Into the Actual
To take what there is,
and use it,
without waiting forever in vain
for the preconceived—
to dig deep
into the actual
and get something
out of that—
this doubtless is the right way
to live.
—Henry James
Henry, I’m thinking I was probably asked to read something or other written by you, maybe in high school, maybe in college? I contact long-time comrade-in-arms Martha, with whom I shared senior year at the American School in London, and she confirms that we read Daisy Miller. I have no doubt I dutifully read what was assigned. I’m also sure I didn’t give you the time of day and, accordingly, I remember nothing of what I read.
Now I’m thinking I might have done well to get off my high horse to pay attention to what you had to say.
Creating this painting over the course of the summer was a tremendous gift—digging deep into the actual, taking what was, brushstroke by brushstroke, and using it. My experience wholly embodied James’s invitation to get something out of that, no matter what that was and, truth to tell, it was all manner of different things before it found its way to resolution.
The process unfolded in bits and bobs over many weeks and engaged and enlivened me unwaveringly. It included multiple iterations and an eventual reinstallation of the hanging hardware because I’d rotated the canvas 180 degrees midstream.
Each time we had guests this summer, I hung the painting in its then-current form in our recently renovated front entry, returning it to my easel again after the visit to continue probing the unknown, spurred by the next scheduled visit to keep the unfolding moving, at which point it went on display again! It was a great way to work!
I loved not having a clue where I was going, I loved when I suddenly knew and could shift gears to refining and finalizing.
The process was deeply satisfying and rich with flow, an experiential standout for me.
20 x 24″; acrylic, latex, oil pastel, pencil, and collage on canvas
abstract floral
2023
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12 responses to “Into the Actual”
MaryAnn, thank you! This painting was such a big player in SuperSummer23 and keeping myself open to joy. I didn’t feel internally tangled as the process swung hither and yon between brilliance and mud, forward motion and backsliding into wreckage, sureness and uncertainty—I dug deeply and unperturbedly in one actual, the next actual, and the next.
oh oh oh! I’m so excited that you ‘got’ the power of hanging the WIP in place as though it were a finished painting. I learned from seeing it in situ, and I thrived on owning it AS THE ART IT WAS in the moment. Informed and propelled me in the loveliest of ways. And it was the impending arrival of guests that accelerated and inspired me to move forward at three separate junctures this summer when I might otherwise not even have been picking up a brush. So many wins in that approach, and now a cherished artist giving thumbs up to its brilliance—icing on the cake!!!
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Roseanne! Thanks for commenting. I’m delighted that you zoomed in really close to see details. That scribbling and scraping and building up of layers absorbed me and brought such enjoyment. Near the end of the process I treated myself to adding print collage to the mix—I love color matching bits of torn paper and using those bits as paper “painting.” You’ll see words, letters, and some graphic design collage if you really get into playing I-spy!
Sheila, hello! And thank you! I was just reflecting earlier today on the process of this painting—the whole journey was a gift to me. I appreciate your seeing the fun, alive, loose, and free in it.
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