I enjoyed participating in
Leslie Saeta's Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days in February and March and was looking forward to carrying that momentum forward. Well...if anyone had told me that I would spend the last few weeks painting and then overpainting and overpainting yet again on the same wood panel I wouldn't have believed it. The underpainting was started in a workshop I attended last August. The large black shape was added from direction given by the workshop instructor. So then what to do? Well I let it sit for several months and finally pulled it out again in December 2017. Added a few daps of paint and collage and left it for another month. Still 'dapping' and getting no where - I finally glazed over it with some transparent red iron oxide, added some stencilling - pulled out some of the dog paintings from the challenge for inspiration and found my rhythm! This all didn't happen without a few sleepless nights and a lot of negative thoughts running through my head. Oh the life of an artist.....
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| 2017 Underpainting (24"X24") |
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| Thank goodness for some transparent red iron oxide! |
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24"x24"
Work in progress! |
Taking a break to let the collage dry, then a bit more paint, perhaps some stencilling, collaging and line work....I think she has pretty good bones!
Janet, she has GREAT bones—bones of iron oxide, for goodness' sake! What I love about this pup as she stands here right now is the dirt and gravel clinging to her, evidence of the rough run she took to get here. She is rugged and resilient, ready for whatever comes next, a persistent little bundle of energy and determination.
ReplyDeleteLove the long history of this painting. When you started it, did you have a specific intention? An image of some sort in your mind of where you wanted it to land eventually? Or were you going mark by stroke, letting it tell you where to take it? Or something else altogether?
Felt good to paint a dog large. Love your description. And who knew iron oxide would open the door! This painting has way too long a history. I was in a 'landscape mode' and every time I looked at this all I heard myself say is 'I got nothing'!! Went from mountains to east coast ice flows and none of it worked. So, yes I did have an idea where I wanted to go - but couldn't get past that black shape. Felt so good squeezing out the 'oxide' and spraying and splashing water & rubbing alcohol on it. After that things came together quickly - found myself in the 'zone' and looking forward to getting upstairs to paint! Several lessons learned - idea(s) are good, don't have to follow slavishly tho', let your marks guide you, don't get caught up in the details too quickly, don't be afraid to make a change and most of all enjoy the process! Think I better write these down (again!!) and post in a prominent spot in my studio. I am painting to a bit of a deadline - making an application to a juried show and wanted to have something 'new'. Landscapes are the usual around here so I am glad to have stepped out of the 'box' and will include this pup in the application. As always thank you for the support and the questions - glad you asked....makes me think more about what I am doing - that is a good thing!! Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your hefty reply here. I learn so much from our conversation. Isn't it funny how we can set out to do something and then go blind, so to speak, not seeing what is right in front of us, leading us. Because we so often think we ARE our minds, we lose track of our true deeper self, of which our minds are only one little bit, and we get lost! Good thing our true deeper self makes itself known one way or another. Awesome that you are making an application to a juried show. This pup will surely win you a place!
DeleteHe is exquisite! Looks almost complete to me. Good luck on the show! Agree with Dotty!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Carol - needs a touch more and good to go....I hope!
DeleteReally enjoyed seeing the journey of this piece. Love the addition of the red. The textures there, and then later on, the warm glow that it adds. Love the layering of patterns and textures, and the sweet disposition. Really interesting to hear about your intentions in the beginning, and see how far you "strayed" from that. Wish you well with the show Janet!
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila - thanks for the comments - yes 'strayed' quite a ways but was the thing to do. Thank goodness for opaque paint and collage! And hank you for the good wishes - have a lovely day.
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