Monday 29 January 2007

The Whale finished?

I continued with the Whale and as the two friendly colleagues mentioned in the last post comments, I should keep the looseness of the two paintings I had started. The second sitting is always difficult, because I tend to become too cautious. But avoiding the problem is not solving it. So, what do you think?



The Whale
50x40 cm

Here is the concentrated painter photographed by Michael Ornauer, who joins me in this painting adventure. You will find is paintings on his blog, here on my link collection. ------->



Sorry for beeing out of focus, but this shows some of the atmosphere with people passing by.

8 comments:

William K. Moore said...

Bravo Stefan! The whale succeeds on all levels in my book. Like the muted colors and the museum feel. Plus the subject matter is pretty (f**king)interesting and compelling. One of the things I love most in life is to visit the field museum in Chicago to view the beautifully rendered dioramas. Your painting(s) remind me of that style and energize me on 2 levels - nostalgic and narrative. Bravo sir!

Chris Ousley said...

I feel I can walk around behind the display. (Good sense of space.) I always tell my friend Shane that on his portraits with his sense of space I can reach around and slap the subject on the back of the head! Slappable!

W.K., I love those paintings also. Charles Knight I believe. At least the prehistoric ones. I have only been there once in '86

Stefan Nuetzel said...

William, thank you so much. One of the reasons why I have started this project was exactly that feeling you described. The first time I went into the Museum I had the impression the time stood still. Now the Museum is renovating more and more rooms with dramatic lighting and narratives. So I try to capture some of the nostalgia.

Chris, thank you also for dropping frequently by. Your "slappable" criteria is something I am really proud of, because against the 20th century flatness in painting, to capture the air is a challenge.
In the Viennese Museum are also some fine rendered paintings from the 19th century. But most people don´t see them because they are a part of the decoration.

william wray said...

When are you done? The first moment you can be. Less is more. I really like this one. When are you done? The first moment you can be. Less is more. I really like this one.

Stefan Nuetzel said...

Hey Will, why do you repeat yourself? ;-)
After some weeks since I stuck the painting on the wall, I realized that I can´t say more with it. It is so difficult to keep the freshness and more important your initial thought, idea, inspiration or however you might call it, throughout the painting process.

rob ijbema said...

you got it...done!
love it Stefan,i really like the indoor feel you've got here,the green stays on my eyes.
great subject and mood

Stefan Nuetzel said...

Hi Rob, I wan´t quite sure about this painting. I thought of it being too fidgety. Therefore thanks that you find it okay.

General Contractors Waldorf said...

This was great to read