Posts from the ‘Progress’ Category
the blank canvas
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! You can’t run, you can’t hide…it’s BLANK CANVAS!!! or, maybe that’s just how it feels for me right now. Sometimes I dive into paintings head-first with no fear or procrastination. Other times (like now), I do everything in my power to not start a new painting. I frame all of the old paintings that have been sitting for months un-framed, catch up on blogging, regretfully purchase Diablo III, and even paint art-sticks:
To be fair, I do kind of dig the art-stick (she’s 5 feet tall and her name is Cotton-Candy). But the point is I have been doing everything in my power to NOT start my new painting this time, and I have a theory why. So my last painting, I was really, really happy with (something that doesn’t often happen to me). I thought it was successful from a visual and art-theory standpoint. I thought it had nice color, movement and is one of the favorite pieces I have ever, ever done…and that has scared the shit out of me. I can’t speak for all creative-types, but for me I think there is a deep-seated fear that paintings like that last one are big flukes. That the next one and all of the following ones will be crap, or at the best mediocre…because where that last one came from, I’m not sure.
I’d love to hear some other creatives weigh in on this. Do you think it is harder to start a new piece after a success or a failure? What are other people’s experiences with the blank canvas?
i’m melting…melting
Well it has been awhile since my last post. I went to visit my mother in Houston and we had a whole week of art and studio time together. It was a blast! Plus, I got started on a new painting that I’m liking so far (which I will post pictures of soon).
So yesterday was back to the solitary studio time for me in San Antonio, and it got off to a bit of a rocky start…mainly because of:
Very “Wicked Witch of the West”, no? Well, this used to be a so-so little painting I had finished last year. I’m getting ready for a little show this Saturday and thought I’d frame this piece for the show (Ms. Katy, who is putting it together had already printed out the label, complete with size, title, media and price). While putting a quick coat of acrylic varnish on this…it immediately started melting! Ahhhhh! I tried to stop it by holding the drips with a brush and just made it worse. Art moral here is: DO NOT use workable fixative in between acrylic and pencil layers (thankfully this was the only one I used that stuff on), Krylon Matte works much better and keeps your painting from melting.
So I was very sad, mostly because I thought I had a piece ready to go for Saturday, and now I had to start over. Boooooooo! It had to be the same size, created with acrylic and pencil and have something to do with Poppies (because of the already finished label). So I thought I’d try something totally different and came up with this: (on the back of Ms. Melt-face)
I know it’s not abstract, but it’s about as close to abstract as the uptight, figurative painter in me has come in a while. It was pretty fun, and I think I can incorporate some of the techniques I played with here in my next painting. So, second art moral of the day: Sometimes melting your painting a few days before a show, forces you to try something new. Okay, that’s enough art morals for today, I’ll be getting some finished paintings back from the scanner Thursday, so I should have new art up soon!
progress 4 (maybe finished painting?)
This point in the painting’s life is the hardest for me. It’s the “I think it’s done, but maybe it’s not, maybe it needs something else, but I don’t want to overwork it” phase. All of these thoughts are running through my head as I obsessively look at the painting from every angle, and even backwards via a mirror to try and see if anything looks off, or if the painting needs anything else. The problem is, I’ve been looking at the painting so often, it’s hard to actually see it anymore. This is also usually the point of the painting where I start to hate it (see above statements about obsessively over-examining the poor thing).
This is where art friends can help. They offer you a new set of eyes to look at it, and maybe see something you’re missing. Or, tell you to leave the painting alone, it’s done. This is why working in a classroom or group studio is awesome…and working by yourself in a new city, where you still don’t know anyone…isn’t. So I’m posting it here instead. If anyone has any feedback, I would love to hear it. And I promise you won’t hurt my feelings.
Also, sorry this photo is a little dark, it’s pretty gloomy outside so I wasn’t getting much sunlight. The actual painting is a bit brighter.
jellyfish-progress 3
Well, she’s coming back to life a little here, but she still has a ways to go before she’s finished. I added some value back into the piece and gave her some waves to play in. Next comes some color! That should hopefully really jazz things up a bit.
I took a mosaic class this weekend at the Southwest School of Art this weekend and had so much fun! I really got to play with some color (which is something I often shy away from). Every little square is a different little color study. I still have about a third of it to finish, but maybe when I’m done, I’ll be able to incorporate some of the things I learned about color from it into my paintings.
progress 2 (a painting goes through puberty)
This painting has developed acne, greasy hair, and squeals at Twilight movies…it has officially hit puberty. Almost every painting I’ve ever done goes through a pretty ugly phase I’ve affectionately dubbed “painting puberty.” I started doing this to make myself feel better because this is also usually the point of the painting where I start thinking, “Oh lord, what have I done!? I should have just left it alone!” But usually these awkward, gangling paintings can be brought back to normalcy with a little work. This one might take a little extra work, as the color I laid down was just so dark. I almost didn’t post it, it was so…unfortunate. But hopefully posting it right now, will make it all the more impressive when it is finally a real painting again…right…right? I’ll continue to post progress shots on this one, and fingers crossed, it should be a little prettier.
In other, happy news: My “Bee Mother” painting (thank you so much for the name Emma) made it into the show I applied to last week! Hurrah!! The opening is April 15th at the San Antonio Art League and Museum and all the work will be up through May 26th. I’m so excited already, it’s been a long time since I’ve been in a show. I also put a giclee print of my Bee Mother painting up on etsy.
jellyfish painting-progress
Drawing, drawing, drawing today. I’ve been busy all week framing a few pieces I’m entering into a show tomorrow (eeeeek!). So I was very happy to start a new piece today, and get back to the actual art making. The lay-out part of my art is really fun for me. I get to draw and erase over and over again until I get lines exactly where I want them. My goal for this piece is to post progress shots along the way. Right now it is just some clean lines, but it will eventually be filled with value, pattern and color.
I have fingers crossed I will get into the show tomorrow! I should know early next week.
