by Alison on June 7, 2010
Alas, it was not meant to be.
Today I scrapped a canvas I’d been developing for about three weeks. It had developed considerably from the initial sketch, taking on a life of its own as the image emerged, and I reacted. I really loved the direction it was going so much that I overworked an element, even though it didn’t fit in this particular canvas. Eventually, although it had many good elements, I removed the canvas from the stretchers and binned it. Elements were fussy, and out of balance. In addition, I had manipulated the surface of the painting to a point where it just didn’t pass the grade for my quality control. I just can’t stand to produce an imperfect work.
It is certainly true that I shouldn’t have poured thinner over it and then torn it from its stretchers, but so much emotion goes into painting, and so much of your personality, that sometimes the pot boils over in frustration, a ship on stormy waters, especially after very long painting sessions, like today.
Looking at the photo I took just before I pushed it too far, I am reassured that it would not have been a work I would have wanted to add to my portfolio, as it was. And there was no way I could have made the improvements I wanted to make, without basically painting over much of it.
Nevertheless, I will begin again tomorrow, this time with an improved composition, and with a new idea for what the focus of the painting will be. And it will be even better.
I have learned to accept that the path to improvement is strewn with failures. Trust me when I tell you that this doesn’t make the process any less exasperating, or painful. Allowing myself the space to fail is like allowing myself to take a full, deep breath.
It’s only Art, and there’s always tomorrow. I will begin again.
by Alison on December 4, 2009
I am hosting an Open Studio Sale, offering works of art from just $100, ready framed! They are the perfect recession-busting way to give the gift of fine art to yourself, or your loved ones.
Please come and visit me on December 11th at 6pm till 9pm, and December 12th at 11am until 4pm. Refreshments will be offered.
I am located just east of the intersection of Northwest Hwy and Lemmon/Marsh, next to Bugatti’s restaurant.
by Alison on September 8, 2009
We spent most of today at my new studio~gallery. We made huge progress not only in the phsycial appearance today, but also in my conception of how I will be best able to ustilize the space.
These four photographs show a progression of work today. More to come soon!
by Alison on May 26, 2009
Two opportunities to paint this weekend, which means it was a good weekend. Both locations are in creeks in the local area. The first wide, white and grey, open creek is part of the North Sulphur River, which runs east – west across North Texas. The second is Post Oak Creek, in Sherman, which is snake-like, full of snakes, overgrown and full of flickering shadows and intense wet greens.
On Saturday, I managed just over an hour on my canvas before the skies opened and rain fell from thousands of feet, or so it seemed, to punch down on me and my canvas. I ran for the bridge and headed home with a very incomplete canvas. This one will probably not be one I complete. I prefer to finish my canvasses on location. I focused on trying to use creative brushstrokes to add feeling.
Monday lunchtime brought another opportunity to drag my art bag down steep slopes. This time, the sun blazed like a true Texas summer, dazzling me periodically when the trees and clouds swayed. On my way down the crumbling side of the creek, I paused to watch the rather large snake (rat snake, I think) slither away to shade. I thought I would give it its personal space… Even in the shade, the patches of light were hard to look at for long. My strokes were long and sinuous, like the tree roots and the shadows. I like the colors and shapes in this one. Again, this was completed quickly; I would like to make another version of this in studio, and emphasize the discrete pockets of color, to build a vibrant, squirming image. My vision for this is for there to be no blending at all. Pure impressions of light, color and dark.
by Alison on May 14, 2009
Well, back to the studio today. After some gratifying reordering and cleaning of my supplies, I got to work on these two paintings, both with deadlines fast approaching. I hope to complete them tomorrow.
I am working with a very smooth (and classic) medium mixture for these, of 1/3 damaar varnish, 1/3 stand oil, and 1/3 pure turps. It has enabled me to build layers that are just a tad translucent, or with less medium, completely opaque. Both these paintings are constructed of many layers.
by Alison on May 12, 2009
I’ve had a frustrating morning trying to work on my new wordpress site, but with a little help (thanks Amy!) it’s starting to come together.
The work shown above is still a work in progress ~ I aim to complete it before the end of the week, and will post an update. It is a large work, and comprised of squares of color in oils, to create the same impression as gazing upwards on a Spring day through the leaves of a tree.
