it easy to explain now, but almost impossible to trigger in advance, which makes it enigmatic, I guess.

This time it has begun with an unplanned Saturday afternoon jump to the local shop, just to grab some bread. At the cashier there have been those bouquets, some faded away tulips losing their petals and just one carnations bouquet left. That went home with me. Won’t talk about determinism here, it seems closer for me to say things happen when we are prepared for them.

At home I’ve chosen the right vase for the flowers and in the afternoon light the pink carnations almost got a glow. It is this critical strong magenta color that I can not capture on the photo. Perhaps some filters would help, have to find it out.

With the flowers on the table I’ve just needed to make a glimpse over the room to fall into that gorgeous magenta color of the bouquet. Could speak hours about the connotations of carnation flowers and my personal love for them. Like from one side, it is worth mentioning carnations are Slovenian national flower. Grown mostly in Gorenjska region of Slovenia, decorating small windows of old peasant homes, nowadays they are becoming a picturesque tourist attraction. Logically then, the stylized carnation form is an evergreen element of decorative arts in my home land . Writing this I’ve just remembered the old carnations pattern on the museum walls of sculptor Ahčin birth home that I’ve used in the portrait of the late artist. Have a look at this portrait here, as I’ve used the Slovenian carnation as a symbol for artist’s connection to his green homeland. Talking about carnation theme brings back also the memories of my first school day, as I entered the universe of education rocking a blouse with embroidered carnations on it, just to hate the schooling system the very next day. The handmade blouse embroidered with rows of red and blue carnations has been carefully kept by my mother, just to be handed down to my kids.

As I’ve transferred the bouquet to my studio in a minute, I’ve started to paint it. This is a reflex of mine, as catching light and colors has to be done asap. Not to mention flowers do die.

Colored pencils sketch has been done first, it is interesting as looking back one can see which elements have remained and what has been deleted in the painting process.

For the painting part, I’ve worked on it next days, as the basic idea has been captured and the time for the pure painting has come.

So far two still life paintings are presented here. The first one is Pink carnations bouquet with lemons. It is difficult to work with magenta, as it has been also difficult to catch the glowing characteristic of the flowers in the vase. Again the photography is not absolutely true to the colors feeling one gets observing this painting on the wall. I am happy with the strong colorful impact of early spring colors on this canvas, accentuated with tiny hieroglyphic sort of lines made with palette knife.

The smaller canvas with yellow background plays with the colors of carnations even more. I love to see how the yellows of the lemons from the previous painting have become background color here. Letting accurate forms of vase and surroundings behind this canvas has become a small example of my very own japonisme painting. Which has not been intended on rational level, but is close to my heart indeed.

FLORAL STILL LIFE IN COLORED PENCILS

Summer bouquet, oil on canvas, 2019, painting detail

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”
― Leonardo da Vinci