Last month Anne and I were in Seattle visiting family and welcoming in grandchild number 14. While there, we helped with exterior painting projects as well as my painting something for their newly remodeled kitchen. I also made a second painting, but we’re featuring just one here. It was a busy week (just how I like it).
Deciding on the approach
That’s daughter Cambria, the new mother (now of three) two weeks after giving birth, at a rare moment of sitting long enough to make some decisions. The bits of color about to get on her bathrobe are freshly made swatches that match colors in her kitchen. (Permission to share bathrobe pictures not received :-)
The thumbnails
Her idea was to do something that would reflect their Northwest area. After deciding on a six-ft. tall piece of Mount Ranier for their stairwell, she opted for tulip fields for the kitchen. The pencil sketch shows two graphic options; the tiny oil paintings, color options. She chose the one with white flowers.
The intended space
The house has been almost a year in remodeling with just a few things to finish up. Here’s the nitch intended for a painting. It was a pretty big space for a fairly narrow passage. That’s why I suggested a polyptych, to break it up a bit. The tape was to give us an idea of final placement.
My provisional studio
A polyptych is one painting on multiple panels. While I’ve made a number of triptychs (one painting on three panels), this was my first quadiptych (another term that works). I set up in a spare room, with an easel roughly constructed of scrap 2x4s and c-clamps, my reference sketches on the wall, and a picture of a bloom on a bag of tulip bulbs.
Getting the initial shapes up
Note also the one-inch strips of wood placed between each of the canvases. It’s because the space itself is part of the composition. The edges of the canvas would eventually be painted as well for visual continuity. Note also that, while the chosen option was for white tulips, I started with red just so I could see them.
The essence is established
The idea was to capture the look of the expansive tulip fields that glorify the landscape in certain areas at certain times of year. A few in the foreground would indicate the mass in the background, with a row of red ones just before the distant hills . . . just for pizazz.
The painting at mid-stage
The way I paint (and teach) is to create a painting in stages. That is, as much as possible I’m working at the same degree of detail (or non-detail) over the whole painting. Conceivably the painting could be considered finished at any stage. The challenge then is to stop before it’s overworked.
The white begins
Remember, they were to be white tulips. As it happened, using red first really didn’t serve me. Oil paint is slow in drying and as I applied the white it would turn pink. But with a bit of scraping and applying a thick layers of paint, it began to conform to what I was after.
Nearing final stage
Here we are about mid-week. The tulip painting was happening between periods of helping son-in-law Shon with the eve-painting project outside. Oh well, it’s all painting. Note the idea here of including a swath of yellow tulips. It could have worked, but they didn’t last.
The final painting, before hanging
Here it is, finished, with just enough detail and not too much. I hadn’t painted the edges yet. All the red is gone. Even the hint of distant red tulips went to orange, a decision that was made when provisionally placed in the kitchen to check colors. Each of these panels is 20×24 and could conceivably be a complete painting in itself.
Cambria’s Tulips, polyptych, oil on canvas, 41×49
By the time we left at the end of the week the paint was far to wet to touch. But they’ve since hung it and sent this picture. Happily Cambria loves it. It brings great focus to the area, and beauty. I’m grateful.
Four generations of Hyatts
Here’s an extra, just because. The occasion was the 95th birthday of my dad, Hyatt Moore the second, and the recent birth of Hyatt Moore the fifth. The photo was taken on the porch of the house where I grew up and where my parents still live (Mom will be 94 next month). That’s Hyatt iii (me) on the left, with son Hyatt iv down from PhD studies at Stanford . . . with wife and their two daughters somewhere outside the picture. I just had to share it because these are rare moments, and may not come again. Treasure yours.
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Ongoing and Upcoming Events
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Studio Show and Sale
Our semi-annual Open House Studio Show is coming up November 12 and 13. We’ll have lots of new work to share.
Moore & Moore Art Gallery in Dana Point
Open by Appointment
949-240-4642
Semi-Private Coaching for Painters
Offering 2-hour sessions on Mondays and Wednesday and Saturday mornings
in the Hyatt Moore Studio, Dana Point
Call 949-240-4642
Printmaking Classes
In the Anne Moore studio, Dana Point
For a look at the kind of work that can be made see: www.annesprints.com
Call 949-240-4642
1:51 pm
The painting turned out beautifully Hyatt. Very eloquent and peaceful. What brought me even more joy though was seeing four generations of Hyatt Moores! 95 years old!! What a blessing – and you are absolutely correct — rare moments like that one NEED to be treasured!
Many blessings to you and your handsome family.
Selah!
~Janine
2:12 pm
Hola Hyatt I agreed with Cambria´s choice of painting ( and painter ) It´s interesting to note how white flowers are a natural choice from so infinite other possibilities.Would you risk a theory? Thanks for sharing such handsome work and for the amazing and yet casual shot of four generations.L M
2:29 pm
Thank you for sharing the progression of your painting (and your family). I really enjoyed the journey!
Darlene
2:40 pm
Hyatt, thanks for showing the progression of your painting, and your comments, very interesting….loved the final piece! Wonderful photo of 4 generations, your Dad is precious, I lost my Dad (95) a couple years ago….treasure the moments!
Hugs,Judi
3:11 pm
Hey, Hyatt (III) and Anne,
We so loved the picture and your reminder of treasuring our families. Wow, Hyatt, you’ve got great genes in your brood!
Congrats on your dad’s 95th a real milestone.
BLessings,
Luis y Lisa
4:16 pm
Once again, you are the master. Thanks so much for sharing the progression of this tulip landscape. Especially enjoyed the rare photo of four generations of Hyatts–how fortunate you are!
