Struggle Struggle Struggle……….Some days and weeks are like that and this is one of them. I had high hopes when I started this 36 x 72 canvas and toned it all with red. Only thing is, it suddenly just went south on me and became tired looking all over the center area. So I turned it in a horizontal and proceeded after thinking on it for a long time……just painted all of it out with more red. And we’re talking a lot of cadmium here folks.
SO, today, back to the studio to make marks or just DO something with this thing. I made marks, I added paint…it started looking like I am surrounded by forest or something plant like.. I don’t want to know what this is. I am not wanting to paint SOMETHING, I want to paint a good painting without a known subject.
I think it might look better here in my I-phone pictures than it does when I see it in the studio. So happy I added in all that violet. This is waaay too busy for my taste. NOW….where am I going to paint out and what color and value, that is the question.??? Sometimes looking at process pictures gives you some thoughts on what you have done right or wrong, or will tell you that you don’t need any more or that you need a lot more. Sooner or later it will come to me but right now it’s hot and I’m tired.
i like that you had the courage to go through all that expensive cadmium and that you insisted you paint something 'not known'
COURAGE. glad you shared your struggle.
and i like the end result so far. even if this is done…i like it. its wild and intense and has LOTS to say.
thanks for the comments, Paula. I feel inclined to let people know of the struggle as well as the ones that come off the brush easily. I hope the next stage comes easily but I just never know.
ps…gotta get wild when you have this much canvas to cover if you are impatient like I am.
Cheryl, having recently seen "RED" on Broadway, your posts about these canvases conjure up for me the images and ideas and all artists' unknown sources of inspiration that were central to the play's theme. I admire your journey, and more so your productivity. Can't wait to see how it all turns out…
Lisa Oswald
I feel a resurrection a coming here! I like the violet but I love the neutral whitish in it, works well to balance out all the red and gives it a really firm base feel. The darks are really nice! I like it! LOts!
It IS a journey, Lisa. I'll keep posting although I have no real idea yet.
Cathy…I hope for the resurrection..and I know what you mean about the neutrals. Kinda like having to have some resting places in a busy painting,….you have to have a lot of neutral to offset all the intensity. Looks like I'm making a lot of inroads on the intensity. :>)