What I mean by LARGE

Last week I referred to working on some large format acrylics. So what is large and why paint that way? This spring I did painted Last Two Beachfronts which was 22 inches by 48 inches. That was not my largest painting, Evening in the Bay, is two inches larger at 24 inches by 48 inches. I have several paintings that are 24 inches by 36 inches, not as large, but still not small.

So, why so big? Why do any artists do big paintings? So they can charge more? Fill more wall space? Large paintings are definately more impressive. One of the comments I hear most from people who have viewed Da Vinci's Mona Lisa (30 inches by 21 inches) in Paris is "I couldn't believe how small it was. I thought it would be bigger." Big art definitely dazzles us. The well-executed use of pointillism (painting with small dots) in Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is even more impressive when you consider the painting is almost 7 feet by 10 feet large.

For as long as I've been studying art seriously (about 18 years now) I've liked working large. Am I trying to impress? Maybe...what artist isn't? My husband (at 6'4") may argue it is a Freudian thing (I'm 5'2"...almost!)..aiming for large when I'm not. Hm..interesting but I'm quite comfortable at my height.

Painting large is a way for me to make art more interactive. Sculptor Louis Nevelson called her creations "environments" instead of sculptures and I've always remembered that distinction. When art becomes more than the wall decoration, it captures your thoughts, makes you remember or dream...you begin to experience the art instead of simply viewing it. That is impressive.

My latest and largest piece has been a long time in the making. I began to work on the composition in my sketchbook over a year ago and finally stretched the canvas to paint this past May. It will be a painting of my son at about age 4 feeding one of the horses on my parents' farm. It is a warm moment full of trust, innocence, and home.

Thankfully, I have a large easel, but this size (36 inches by 60 inches or 3'x5') seems to be pushing the limit. Note the stepstool, I have to use it to draw or paint the top comfortably. I've also found I sit on it when I'm working towards the bottom.

It will take a while to complete, I'll have many smaller works finished during the process. But I'm not in a hurry. I'm further along than this picture but I'll keep you updated as I go.