Merle

Our Fumarolic World

Thursday, September 29, 2011 1:53:04 AM

This painting is on a half sheet of watercolor paper, and is all in w/c except this white spots which are gesso. This was inspired by a photograph I took of a wall water ornamental piece that was made mostly of copper, which because of the constant exposure to air and water had corroded with beautiful patterns of blue and red and yellow. It reminds me so much of the mud pots and fumaroles found in Yellowstone, thus it's name.

Check out more information about fumaroles here.

Pastel abstract. Plight of Tasmanian Devils

Comments

Richardmusickna # Thursday, September 29, 2011 3:18:14 AM

Striking and beautiful. I can see the mud volcano imagery for sure. Very nice.

Sami Serolaserola # Thursday, September 29, 2011 5:43:30 AM

I love the rusty colors and patterns

This makes me wonder how mind of an artist's work when painting something like this. Is it like imitating the colors and shapes on that photograph? Or do you just let your imagination create all those shapes and details?

MerleBlackcalla # Friday, September 30, 2011 3:09:28 AM

Thank you Richard. I didn't give the size in my original post--it's 11x14" or 28x35.5 cm. Some time I want to do a bigger full sheet size (this one is a quarter sheet size.

Thanks Sami. Yes, I think most artists do like those colors and shapes. They're fun to do. I don't try to imitate the pattern or shapes at all. I start with the basic colors and try to imitate the pattern, and then fill in the details where they need to be, afterwards, without even looking back at the reference. Also the original reference image may not be a very good composition, so that needs to be reckoned with.

MerleBlackcalla # Friday, September 30, 2011 3:24:38 AM

I just posted the reference image in my Misc. 2011 album. It's the first one. I was going to post it here, but it's so different, and that doesn't really make any difference, so don't want you seeing both at the same time.

Timplagge # Tuesday, October 4, 2011 2:23:55 PM

Very nice! I can definitely feel Yellowstone (even though all I have seen are pictures)!

MerleBlackcalla # Wednesday, October 5, 2011 12:09:28 AM

Thanks Tim. That's my touch with Yellowstone also.

Sami Serolaserola # Wednesday, October 5, 2011 4:05:32 AM

Originally posted by plagge:

I can definitely feel Yellowstone

I feel autumn in Lapland

http://www.vastavalo.fi/haku-maaruska.html

Timplagge # Wednesday, October 5, 2011 5:03:39 AM

Originally posted by serola:

I feel autumn in Lapland

Wow, gorgeous scenery in Lapland, we have some close friends here that traveled to Lapland last December, and the snowy scenic pictures were beautiful as well.

MerleBlackcalla # Wednesday, October 5, 2011 5:48:46 PM

That is beautiful country, and so well photographed.

Sami Serolaserola # Wednesday, October 5, 2011 5:55:23 PM

Yes it is beautiful place in it's own way

In area of Norway there are mountains and Sweden, Finland and Russian part there are hills and lakes. And lots of swamps, and during summer myriad mosquitoes

MerleBlackcalla # Wednesday, October 5, 2011 5:57:54 PM

Is there any permafrost up there?

Sami Serolaserola # Wednesday, October 5, 2011 6:03:40 PM

I think there are areas where the ground stays frost in few meters deep even during the summer. But during the summer it sometimes is hotter up north than it is in southern Finland. That's because sun shines 24 hours during summer months

EDIT: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Circum-Arctic_Map_of_Permafrost_and_Ground_Ice_Conditions.png