Thursday, May 31, 2007

Freedom in a coin

Pen and watercolor on Fabriano HP extra white A handful of old coins, dating from the 1930's and on.
Although not much worth today, they are rich in history and we can only guess their stories.
I thought it good to buy back my spontaneity with these coins. Lately I could feel myself working very tight, very meticulous and aiming to "do it right". So when I threw these coins on the table, I bought back my freedom. There are many irregularites in this painting..a too dark inside of the silver canister, funky pieces, the colors are wild and it may look more like candy than money, but take my word for it...coins they are. Rusted within a broad spectrum of colors, I could do nothing less than paint a caleidoscope, for therein lies my freedom.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is beautiful! I'd never have thought it was possible to make such a lovely, colourful painting of a handful of coins. Wonderful!

biteyourowntail said...

If you had not told me the inside of the tin was too dark I would never have known - in fact I think it balances the kaleidoscope of colurs very well indeed - and it's good to see something inanimate brought alive by colour like this

Lin said...

GORGEOUS, RONELL!! I LOVE THE PAINTERLY, WASH LOOK TO THIS -- COLORS, STYLE -- CHARMING!!!

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Everytime I visit I'm aways in awe at the amount of work you've produced. And it's always such great quality. This is GORGEOUS. I'm blown away by your use of colour - especially in this one. Oooh I'm jealous too!

Linda said...

I just love your use of color -- how fantastic this painting is! It just jumps at you!

Lydia Velarde said...

I like the juicy, wet watercolor look you have. I like what you wrote about the coins too.
Nice work.

Teri said...

Such a wonderful compostion and use of color. Just perfect!

Anonymous said...

Beautifully warm and sensuous. It is interesting to think about where those coins have been isn't it.

Desiree's Designs said...

Great job on the coins, I love the colors. I have a bag of coins from China that my mom brought home when she traveled there when I was a kid. I might need to dig those up!

sandy said...

I really really like the loose style on this and the colors. This was a success in my opinion!!
sandy

Carole said...

Well done on reclaiming your freedom! I love this colourful spontaneous painting.

Claudia said...

...I like it very much! Very good work!- I have the same problem with being too meticulous sometimes. But it is only sometimes, not always, when I paint. Don't know the reason why, but I'm investigating...:-))

Sandy said...

Oh Ronell these sign with life and vitality - I love the free you!!

Anita Davies said...

WOW! A rainbow in a bottle.
Funnily enough I always think of you as a rainbow of colour so this sketch explains you perfectly to me!

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

beautiful job...but what else would you do?

mARTa said...

I can smell the musty,rusty coins! Beautiful hues..

Serena Lewis said...

Congratulations on winning back your freedom....a beautiful and colourful sketch, Ronell! I love it!!

caseytoussaint said...

Hi Ronell - we're back - I'll call you soon! You've been dong some lovely work while I was away. Has Sandra seen her portrait? I've missed our art days - we'll have to do it this week.

Lynn said...

Wow, who knew coins could be so colorful. I really love this painting, you have achieved a beautiful loosness and spontaneity.

AnaGF said...

They undoubtedly look like coins, only so much beautiful than ordinary coins! I love it.

Brenda Yarborough said...

Gorgeous pigments laid down wonderfully loose! I really love the way you just let the paint flow on this, who knew coins could be painted in such as interesting way.

Laureline said...

Oh, I know those periods of tightening up! You've found the perfect antidote! Lovely, Ronellesque coins.
I need to make a plan for a rendez-vous with you and Casey in September!

Anonymous said...

I love your use of color. It's one way to take a usually mundane subject and spice it up. This is beautiful!

Alison said...

This is beautifully luscious - what a delight.

platitudinal said...

Ronell, I also like the random placement of the coins. They look beautiful in the colors they've evolved to. I'm glad that you're able to retrieve your freedom.