Finishing
I’ll punch up a few areas of this painting but it is nearing completion. The orange board below is the underpainting for the next piece. I put a couple of thin coats of casein on the board before starting my drawing.
Casein is such a slow medium for me. It seems that the physical painting takes a long time and that I do more pondering before I paint. I’m comparing to watercolor here, my medium of about twenty years. I thought it was because it is a new medium for me but I’ve been painting several years in casein. It must be more than that.
I’m beginning to think that I have fallen into a new rhythm with my painting. I’m not as driven as I once was — I’m actually enjoying the process more now and have more patience. I once pushed paintings out — keeping them rolling along even when I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. Now, I feel more able to walk away for a few minutes and let my head settle.
Consequently, I think I like what I’m doing better now. I’m in a calmer frame of mind and I associate the work with the positive energy. I still get very antsy about the slower pace of work and I question my productivity but I know from experience that questioning myself is natural. And VERY natural for me.
So I’ll try to remain my friend and allow the paintings to develop the way they should. No stopwatches. No guilt. No counting paintings after I go to bed to decide if I’m doing enough. All that measuring —- I’m giving that a rest.
Why do we do what we do?
I’m continuing to develop this painting. It’s interesting how photographing these pieces at the end of each painting session is helpful. It’s a little strange to see them midway like this away from the drawing table, but not a totally bad thing.
One of the most telling decision an artist makes is their subject matter - or choice of no subject matter. I can only speak from my experience and as an art purchaser but I think it is a reflection of the maturity of an artist. Cy Twombly as well as others I respect speak of the importance of finding our “mark”. I think we all make instinctive choices about how we want to attack a blank piece of paper. We have a natural mark and a personal way of seeing color.
I admire artists who have the courage to listen to their inner voice and use their personal strengths. When they do that, I feel like I’m viewing confident art It doesn’t have to have a clear message because the messages received are personal and varied, no matter what the artist intends. I want to see honesty and confidence that comes from experience and thoughtfulness.
So the goal for me is to always listen to my own inclinations and work in a way that is natural. I try to stay open to outside comments and reactions but I don’t let them direct my work. If I’m not doing what comes naturally and doing it in a way that uses my personal strengths, then why am I making art? I don’t think I’d be making art — I’d just be making.
