I returned to acrylics today after feeling decidedly out to sea while trying my hand at watercolors for a week while on vacation.
Guess what? I still feel out to sea.
I forgot: I don't really ever feel like I 'know what I'm doing' when I paint.
Painting is always an invitation to come full-on and face-to-face with not-knowing.
Tally ho!
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| played with reds on watercolor paper |
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| oh, not at ALL what I had in mind |
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| kept fiddling—added more reds, some oranges, some ink; pulled out my paint pens; used my paper trimmer; work in progress |
12 comments:
I'd like to meet one artist who feels like they really know what they're doing when they create...the unknowing, that awkward uncertainty and uncomfortableness is what makes the magic, I think. These reds are firmly grounded. And the line work, as always, is delicious!!!
The not-knowing IS what makes the magic—and can alternately feel like a curse or a blessing. The part that makes me laugh is how often it feels like a surprise. Hello? How long will it take me to internalize at gut level what I know intellectually??!
Thanks for the feedback re grounded reds and delicious linework, Jen.
It looks so good cut in three! There is an extra dimension of composition, only by cutting it in three. A mini-triptych!
This reminds me of the poppy field in The Wizard of Oz. Be careful, don’t fall asleep...
Simone, I agree! One of the reasons I like working on paper is that I can use the compositional tool of cutting! Sometimes the cuts alone bring a piece to completion when they yield a diptych or triptych. Other times each piece then goes on to become its own more developed composition, and the pieces together become a family or series.
Oh my gosh, you made me laugh out loud, Joje, with the admonition not to fall asleep! Love that this work in progress had an associational element to it for you : )
I have a few of those in my class that seem to be above us all... but I love NOT knowing and discovering... it took a while! But I am fortunate to have good instructors. Love these bookmarks in the making... love the black marks!
I think I have somewhat of a hot-and-cold relationship with not knowing : )
Thanks for your input on the bookmarks in the making, Carol, and your appreciation of the black marks—I love 'em, too!
I 'don't know what I am doing' and I think if I ever should the magic would be gone from painting and the paints and brushes would be put away. We do have that knowledge base for mixing colour, understanding composition and other basics but it is that individual spark that we all bring to our work! Love this - seeing how you painted your way to your final photo - which is absolutely luscious....colour, line work....oh-la-la!!
Not knowing—and the magic therein—has sparked a bunch of conversation and thinking to sink my teeth into today! Thanks for weighing in, Janet. Interesting to muse about my knowledge base for mixing colour, understanding composition and other basics—I'd be hard pressed to name and quantify the specifics of my knowledge base but I do trust (a) that I know more than I can name and quantify and (b) the gift of my individual spark.
Glad that you enjoyed seeing process photos and that you found the color and line work of this work in progress luscisous. Thanks for your feedback!
Love when you remind me that it is OK to not have a clue. I know these are blooms, but for some odd reason... I am thinking raspberries and chocolate drizzle. Ha ha ha :) I think it is the ice cream in the freezer calling me. LOL.
Love today's exploration!
• Of course, we never really have a clue even when we think we do, and that is in the end the gift, the force that most likely calls us back again and again—painful/awkward/uncomfortable as it can sometimes be and enlivening/stimulating/captivating as it can also be.
• I did begin this piece inspired by someone else's painted blooms, but hold that thought about raspberries!
• Thanks for your thoughtful comments : )
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