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Floral Still Life Colour Study?

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meprofile

Gary Martin

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Posted
So this was meant to be a quick 2 hour colour study (30x25cm) for a larger painting but it turned into an impressionistic, loose painting that I think I rather like. I now can't decide if I should spend another day working on it (refining its a bit - but not too much. I will force myself not to get carried away!!) or leave it as it is? 
IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

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Posted
I’d say leave it….force yourself to let go and see what happens. I wish I could….

Sylvia Evans

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Posted
That is rather beautiful Gary...leave it now.
meprofile

Gary Martin

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Thank you both for your wise words...and I know I should leave it....but...I have a horrible feeling I'll be tinkering with it tomorrow!

Tessa Gwynne

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So- Gary, I didn’t spot this yesterday, and am wondering whatever you decided to leave or carry on! I really like it as it is….
meprofile

Gary Martin

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I should have listened to you all. I tried to do an hour on it this afternoon in a rush and not focussed. It didn't go well...that's all I'm saying. Going to let it dry and maybe try to fix it. Sorry, no picture, I'm currently annoyed at myself!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Rush - repent! Only rush at something if you know exactly what you need to do, and it isn't a major effort to do it.  Whether this is oil or acrylic, though - I'm assuming it's oil - you CAN fix it.  Clear the decks - take a new palette of paint to it, with clean brushes, fresh paint, and at least half a day free if possible, breathe deeply, think: crack on.  I sometimes manage to convince myself that a painting is someone else's, and I'm fixing it for them; it's surprising how often that seems to work, even tut-tutting at the imaginary painter's foolishness .... (perhaps being a little doolally helps). If you should fail (and you won't) stamp on the thing, put it through a wood-shredder, and start with a new board.  
IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

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A good idea to pretend it’s someone else’s… if you can. The problem with it being yours is that you often don’t know where you’re going until you realise you shouldn’t have gone there! If you’ve never done that, well you’re just too perfect!
Cold Sunshine 02

Owen Lloyd

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Be easy on yourself Gary. It was only a study, they're there to be experimented on. You did right to push it. Take your lessons and apply them to the larger painting. 
meprofile

Gary Martin

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Thank you all for the advice. I'm much calmer about it now...and thank you Robert for the suggestion of pretending to have to fix someone else's art - I think that's a great idea and I'm definitely going to try that in the future!