Great painting is as much about artistic genius as it is about patience. Sorely lacking in both it is my endeavor to become an efficient hack. Some signs that I may succeed have begun to emerge.
Yesterday I posted the first version of my weird tribute to the 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer’s defining ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’. Dated 1665-1667, it would have taken Vermeer days, if not weeks and months, to create the enduring masterpiece. I tried to complete my tribute in ten minutes or so on my laptop. And it shows as evident in the girl’s face and eyes (See the second painting below). Some might argue that it turned out to be unintentionally evocative. I don’t think so because I know that I was slapdashing (not a word) my way to the finish line.
After I posted the first one, I began to work on it again. About half an hour into it, it became number 2 below. I was not happy with the girl’s expression as showing in her eyes. So I worked some more, another hour or so, and then it became number 3 on top. By my slapdash standards,there is definite improvement simply because I chose to spend more time on it. I suppose if I keep doing this for days, it might become even better. However, there is my natural limit as an artist that I have to contend with.
Painfully aware of my low skills I have so far stuck to abstracts although great abstract painting also requires formidable genius. It is for the first time that I have begun to attempt painting faces with some definable expression. Apart from the facial structure of the girl in this particular work, it is the eyes and where they look make all the difference.