Venice as of April 27, 09
I have to admit I am feeling somewhat vulnerable right now. I have never been this open about a process that usually happens within my mind, by myself, within the confines of my studio. There is comfort knowing that you can have a bad day, screw up or just hide when things aren’t going well, not that today was a bad day. It is a slow process with some days finishing without much being resolved. A lot of change, but not always resolution. You do develop patience though.
I began as I do each session, with a coffee, sitting in my chair (pic below) looking at the painting wondering what colour, layer, technique I will begin with. I started with a blue layer on the right (below) applied with a dry brush. After that I used a wet sponge to drip and throw paint on to the canvas.
In any work of art you need to create tension. I quickly realized that I needed to begin creating some kind of visual tension on the canvas. Tension between the left and right sides, tension between colour, tension within myself. This work when finished will have a balance of stress and strain between the left and right sides of the canvas, between the muddy yellow/green/greys on the left and the grey/blues on the right. How this ultimately plays out, I have no idea, though it does appear that I am losing Venice, the town.
after a blue layer on the right
Here you can see how loose and free my technique is as I throw the paint on to the canvas using a sponge and water using different colours.
detail showing splatter technique
another day at the office done
2 Comments
gary, i so love this photo of you in your studio, surveying your progress. i have done this many times….sometimes it is the agony and sometimes it is the ecstacy…..i applaud your efforts to share this with the world and invite people into your studio, and totally understand that feeling of vulnerability! your work is lovely and interesting and you have my attention : D i didn’t realize until seeing this that you are using acrylics–for some reason i thought you were a pastellist but maybe you are both! this painting is coming along nicely.
the ground, the roots..are strong in color.. what rises above houses or materialism, is the light colors and refined lines of the flowers..your spirituality.. the purple and blue color show the evolution of the spirit..
there are still many fine lines and dots to fill your paintings, many issues to be solved .. an indication that when you paint you let it all out, those daily matters that bother all of us..
You are a well balanced human being, making en equilibrium between your body and soul.. and you certainly are a spiritual guy who longs to be free again from that prison we live in, our bodies.