continuation

I can't believe it's been almost four months since my last post. I suppose it's because the processing I've been going through isn't as tangible as my creative process. I am still here, and I am still working.

This summer I started a series of self portraits which were snapshots of moods. I found myself unemployed for a moment, which was the source of these moods. I am grateful to say that time is behind me, but I feel like the series is not. I would like to complete a 10 piece series of these moods. Here is one I finished in August called Sleepless...

Now that my brain is beginning to balance and crave to create again, there will be more to come (and much sooner than four months.)

added process

I got a new roll of canvas, it was not primed. I've always worked with primed canvas in the past. I was looking forward to the new step in my process. I went out and bought some gesso, treated the canvas, and went at it as I always do. Snag. the canvas is a completely different texture than I'm use to. The paint didn't move along the canvas like I'm use to. I was working on this.....

You can see the choppiness of the strokes. The separation of tone. I was working on the throat when I reached my acme of frustration; started swearing at the canvas as if it had a choice and snapped the brushes I had in hands in half. Honestly? It felt great. I covered it and put it away and fretted about how to move forward.

I went to the store and looked for perhaps a glossier gesso. No luck. So I decided to use a glossy gel medium (which isn't cheap and may cause cancer in California, but I'm in NH so I'm safe) as a second coat after treating the canvas with gesso. It worked....   this is the result of that next painting....

You can instantly see the difference.....  even the eyelashes lay on the canvas more comfortably.

Anyone out there know about a semi-glossy gesso that may be available?

shift

This is one of those paintings that came out of nowhere. No mirror. No picture. Just my own internal reflection on my Self. My style shifted a bit here, in the face, and I feel REALLY good about it. It's minimal and effective. I have no idea if this style will follow me into other paintings. We shall see.

at roll's end

Came to the end of my roll of canvas this morning. To be honest, it made me a little sad. It's been a great roll. It stretched for eighteen paintings.

I'm on a bit of a painting frenzy it seems. I still haven't adjusted the painting I spoke of in the previous post, which currently looks like this...

I seem to have aged us 20 years.

I have two processes, there is the one that takes me a while to find the final brush stroke, like the one above. Then there are the ones that I whip out in about two hours. Those are the therapeutic ones. Here is one I did this week....

This particular one is the final of three self portraits I did over a span of  6 months. Put together a little story unfolds for me. I can see that I was on a journey I didn't realize. A triptych if you will....

frustrated

pensive

diving/jumping into

no abandon

It's been months, I know. A friend recently asked if I was done with my blog, I replied no and intended to post, that was at least a month ago. I have not given up on this blog. I suppose the purpose it serves has not been required.

Truth be told, I have not been painting at the steady rate I had been, which to my surprise I am very comfortable with. As does inspiration, creativity comes in many forms. Not all are tangible and fit in a neat little blog post.  

Above is the painting I am currently working on. Yes, it is covered. That's how it's been resting for about a week. I haven't been able to look at it because I'm not sure exactly what is needed to fix it. All I know is it doesn't sit well in my stomach. I'll take a picture of it as is so you can see the obstacle and result in my next post, which will be sooner that later.

So, in short, this is still an active blog. I am working on a painting. Creativity comes in various packages.

touching base

I can't believe it's been well over a month since my last post. It's not for a lack of creative work I'm grateful to be able to say. Here's another self-portrait that I did a few weeks ago.....

Like the one I did in December it was a quick project and felt amazing to whip out. I think there will be a third. I have another frame the same size.

More soon, just wanted to touch base with those that check in time to time.......

on wit's edge

My relationship with my current painting is in turmoil. I need to break away from it for a minute or two. It's just not.... working out. It's not the painting, it's me. I'm realizing that I'm simply not currently great at backgrounds. The same thing happened with the paining of my brother this fall. As soon as I let go of trying to have a background; voila, fell together with ease.

To clear the frustration and hesitation I felt a deep need to paint something else, and it came with great ease. From cutting and stretching the canvas to hanging it on the wall it took 2 1/2 hours. The process of this painting felt amazing....

This is a different sort of posture, and emotional one. It represents how this painting has been making me feel. I'm going to do what I can not to give up on the other painting. I just need to find the key to understanding what I'm missing.

This is where it currently stands....

The reasons I why I'm determined to find the right path with this painting....

Anyone have any notions or advise on what I'm missing?