From Sketch to Canvas

Luis Colan shows us his painting process. From this Moleskine sketch

to this finished painting.

" I must say there were times I doubted myself and this painting, and came very close to leaving it unfinished. But I decided to keep working on it and not let it beat me. Finally, after posting so many stages of the process I can say "this painting is done." A year and a half ago I had painted the very same image in a smaller scale. I was pleased with the result but not happy. At that moment I accepted the painting as it was since I had just started painting representationally for the first time after three years of abstraction. I felt it turned out cramped and decided to repaint it in a larger scale and give it more air. What I didn't realize, or admit to myself, was that the composition was not good. Everything was huddled up together and having a potato in back of the cabbage did not do anything flattering to the painting. I needed the viewer to read the painting from left to right and the size and placement of the potato was more of a block. In the end I painted over the potato thus eliminating it from the composition forever. ..."

Luis Colan
Painting Process 10
Visit his blog.

[Originally posted 7.28.06]

WIN FREE MOLESKINE! The 2007 Moleskinerie Summer Giveaways

Brought to you by Kikkerland Design Inc, NY

Luis Colan shows us his painting process. From this Moleskine sketch

to this finished painting.

" I must say there were times I doubted myself and this painting, and came very close to leaving it unfinished. But I decided to keep working on it and not let it beat me. Finally, after posting so many stages of the process I can say "this painting is done." A year and a half ago I had painted the very same image in a smaller scale. I was pleased with the result but not happy. At that moment I accepted the painting as it was since I had just started painting representationally for the first time after three years of abstraction. I felt it turned out cramped and decided to repaint it in a larger scale and give it more air. What I didn't realize, or admit to myself, was that the composition was not good. Everything was huddled up together and having a potato in back of the cabbage did not do anything flattering to the painting. I needed the viewer to read the painting from left to right and the size and placement of the potato was more of a block. In the end I painted over the potato thus eliminating it from the composition forever. ..."

Luis Colan
Painting Process 10
Visit his blog.

[Originally posted 7.28.06]

WIN FREE MOLESKINE! The 2007 Moleskinerie Summer Giveaways

Brought to you by Kikkerland Design Inc, NY