5:48 pm
I got to see it in person and it was still wet. It looks stunning in it’s location and so does the Mt. Rainier painting over the stairs. I would love a copy of that last photography too.
5:55 pm
Hi Hyatt, even more beautiful than your painting …. your touching family photo ~ 4 generations that is rare – amazing!!!!! thank you for sharing something so special :)
6:22 pm
Fascinating account, Hyatt! At one point, I asked myself why you couldn’t call the product a ‘tetraptych’ or something like that. :-)
6:37 pm
Hyatt, couldn’t help but see the “coincidence” of your 4-part painting and your 4-generation photo! How appropriate. Thereis special meaning there.
Beautiful work and a beautiful family.
6:58 pm
So beautiful, Hyatt, especially Cambria in her robe!
7:49 pm
Delightful.
8:32 pm
Loved seeing the progression of the painting…I like the white too. Loved seeing Cambria, and loved seeing the Four Moores. Blessings to each of you.
Judie
9:03 pm
Thanks for sharing, Hyatt!
It is especially meaningful as we flew into Seattle this morning — a spectacular brisk clear day with beautiful views of Mt Ranier (loved your painting too). The progression of the tulip paintings was fascinating but the photo of four generations & the message of treasuring family moments was the highlight. We are here for my niece’s wedding & a family reunion. It is bittersweet as we lost both parents last year (Mom at 93 & Dad at 95) — but their love continues on. We know they are smiling down on their 6 kids, 8 grandchildren, & 3.5 great grandchildren (yes, one on the way) this weekend.
Again, thanks for the reminder of love & family.
Mary
9:12 pm
Your newsletter shows how your love comes through in your work and in your life. You are such a powerful artist, father, man…. Jane
9:20 pm
I love how I participated in every single step of the process. Thank you for sharing! Congratulations on your grandchild and on your parents! That is precious! I also love the tulips! ; ) Very delicate, peaceful and happy.
10:50 pm
Thank you for the art lesson, Hyatt. I love the tulip fields, and especially like the sense of looking at them through a window. And the four Hyatt’s pictured together – wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
11:47 pm
i just love to continue learning from you
this art is amaizing, do you remember the paint you gave me
in capetown i do alot of painting too
7:32 am
What beautiful work, as always! Thank you for sharing the process and story. Congratulations to all for Hyatt Moore the fifth! What a stunning photo of you all! To have your folks that age and still living in there home is inspiring. Our Life Force convention is being held here in Colorado this year instead of San Diego, however we will be out there in Nov to leave on a cruise from LA maybe we can connect then. Blessings
7:44 am
Hyatt, I really enjoyed reading about and seeing the painting(s) develop! Thanks for sharing this.
8:42 am
Wonderful
12:43 pm
Dearest Hyatt and Ann…
Amazing feat! It’s funny how your eye believes in that breathtaking depth of field; that you’re not bothered by those four big white things in the foreground — instead, you immediately accept them for what they are and spend most of your time enjoying the wide open space of that glorious field of tulips. It’s funny that we even believe that strip of red is another field of tulips. All your lines, everything, even the lines of the clouds draw you in and beyond. Great painting, dear Hyatt! And I loved looking at Ann’s works today, too. Your painting has a frame chosen for it and will be ready to hang on our IDC wall soon. Thanks again for sharing this…
1:02 pm
Hyatt, how wonderfull to be able to “watch” as you created this beautiful Tryptych! The family photos is definitely an added bonus! May your tribe continue to increase! :o)
2:45 pm
Thank you, Hyatt, for the lesson. I like the painting. It really could have been in any of the colors. I couldn’t decide which I liked better. Someday, if I’m ever in the area at the right time, I need to take your “loosen up” workshop.
9:34 am
Thank you for sharing out of the riches of your talent and family! Always a rich offering.
7:59 pm
Fantastic–first, to create your fabulous work–next, to break it down into manageable pieces. I wish more artists were as approachable on the subject. Thanks, Hyatt. Very cool.
3:13 pm
I very much enjoyed your journey through the tulips and appreciate you sharing your family. So special. It must be wonderful to have so much love and longevity in your family to enjoy it all. You are, as always, an inspiration and a joy to know.
4:15 pm
Hyatt – wow…love what you can create! Thanks for sharing with all of us. And it warmed my heart to see all the generations of Moore’s. You and Ann are so blessed!!
Would love to get back to “mentor painting”…maybe when I get back from Idaho at the end of the month.
Blessings to you,
Linda
7:47 am
It’s all wonderful Hyatt….the progression of the painting and all of the photos. Thank you for sharing it all in a most enjoyable and inspirational way.
8:16 pm
It was fun to watch your process and what you were thinking and intending for the final results. It was very creative and quite beautiful. Thanks,for sharing.
8:49 pm
Hey Hyatt,
THANX FOR SHARING. That is is great, quick and accurate learning tool.
Beautiful painting as well !!! Hope you have time to send out more like that to us.
4:08 pm
Dear Mr. Moore, what a treat it’s been to look through your paintings. I must say, I love those thumbnails you did for your daughter’s large painting! Your grandchildren’s portraits are beautiful. Now to click over to your wife’s site.
10:40 am
Hyatt, thanks for sharing both the progression of the painting and the progression of your family. Makes me feel I had a visit with you and Anne. You are right – we need to treasure our time with family — my mother was promoted to heaven 2 years ago, after my taking care of her in my home for 10 years. I know I was blessed to have her for 60 years, but it does seem she was gone too soon. I am glad to see you are savoring the moments with family.