Rocket Pops new version.
This is one of a series of paintings that uses landscapes as a way to inject a narrative into a still life. The landscapes were paintings that would hang on the back of the studio wall behind the still life and create a tableau. I did a number of paintings with a fairly minimal background but recently I have begun to wonder if this is the best way to go with these paintings, so, I pulled the varnish off of this one and started painting. I used a few images from the Hudson River School and took bits and pieces in order to construct the painting you see here. As you can see it is quite a difference from the last version. I pulled much of the chroma from the sky and there is nothing minimal about the new background. I am quite happy with the result, enough that I think I might re-visit some other paintings.
Rocket Pops old version.
The content of the painting has changed from being a study in phoniness to an more allegorical painting but I have little doubt that it works better this way. The foreground and background are more together, thanks to the overlapping shapes, and the viewers eye makes its way around better when looking at the composition than before the changes. Let me know if you agree that this is an improvement or disagree.
On the Easel 
Each one is different. I can’t say that one is preferable to the other. Just different in feeling and mood. I think that each one elicits different meanings for me. The new version reminds me of the Dutch styles of still life painting that displayed rotting fruit, decay and nature. Although not in an interior setting… everything is perfectly in place except for the melting and half-eaten Popsicles. It is definitely a more complete composition in the sense that I am not left wanting more. I am visually full looking at the newer version.
The first rendition left me hanging…. wondering what the rest of the story is. Where did they go? Why did they leave their popsicles there half eaten. It’s a beautiful day. Wouldn’t you want to finish your popsicle?
Hi Sara, Thanks for the great reply. So the new version references historical painting more and thus reads as an allegory, whereas the old version reminds the viewer of day to day experiences because there is less of a frame of reference. Interesting. I am trying to decide how this might affect some other paintings I have around the studio.
I believe they both work as a each illustrates two different stories. The first one, a first reaction on both pieces, could be considered an landscape from another world where rocket pops have landed. While the second could be a statement on the U.S. littered environment.
Thats great, I never thought of the popsicles as having a life of their own.
I agree that it is an improvement; however look forward to seeing brand new pieces.
Ha, you and me both! It is fun fixing up paintings but it sure stalls things. I have a show at DCCA in December that should have a bunch of new stuff.