Sometimes a painting appears that just WORKS, and you don’t even really know or remember how it came together, because your Creative Source took over and swept you along for the ride. And then you stand back at the end to survey your work, and you just sort of go ‘wow, well that came out well.’ And then you go and make a cup of tea and have a sit down.
And sometimes, none of that happens.
Sometimes you just have to accept that ‘this one was about the process’.
At no point during the creation of the following did I have the faintest idea what I was doing. I expect you’ll be able to tell. 
{I painted over the half finished painting below, which had been lying around in the stude for over a year. It was basically a mixed media mess on wood panel.}
{collage pieces ~ fabric, lace, tissue paper}
{gesso, obvs}
{pastels}
{pencil and acrylics}
{ARGH. more gesso}
{acrylics and water}
{if in doubt, add Naples yellow}
{drawing with acrylics}
{ugly phase ugly phase! }
{I don’t know what the eff I’m doing and I no longer care}
Well it’s finished, but it doesn’t really feel like me, it kind of feels like ‘old me’, but that’s ok.
I have a hunch that there was more going on inside than outside while I painted this.
I am absolutely fascinated with your process….
*LOVE* seeing the steps along the way.. and think it amazing that sometimes it’s more about the inner process than the outer. I realize I ought not be surprised by this as that’s the way everything in life works… but for some reason I am! This is also a pretty huge relief because pretty much any art that I create must then be more about the inner than the outer since it usually ends up looking like complete crap
oh good lord….
just re-read what i wrote and want to clarify that when i said that mine ends up looking like complete crap, that is not to imply in any way that yours did!!! I think the colors in the above finished product are vibrant and beautiful!
<3
LOVE the colors, textures, shapes and vibrant vibe, Tara… Painting is magical!
)
hey Tara !
Only your end result is better than mine was. I always find your work and your process fascinating. i love that you share so many steps with us and that you tell it like it is. Feeling “off” now and then only means we appreciate our ON moments that much more when they’re here. Happy weekend, girl! xox
You and i were both struggling with the same thing at about the same time (well, maybe i was a few days later than you, but basically, same “holy shit i don’t know what the hell i’m doing” stage.