March 31, 2009

"Out of the Box"

Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel 6" x 6"

Perhaps I should have called this "Out of the sand box" The name is derived from the monthly Daily painters challenge - Out of the box, meaning paint a subject or in a style or medium that you are not familiar with. Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I loath boats and I am not altogether thrilled with going to the beach either. That alone would fit the criteria for the challenge. Blue paint would be another element with which I am ill at ease. My early years as an artist, as I may have stated before on these pages, were spent immersed in the study of the Dutch masters. I may have used the tiniest bit of ultramarine blue to cool down the shadows, but that was it. No cerulean, no cobalt, no Prussian inhabited in my palette. I hesitated to put this painting on the blog but what the hell. It actually has more going on texturally speaking, than one can see from this photo. Suffice it to say that I have new respect for the seascape painters out there.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

You, sir are amazing. 6x6 but with all the detail and colors of a much larger piece. I love the signature in the sand.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Sheila. It's starting to grow on me.

Olga Wagner said...

Mark...I love it. It's very pleasing to the eye. Love the signature, too..

Anonymous said...

Does this mean that a cruise is in your future??

kay Crain said...

Mark!!!! LOL. The painting is awesome as usual, but I absolutely loved your name in the sand. Stroke of genius!!!!!! The closest i've come to anything like that is a painting within a painting where I signed the little painting.
too cool.

....... said...

The first thing out of my mouth when I saw this picture was "COOL!"
I just love it, you paint blue very well.

Mark Adams said...

Anonymous - This artist intends to keep both feet on dry land and his head in the clouds.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Kay. Funny, that just sort of happened at the end. When I have been forced to go to the beach with my wife (she loves oceans, rivers, estuaries of all kinds) I usually draw in the sand with a stick. It was only natural that I scrawled my name into the sand.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Susan. I've been listening to Little Milton and Buddy Guy lately and now I've got the blues.

Diane said...

I've seen the photo and you nailed it Mark!

Mark Adams said...

And you doubted me.

Terry said...

Outstanding as always, and as has been mentioned, sheer genius to sign your name in the sand. Wouldn't be the same painting without it!

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Terry. I blush to admit the signature is my favorite part of this piece.

Terry said...

No blushing allowed! Its great!

Laura Virella said...

I love this. It is very different from your usual colors... much lighter... and you know I'm a sucker for the beach -- any beach. Love it. xoxox

Dean Grey said...

I love that your signature is in the sand, LOL.

Clever!

-Dean

Alvin Richard said...

Your blog is always a treat to visit, you are a master painter. I give you the award for best use of signature.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Alvin. That's very high praise coming from you.