Friday 10 October 2008

Great British Summer (5' x 4') oil on canvas...


I don't have much time, so just a quickie. I have a big question to ask though, so any guidance would be more than helpful. Are you supposed to paint the edges of your canvas? There, straight out with it! I only ask because, not being trained 'proper-loike, Mr 'Iggins', I don't know what the form is on these things. This oil painting got sent back to me to 'finish off' (I don't think a frame will be applied, so there-in probably lies the answer.) What did I do? Well, as I'm told to of course! But I wouldn't mind being a bit more scientific about it next time.....

10 comments:

~Babs said...

OH!
COLOR ME BLOWN AWAY!
Love your seascapes Serena!

As for the 'finishing out',,,on a work this size especially, I only paint the edges of the canvas.
Of course if the staples are on the sides and showing, they may only consider it finished if it's framed. :-(
Just my experience, which is not huge.

~Babs said...

I had to enlarge & look again, and just as I suspected,,,,there is a LOT more color in this work than appears at first sight.
Take a (large) bow!

Serena said...

Hello Babs! We've cross-posted, lol!
Mine has nowhere near the colour yours has-I really enjoy your guitars!

Glad you like the seascape- it was painted over a layer of magenta which gave it a lovely hue. And I think from now on I shall just do the edges as mandatory...saves the painting come back!!

ian gordon said...

Good question.

In Nottinghamshire I find every gallery insists on a frame. However, during the application stage the judges will only accept photos to look at. Therefore I've learnt to have a batch of frames made up in advance to the standard sizes of the canvases. Now I never actually fix a painting in a frame until it's been accepted for exhibition. Saves a lot of cash!

"Box" canvases (a.k.a. "gallery canvases), seem to be acceptable at the artist's risk. In this case I always paint the edge as a continuation of the picture. But I know of some artists on the 'net who do much better than me when it comes to exhibiting, and they only ever paint the edge white.

Serena said...

Thank you Ian... a very sensible approach.

I think the confusion for me arose when I did a 'mass artists show' in Birmingham., my first, and was more than a little awestruck of everyone. One person I really admired there because of their professionalism and superior quality of work ( well, IMO!?) insisted that edges should be left unadorned etc and gave x amount of reasons why. Being a complete novice to the painting world then, I listened. I felt very uncomfortable having this painting returned, but we live and learn. Thank you for taking time out to pass on words of wisdom- I like sensible, it cuts out the confusion!

harry bell said...

Gallery wrap canvases (the deep kind) I usually leave the edges white, or go over to ensure they are white. Some of my friends prefer to paint the edges a neutral colour like grey, or a dark grey-blue. I'm inclined to think that continuing the picture over the edge is a bit naff. (sorry, Ian!)

Serena said...

More helpful input! Thank you Harry. (Funnily enough, I painted the sides a bluey-grey.)
I stretch on gallery wrap canvases for my husband's clients and always only to the facing edge, for ease and aesthetics. So I naturally steer towards this style of finish. What is blatantly obvious though, is that I should be doing 'something' with the edges, and not just leaving them blank. Thank you for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

I would try and continue the painting round the edgem As it gives a almost 3 D effect sideways on, I shall ask around at Uni if Iget the chance next week. I bet they say it depends and upt to the individual and what it is they are painting!

Serena said...

Hi Chris- Thank you for answering. It certainly seems to be an individual thing, with the common denominator being the sides are actually painted (regardless of continuation or aesthetics!) I'm really enjoying this blogging- lots to learn, creative injection, thought- provoking ideas, etc!

~Babs said...

I had to come back & see what all answers you got. Definitely an individual choice, I see.