I decided I needed to attempt a different subject if I was going to begin
to answer my own questions. There are many portraits underneath this
one . . . all disappointing. In a moment of frustration, I loaded up a brush
with a milky color, liquin and Gamsol and washed over areas and suddenly
started seeing what I wanted to see on the canvas! It was so freeing to
obliterate all the hard work and not mind all the time spent on previous
versions. It was a way to let go of control and add that element of
surprise that I valued so much in printmaking. This is just another step
but one that opens new ways of applying paint. It brings me back to the
"search" part of painting which had faded while I was so focused on
a "good" result. Claire Christinel wrote a very articulate "translation" of
"paint what you see" in the comments link on my previous post.
12 comments:
I know I feel a pressure to create a painting that is more of a finished product than a practice. And.... I am not supporting our family with my painting. Thank goodness! I admire your desire to challenge yourself. I think you did a very nice job with this portrait. Sometimes it is the slightest touch that will make it work or not. So fun! Sometimes.
Lorraine this portrait is impressive and powerful. I find your mark making so full of energy and emotion, and you have a distinct style. I think you should start entering Bold Brush! But if you're still searching, maybe it's a matter of putting enough starts and finishes behind you, which could lead you to your answer. I'm planning a blog project as soon as the Spring arrives. Maybe something like that could help you too.
Oh Yes it's you ! What a strong portrait !
Your eyes are so blue !
Kiss
Wonderful portrait, Lorraine. The canvas is loaded with so much paint and wonderful brushstrokes! Keep searching. I feel it will lead you someplace magical!
Nous cherchons toutes et tous, cela m'est arrivé aussi d'effacer la peinture sur une toile et le résultat correspondait mieux à ce que je souhaitai sur l'instant! Belle recherche puisque le résultat nous plaît et te plaît cette fois! superbe vraiment.
I'm spending the morning catching up on blogs. I have found your last few posts and comments so interesting. There are so many elements in a painting. You are so good at articulating what you want and value in your work. I find your paintings are full of emotion, beautiful loose brushstrokes and colors that express mood and atmosphere. Your portrait is a good example. Gorgeous!
très ressemblant..!
Thanks for the encouraging comment Lorraine! I'm seriously going to post that statement on my easel and think carefully about how I interpret on canvas. I'm glad you made me go back and look at what I said. So here's to the our search evolving!
This is a beautiful portrait Lorraine! I like your colors and the composition a lot. Powerful.
Hi Lorraine, last year I took a workshop with Sherrie McGraw, who said something like "if you are going to make a change, make it a big change." Which you did and it worked fabulously!
Thank you all so much for your comments! I am trying to make a big change (shift my perspective in what I'm looking at and shift what I see on the canvas) and although I've been painting, I don't seem able to harness that "big shift" moment at will.
Your self portrait is stunning. It is wonderful how ugly can turn to beautiful when you least expect it.
Post a Comment