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p-e-a-k β Shanties
Published: 2010-02-27 09:49:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 1573; Favourites: 32; Downloads: 0
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Description
Watercolour on Bockingford 300 g cold-pressed40 cm x 50 cm
Like barnacles on the hull of a ship, these squatters' shanties cling to the back of some factory buildings somewhere in Quiapo, Manila. Below is a rubbish-strewn canal.
I realize that "Shanties" is a rather radical departure from my usual pretty and decorative painting subjects - I hope I haven't given you guys too much of a shock!
Living 3/4 of the year in a developing country like the Philippines and having traveled to and lived in plenty of others, I'm very much aware that scenes like this are only too common, especially in and around big cities.
I've been debating with myself for years whether I really should (or wanted to) paint scenes like this.
Well, I finally went ahead and painted βShantiesβ, to see if it would clear things up for me/ finally let me get the idea out of my system. But even after finishing this painting (and thinking of maybe doing a few more) I'm still very much in two minds.
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Comments: 46
hey awesome artist, may i know your real name? as in full name?
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Would love to have you join my group #DA-Art-Gallery
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Well, maybe not so lovely having to live in them, but I understand what you mean
Many thanks for all the other favs as well!
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I like it a lot. Yes, do more!
I love your flowers, but I think it's intersting to also experiment with different subjects.
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I'm very happy you like it, thanks a million for the fav!
You are right, it is good to experiment with different subjects... and I do paint landscapes and scenery every so often. It's just that flowers and greenery are always at hand.
As for painting those slums - well, I still feel "uncomfortable" somehow, but I've started sketches for two more and we'll see how things go.
My "pearls", although they haven't come out and actually said as much, quite obviously think that ma'am has taken leave of her senses, to paint depressing scenes of poverty and squalor like this!
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Indeed, I know what you are saying. I've done a few painting which I thought people must think I've gone mad. I think it's good for us to take risks and get out of our comfort zone, rather than play it safe and only paint what's popular. Keep on being you!
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This is very exciting to look at. I think for versatile artists, it is good to try painting many different things, beautiful and not so pretty. I find myself loving most artists' depiction of the simple little people, and their shanties. There's something very charming about those works, at least in my opinion. So I love this work of yours although I would not like to live there
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I'm glad you like the Shanties, chère copine, many thanks for the fav!
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I love it 
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Thank you Kelly, I'm very happy you like it!
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You can make an eyesore look lovely! Nice job. It is fun to do subjects llike this once in a while. I painted some old tires and flotsum one time, and I sold it!
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Thanks, Sue! Glad you think it's OK.
But I'm still not sure about painting scenes like this. Flotsam and old tires are one thing, but these are some poor sods' dwellings!
The overall response seems to be very good so far, but even so I'm asking myself who would want to hang something depressing like this on their wall.
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Many thanks for the fav!
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I love it! Let's see some more, after all, variety is the spice of life: 
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Hi Karen, thanks a million for comment and fav!
Looks like you are pulling an all-nigher again; it must be nearly 2 o'clock in the morning over there!? Go have some rest!
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I am glad you ventured. I love it. The colors are so explosive it makes the buildings look they are sitting in the hot summer sun. May I ask what kind of paints you use. Did you layer alot or mostly one application of paint? I have a fear of slapping he paint on and not worrying. I mostly apply alot of glazes but I think that quite often it not as saturated as I would like it to be. This piece is very saturated with color.
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Delighted you like it... that is, if one can like something like this.
The buildings actually were sitting in the hot sun - this is the tropics - totally different light than that in temperate zones.
The paints are all Winsor & Newton, and the colours used for the shacks are Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna, Sepia and Prussian Blue. I used Cobalt Blue Deep for the sheets of plastic tarps.
After an initial wash of Raw Umber, it was all direct painting in one go, except for the darkest darks and some detail which I added later.
No glazing for me. I have no fear of slapping on the paint, and especially not here: I was trying to paint as "ugly" as possible!
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I understand the "ugly", I almost feel guilty complimenting the painting. It is so sad and most of the world is not even aware of others suffering. Maybe someday our technology will be put towards helping others more than helping big corporations. I think it will always be up to the common man to help.
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Pat, this is a really well executed piece. I like the way you use the wet paint and indistinct edges to create the impression of impermanence, movement and the fragility of the buildings.
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Thank you for your kind words, but you give me too much credit: This was painted purely "by instinct", and employing certain techniques to create certain effects never even entered my mind. The only thing "planned" was all the stuff I left out because, when you are in front of a scene like this, it is sensory overload in any way you care to imagine, and you feel like you've been hit over the head.
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I love it! I think you did a great job on this, I would love to see more atypical work from you like this. :-D If you want to work on more of these *I* certainly wouldn't object-- not that my opinion means anything of course.
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Thank you! I very much appreciate your kind words, and I'll see what I can do!
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This genre of work, I think, goes along great with you. My best wishes.
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Well... shacks like these there are plenty here, I wouldn't run out of painting subjects anytime soon.
Only problem: I'd probably become suicidal!
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I do it! Sorry for my comment.
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No, PLEASE, I was only joking!
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Simply excellent, my dear Pat
You're really a master
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And you are a very nice and charming man, Alberto, and you exaggerate terribly!
Still, I'm happy you like it - many thanks for comment and fav!
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Incredible painting Pat. You are a master.
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Aw, come on, Nancy, you exaggerate!
But still - thanks a million for comment and fav!
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You did a beautiful job on depicting the eyesore of shanties, as well as empathy for the people forced to live like this. Barrie
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Barrie, my thanks for your most charming comment and the fav - both very much appreciated!
Pat
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