These may be the worst pictures I’ve ever taken, and I’ve taken some pretty poor ones in the last eight years. I snapped these for my benefit – not so much to publish – but, we’re all friends here so what the hay.
I’ve never liked pink. Even as a girl I don’t remember liking pink, but suddenly about a year-and-a-half ago pink began to appeal. She seemed warm and pretty and flattering instead of cloying and juvenile and ick. This is Ben Moore’s Queen Anne Pink, which is close to a Fowler-y pink, though less red (I think.)
I liked it, you know – the process. I knew that I would. Entirely unconstrained. I paint at night, when the house is quiet. I should be tired, but I’m excited as I dip the brush in the can and pull one flat edge against the side, watching the excess fall back into the pail and fill the narrow trough that rings the rim.
I loved the freedom of this project. When I painted the other mural, I worked close. I was eye-to-eye with the blossoms and branches. But this time, I stretched the brush up over my head as far as my hand would reach. I loved the indulgence of moving my whole arm, of turning my wrist and watching the petals appear.
But I hated the daisies. I hated them at first sight. I kept thinking I would grow to like them. They were just as I’d imagined them to be, except that I thought they would delight me and I loathed them instead. There was only one thing to do. I painted over and started again.
Part III, the finale (far from grand) tomorrow. (Really, it might be tomorrow. Three posts in three days. Who knew?)
You are so talented! I enjoy your blog posts so much and admire your seemingly effortless style. Thank you for sharing!
Normally I don't like pink but yours seems to lean toward peach-apricot and that's soothing and very flattering to a lady's complexion.
Seems a lot of people get a "second wind" around 10 o'clock at night, a different kind of creativity kicks in. I call them "white nights" and they're wonderful. I can hear your sons saying years from now, "Late at night I would hear my mom painting these wonderful murals. It was a thrill to come downstairs in the morning, never knowing what I would find, but always delighted. She was something."
Have you always been such a brave, free spirit?
Anxious to see what replaced the daisies? Parrot tulips? 😉
You have such a good eye that when your dining room is finished- it will be beautiful! Thank you for posting the interim photos..
It will be gorgeous, no doubt. Very Andy Warhol-Ish to me!
xo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Artist Sandra Goroff
Patricia, these are beautiful and I think the scale is perfect. i know you are not finished yet, but I love the space between the flowers too. The larger ones have an airy quality, and the smaller ones bring it back down to earth. I love it! RE: pink. The good thing about pink is that I think it's a really flattering color for many–and who doesn't want flattering color when they're having a dinner party? Bravo!
Fashion started to like this pink at just about the same time. Raf Simon did a double-faced wool coat in a dark camel and blush pink reverse. Sigh.