Thursday, September 8, 2016

Awkward Stages of Paintings

I feel a bit scattered in the studio lately, which is not unusual for me in general, but especially when I am between workshops.  Still, I feel it's important to go there and do something, even if it is just playing around or wrecking a few works in progress.  I have been futzing with these "train wrecks" on and off for a while, taking the opportunity to see how much contrast and variety I can get, usually at the expense of any kind of unity or wholeness.  The benefit is that they surprise me.  I intentionally go into awkward and unknown territory.

Whether any of them become finished pieces or not (and some do!), they all go through really awkward, even ugly, stages.  So I thought I would share a few of those awkward stages with you.  I think most paintings (of mine, anyway) go though awkward stages, like adolescents.  So these are my thirteen-year-old girls, or fourteen-year-old boys of paintings.  They are all 19"x25" on paper:






One thing that works for me about the paintings being "ugly" at this stage, or awkward, is that they compel me to DO something.  I am not afraid to "wreck" them, because they are so obviously in need of major renovation.  It is freeing.
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

15 comments:

  1. jacki longSeptember 9, 2016 at 1:05 AM

    I am a fan.
    Great analogy of awkward & teenagers, but so true.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beverly Akerman MScSeptember 9, 2016 at 9:41 AM

    As always, a much appreciated post. I have a question: when you use the crayons, do you use a fixative over them to keep them from running? Just a coat of medium/varnish? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownSeptember 9, 2016 at 10:02 AM

    So much to love!! Even teenagers have wisdom. ...And these are beautiful as is.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Raven In BCSeptember 9, 2016 at 10:13 AM

    Thanks for sharing these, Jane. Very interesting to see the different stages of thought and development.

    ReplyDelete
  5. peegeeSeptember 9, 2016 at 10:34 AM

    Thank you ! It's wonderful to see these ,and know everyone goes through this !

    ReplyDelete
  6. DarlaSeptember 9, 2016 at 10:50 AM

    Love that you showed the awkward process parts. I'm new to painting but I'm a metal worker in jewellery and always seem to hit a stage of "this looks like shit". I trust that eventually it does emerge as something I'm pleased with and try to keep that in mind when I'm painting.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownSeptember 9, 2016 at 4:35 PM

    I absolutely love these!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jo MurraySeptember 9, 2016 at 5:58 PM

    Your teenagers would be my adults. That said, they don't have the usual vibrancy of you normal work.

    ReplyDelete
  9. VJSeptember 9, 2016 at 8:19 PM

    Interesting post, Jane. I need to remember this when my works inevitably reach the awkward stage, and try not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

    ReplyDelete
  10. GwenSeptember 10, 2016 at 11:23 AM

    Thanks for sharing Jane since every painting I do goes through an awkward phase. Sometimes I think I'm finished and really happy with a painting and after awhile ( days, weeks, years) I'll look at it and think "ewwweee" What was I thinking. Kind of like a good relationship gone wrong. Does that happen to you too?

    ReplyDelete
  11. GwenSeptember 10, 2016 at 11:24 AM

    Thanks for sharing Jane since every painting I do goes through an awkward phase. Sometimes I think I'm finished and really happy with a painting and after awhile ( days, weeks, years) I'll look at it and think "ewwweee" What was I thinking. Kind of like a good relationship gone wrong. Does that happen to you too?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tina M.September 12, 2016 at 12:04 PM

    I have the same experience of being in that state of feeling awkward and unable to move forward. I have not been able to go back to the paintings to rework it. Your bravery and tenacity to go back and DO SOMETHING to continue the painting is commendable. Thanks for sharing your process, Jane. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. StephanieSeptember 19, 2016 at 2:30 PM

    Thanks Jane. Awkwardness in my paintings too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. WendySeptember 30, 2016 at 10:06 PM

    jeez, they look pretty great to me. am i missing something?

    ReplyDelete
  15. WendyOctober 24, 2016 at 1:23 PM

    i too think they're great as is.

    ReplyDelete

I have had some spam comments lately, advertising of stupid stuff. So I am moderating comments until I can figure out a better way to prevent spam. THANKS!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)