I was looking to do an abstract inspired by the gorgeous colours of a Corsican summer and pulled out a painting I had completed a few years ago of a corsican hill-top village. I got quickly sidetracked and thought I could improve on this old painting so set about repainting much of it. The result is disappointing, no progress here, though I did get some ideas for colours and textures for the abstract. For the record the original I painted over is shown below.
Other landscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com
graham mcquade 
……………..Graham,
I think the new version is much better than the original.
If you want my two cents, the rocks in the center need
to be more in focus with limited dark shadows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Micheal. I had intended for the foreground to be undefined but my pedantry forced in defined rocks at the top and it went from bad to worse – so those middle ground rocks look out of kilter.
In the end I bailed out – but it was a learning exercise.
LikeLike
Hi. For me, both are stunning images; just different interpretations. Happy Painting Days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Goff. Not sure of stunning, but we all tread this path and need to turn back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some times we all need to turn back; for me, as an onlooker, the works provide the opportunity to reflect upon two different interpretations of the same scene; neither more equal nor less equal than the other; stunning definitely. Best Regards.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful! Both of them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re too kind Beate
LikeLike
New version stays ahead 🍀👌
LikeLiked by 2 people
The second one is much better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, though I’m not sure what universal measurement system you have to rank paintings. Unfortunately the one you like got painted over – though I can see the colour saturation is much greater on it which the other one disappointingly didnt achieve. One day… one day.
LikeLike
I really like what you did. I think it is a hugely satisfying painting now. It will be interesting to see what abstract comes from this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Melissa – glad you liked it. Hopefully any abstract will turn out better – still in the planning stage.
LikeLike
I’m trying to do more abstract and have one on the easel right now. I can’t look it in the eye yet…just sort of sidle past on my way for more coffee. Maybe today it will make more sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, they’re not easy to do particularly when you’re not doing them regularly. I play around in sketchbooks with acrylic and pastels until I am happy with the textures, tones and colours. That is the stage I am at with the Corsican one. In the meantime I am doing a standard seascape – just to feel I am accomplishing something.
LikeLike
I’m coming across more artists who keep one foot in the “real” world and one in the abstract and it is feeling healthy to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess I’m old fashioned but I feel that if you can paint what you can see how can you effectively paint what you imagine?
LikeLike
EXACTLY!!!! And yet when I do manage an abstract, it sells quickly. Seems that is what people want. sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice paintings, for a second I thought the top one looked like an underwater scene, but you did do a good job in the late evening light. Very interesting Mediterrainian styled buildings on the hill.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Shawn, I do love the cluster of buildings on top of the hill and the lack of colour does give an underwater feel. Not sure why this happened.
LikeLike
Wow! I think you are too critical, I like these both, the colors are fantastic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tiffany. I guess it is not achieving what you set out which makes me critical.
LikeLike
Both are very good; while I like representational, the abstract is nicely done
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like both and couldn’t decide between them if I had to because they are so different.
LikeLiked by 1 person