"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Relic in the Moonlight and Fog

I just finished this painting for the watercolor class I am teaching on Monday evenings. Every series of 6 sessions I teach has to have one truck painting since, as I have said before, I am obsessed with old trucks. This particular truck has made it into several of my paintings, it is a 1938 Chevy truck - and it has been green, black, blue and now a sort of rusty color. I like this 1938 truck - I am the same age as this truck since I was born in 1938 seventy-one years ago yesterday. Maybe that is why I am so connected to this truck - we share a birth year and this is my homage to my own mortality. We are both relics. Anyway - I love this truck. This painting is 1/8 sheet of cold-pressed Arches which has been cropped to be a little narrower. I am currently hung up on indian red and indigo - so - guess what? This painting is basically indian red and indigo. I hope my Monday painters enjoy painting it as much as I have.

12 comments:

Arti said...

This is a beautiful work.Brilliant.

Barb Sailor said...

Arti,
Thank you for such positive comments...I think I am going to have a wonderful day:)

Ginny Stiles said...

I LOVE your truck paintings!!! I have collected some old truck photos but have never tried it. Well, maybe one a few years ago down in Key West. My hubby owns a 1958 red Chevy truck that is his "baby". No rust on it however so it's not quite as much fun to paint. But I could put rust on it! (he'd be shocked!) or I could paint reflections which I think are fascinating. I took a neat fender recently with wonderful reflections in it!!! AND a belated Happy Birthday!!! My 7-0 will come in November. So I should look for a 1939 truck!!!

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Happy B-Day Barb! There is nothing wrong with your choices of color for this truck painting! I, personally am stuck on quin burnt orange, ultra blue and quin gold for my color choices, but so be it! Our choices are what make us what we are! This is such a good painting, go for it!

Cindi said...

love the truck.. great colors.. hubby would enjoy this one too, as he collects lots of old cars... have fun at your class...
ans belated happy happy

Barb Sailor said...

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes! I had a wonderful birthday with grandchildren - nothing better, eh? I think it is interesting that everyone has their own favorite color combinations that work for them...I guess that is what makes painters and paintings so interesting...Thanks for commenting and visiting the blog...Barb

Barb Sailor said...

Ginny - you should definitely look for a 1939 truck - I particularly like the '39 Chevy trucks and you can find pictures if you do a google search - I did! I contact the owners and as for permission to use the trucks as painting subjects. They are usually very happy to allow them to be used and sometimes ask me for a copy of the finished painting - which, of course I am very happy to send.

Christiane Kingsley said...

Barbara, I wish you a very happy belated birthday!
This is a very nice painting; I especially like the negative painting that you used for the trees in the upper left.
There is a feeling of joy in this painting: it is as if all of nature is celebrating this truck's beauty and uniqueness.

Barb Sailor said...

Christiane...what a lovely poetic thing to say about my painting - I am so touched. Thank you...

I like to use the negative painting technique in my paintings as it allows you to take advantage of the initial wash as you probably already know:)
Barb

Barb Sailor said...

Christiane...what a lovely poetic thing to say about my painting - I am so touched. Thank you...

I like to use the negative painting technique in my paintings as it allows you to take advantage of the initial wash as you probably already know:)
Barb

Barbra Joan said...

Barb. I first will say a belated Happy B'day. I love your truck painting, I think I've commented on something before as I too love old rusty trucks. I also thank you for your kind comment on my last post. honestly, coming from you it means so much. and now I tell you a little secret, (shh) I need to look for a '36 Ford. LOL!

Barb Sailor said...

Barbra Joan,
Thanks for the birthday greeting. It is great that we both have a love of rusty trucks and I'll bet that we can find you some pics of '36 Ford trucks:) I am so glad that you have joined the Watercolor Workshop - it is a good group and I try to participate in the monthly projects because I feel it helps me grow skill wise.
Barb