Here are two more of the pieces I have in the works, both of which have left me a bit stumped. I started these with no clear intention, and although I advocate letting go of the idea of a
specific outcome, it's not a bad idea to start with a clear beginning. It can be quite fruitful and also fun to begin with no particular set of parameters: let's just make marks and see where they lead. That's where these started, but I'm not finding it very satisfying at this point because I had the idea that they would be Pieces, not just marks. I've found some elements I'd like to work with - the white-on-white texture, the veiled lines, the incised marks, and to some extent the primary colors. OK great. I've discovered, perhaps, some new vocabulary.
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Here is where I left off at the end of May. |
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The piece went here... |
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And then here, and it is very much unfinished. |
Another Piece in Process:
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This is several steps/layers into the process. |
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Another couple of layers. I liked the quality of the black lines in the upper right, made with High Flow acrylic in a fine line applicator |
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Emphasizing blue |
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Painting over the blue |
At this point I think I will just take what I've learned from these and begin some fresh pieces. Put them aside, and see if subsequent explorations suggest any further development on these. I browsed
Pinterest and made notes of specific things that resonate, which I might incorporate into these or subsequent pieces. I'll see how that translates in the studio. What To Do Next, I think, is to start another group of pieces and try to be specific about my Starting Points. What issues do I want to explore? What elements do I want to work with? And then let the pieces develop from there.
This business of making art is such a balancing act between intention and spontaneity, between considered decision and intuitive response. This is one of the things that makes art exciting and fresh, but also, at times, frustrating. I will let you know how it goes.
Blind Drawing video up next. Stay tuned. Thanks for visiting!