abstract

Mirror image

| Anna Cull
Triptych composition sketches
triptych composition sketches
Mirror image of the sketches
mirror image of the sketches

I have finally completed the commission I mentioned in a post about a month ago: an abstract landscape triptych for the owner of a Christchurch hair salon. Sonya (who is a bit of a genius when it comes to cut and colour) is changing the name of her business from ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ to ‘Sign of the Times’ (yes, she is a huge Prince fan) and wanted to mark the occasion with a significant artwork ― ‘significant’ in both senses of the word.

Sonya told me that I could paint whatever I wanted ― the only guidelines were size (to fit a large area above the door), colour (grey and orange, to match the colours in the salon), and for it to include the new business name and symbol. And it had to be a surprise. Sonya didn’t want any WIP images… nothing until it was finished! Oh and it needed to look good in the mirror too. No problem!

I opted for an abstract landscape because I thought that would be a suitable background for the words and symbols. Quite a lot of my inspiration came from the salon’s location near Barrington Park (in the photographs below):

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We did make one final (and fairly major) change to the triptych before calling it ‘finished’ but I can’t show you the paintings until we’ve put them up in the salon and that won’t be until October 1st. Sorry for the long wait. I have, however, just started another painting…

Update: The paintings are now in the salon (a little ahead of schedule). Visit this post to read more…

Things are looking up

| Anna Cull
Things are looking up – acrylic on canvas, 510 x 405 mm, 2015. For sale at The Christchurch Art Show, June 2015.
Things are looking up – acrylic on canvas, 510 x 405 mm, 2015. SOLD

A bit of a favourite, I’ve painted this scene a couple of times before: Stand and Redwoods.

P.S. This is number five of the six paintings I planned to finish in time for next month’s Christchurch Art Show. It feels really good to be on track…

Both sides of the line

| Anna Cull
Landscape in the late afternoon (with cows) – acrylic on canvas, 510 x 760 mm, 2015. For sale at The Christchurch Art Show, June 2015.
Landscape in the late afternoon (with cows) – acrylic on canvas, 510 x 760 mm, 2015. Sold.

“Draw on both sides of the line, not just what you’re enclosing. The shape you’re making on the outside is as important as the one you’re making on the inside.” Leon Polk Smith

My latest painting, the one that began last week with this photo and sketch: a combination of brilliant sunlight and playful cloud shapes. And who doesn’t love finding things in the clouds?

I’m reminded of the Joni Mitchell song Both Sides, Now: “I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down, and still somehow it’s cloud illusions I recall ― I really don’t know clouds at all.”

Landscape in the late afternoon (with cows), landscape detail
Landscape in the late afternoon (with cows), landscape detail
Landscape in the late afternoon (with cows), cloud detail
Landscape in the late afternoon (with cows), cloud detail