“Ode to Olin” has been completed. You can see the work in progress if you scroll back a few blog posts. I had great fun on this one, doing a lot of building up and then sanding down of surfaces.
A series of layers of paint, added and then partially sanded off, give the textured feeling of the walls. In contrast, the stairs are painted to appear smooth and shiny. Acrylic on panel, 24" x 24"
There are three more panels gessoed and ready to go. I’m trying to decide whether to jump into a continuation of the library series right now or to use the panels for water reflection imagery. Must ponder this one. I’d like to do both at once, but I think I have a better flow if I stick to one type of painting at a time. That was a lesson learned from working on “Ode to Olin” at the same time as several water reflection paintings. There was a little twitch in my right brain every time I switched from one painting to the other, with a short period of adjustment going from the looser water paintings to the more controlled “Ode to Olin”.
Barbara, this is a beautiful work. I particularly love the curve of the rails as they cross. Can you imagine it hanging in the library at Kenyon?
Ron Griggs
Vice President for Library and Information Services
Kenyon College
barbara, this is electric. it has so much energy and yet sense of quiet. great work.
i think the library must make an acquisition.
When viewing this exquisite painting, I had a flash memory of going to my master ballet classes in the old Cornish School of the Arts building in Seattle, WA. You have captured so much emotion from such a static subject. Ah, the touch of an artist is a wonderful thing!
Thanks to you all for the positive feedback on this painting. It’s great to receive encouragement for my work. I’m thrilled to say that ‘Ode to Olin’ has been sold and will be making a new home in the Olin Library at Kenyon College. It’ll be fun to see the painting hanging in the library (the next time I get to Ohio) and to hear about comments from students, faculty and staff!