A new year and courious experiment

After a New Years break I wanted something a bit different to paint. The idea of doing my own version of Olympia with Peonies stuck....perhaps using a concept from a previous Old Masters as Manet most likely did for his Olympia.  Not with the intent of copying as a student might, but seeing if my life experiences and painting techniques would prevail and a fresh 21st century version would emerge....In any case, I nicked a Rubens off the internet titled "Venus at the Mirror c. 1615". Not knowing where this experiment would go, I also used his figures as free models.

MY REFERENCE

Peter Paul Rubens Venus at Mirror c. 1615
MY RESULT
(I'll be kind.....no laborious progress images)

881 Cupids Twin - After Rubens 56x48 oil on linen (1-23-14)

So far, I know, I've taken a 16th century Rubens to the late 19th or early 20th century romantics.....albeit decorative in nature, with some additional modification could it actually move into the 21st? I doubt it very much. I clearly have a romantic slant here, I would maintain. Although I wonder if my typical high colour key is perhaps a bigger barrier in today's world of realism.

That's what I want to find out!

With that thought in mind I want a "quick fix" like Photoshop....as you can see below, reducing the saturation in Photoshop I get a more sophisticated version which removes some of the "decorative high key" aspect bothering me. Perhaps changing my key and adding a few umber's and black to my palette might be a good thing going forward. Of course....LOL my sales will plummet!

Desaturated version

 

Black and White

  You just gotta love Photoshop!

I also suspect for me, accomplishing it would require a palette change and if I did, using all the same elements, would it place my figurative work on a competitive level with my contemporary realists?

Again, I doubt it, it would still read historical unless I applied current taste in figures, something I'll do going forward.

I came away knowing more than when I started plus a few new ideas from my Rubens experiment. I can see this painting more as a potential stepping stone going forward......actually at the end Photoshop saved an enormous amount of time by confirming my main issue; "high colour key" more effectively than modifying or doing another version. While I may not be able to change it, I'm aware of it. I like the paintings concept of peonies intertwined with my figures; a driving force to do it in the first place, and I like the very touchable silk satin fabric bench covering...my favorite part.

Now I'd like to thank Mr. Rubens for the jump start! All-in-all mission accomplished!

Later...........