Irises Redux

Making a new painting of an image I have already worked does not happen very often. If I do go back "in" it's because I've become inspired once again to spend time with that image, or have found another "angle" on it. I might change the size, shape, or color of the image. Otherwise, to do the same painting over would be boring boring boring.

I recently made a huge painting of two small irises. I was inspired to make the painting again on a much smaller scale. Would the flowers lose their monumentality? Probably. But something different came out, and I'm satisfied with the result.





Irises
Oil: 18" x 24"

Ha Ha! Just kidding. It is often the case that after I think I've finished something, I look at it over a period of time and eventually begin to despise it. Then, there is a choice to be made: rip it apart! Work on it some more? Depending on my state of interest/boredom with the image, I usually wade in. Sometimes the results are a disaster, and sometimes, I am happy to say, the painting improves. Here now is the latest version of Irises:






I really like the new version so much better!




I think I'm getting better at painting. I look at previous paintings that I've made and have the need to enter back in and change them. This particular painting was all yellow and now is blue. I had been looking at the painting for years and although I was basically happy with it, I felt the yellow color was over done and not that interesting. So, years later, I went back "in" and changed it completely. I also, I think, resolved a composition problem in the bottom half of the painting. I like to think that the painting has been moved forward in some way and I can continue to live with it in its new form.



Blue Rose
Oil Painting from "White Rose" 2011

Here's the original: