after returning home, i felt best left unsaid 8 was too busy. so i'm going to work on it today & update photos when i'm done.
what does that mean, exactly, too busy? look at the lower right quarter. there's way too much going on & it takes away from the painting as a whole. in addition, it's not in alignment with the spare direction i've taken with this series. not enough white space.
1:52 pm: so i've done some work on this painting, as you can see on the right. i wanted the surface to be like a blank white canvas, which i accomplished by cutting a piece of the same portrait linen i used originally to fit the roughly rectangular space on the lower right, and bonding it to the surface, covering the previously painted area. it's an unusually dark day for crestone, with wind & intermittent rain, making it hard to work. it's also challenging to jump back into work after a 5 day break.
but all in all, i think it's at least moving in a good direction. in the earlier version on the left, the eye bounces around the canvas not knowing where to land. on the right, there is a clear sense we are looking at 2 levels or planes, and the figures on the upper level gain in importance. the little girl in the upper central location, with the pink dress, reminds me of the little girl glancing at the viewer in wide eyed surprise as she darts across the picture plane, filled with self-important night watchmen, in the center of the composition, in rembrandt's the night watch.
the orange bit on the lower right is actually a piece of an old paper palette bonded to the surface of the linen.
BELOW: lyrics to dirt off my shoulder, by jay-z
You're now tuned into the motherfucking greatest
Turn the music up in the headphones
Tim, you can go and brush your shoulder off nigga
I got you, yeah
[Chorus: Jay-Z]
If you feeling like a pimp nigga, go and brush your shoulders off
Ladies is pimps too, go and brush your shoulders off
Niggas is crazy baby, don't forget that boy told you
Get, that, dirt off your shoulder
[Verse One]
I probably owe it to you all, proud to be locked by the force
Trying to hustle some things, that go with the Porsche
Feeling no remorse, feeling like my hand was forced
Middle finger to the law, nigga griping my balls
All the ladies they love me, from the bleachers they screaming
All the ballers is bouncing they like the way I be leaning
All the rappers be hating, off the track that I'm making
But all the hustlers they love it just to see one of us make it
Came from the bottom the bottom, to the "Top of the Pops"
Nigga London, Japan and I'm straight off the block
Like a running back, get it man, I'm straight off the block
I can run it back nigga 'cause I'm straight with the Roc
[Chorus]
[Chorus Two]
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder
You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder
[Verse Two]
Your homey Hov' in position, in the kitchen with soda
I just whipped up a watch, trying to get me a Rover
Trying to stretch out the coca, like a wrestler, yes sir
Keep the Heckler close, you know them smokers'll test you
But like, fifty-two cards when I'm, I'm through dealing
Now fifty-two bars come out, now you feel 'em
Now, fifty-two cars roll out, remove ceiling
In case fifty-two broads come out, now you chilling
with a boss bitch of course S.C. on the sleeve
At the 40/40 club, ESPN on the screen
I paid a grip for the jeans, plus the slippers is clean
No chrome on the wheels, I'm a grown-up for real
[Chorus + Chorus Two]
[Verse Three]
Your boy back in the building, Brooklyn we back on the map
Me and my beautiful beeeeeeeitch in the back of that 'Bach
I'm the realest that run it, I just happen to rap
I ain't gotta clap at 'em, niggas scared of that black
I drop that +Black, Album+ then I back, out it
As the best rapper alive nigga ask about me
From Bricks to Billboards, from grams to Grammies
The O's to opposite, Orphan Annie
You gotta pardon Jay, for selling out the Garden in a day
I'm like a young Marvin in his hey
I'm a hustler homey, you a customer crony
Got some, dirt on my shoulder, could you brush it off for me?
[Chorus + Chorus Two]
You're now tuned into the motherfucking greatest
Best rapper alive, best rapper alive