After several weeks of not producing anything I was really loving on the painting front, {I liked a few things, but didn’t feel that heart pull with them} this happened last Saturday.
I’d just completed my drawing for the day, which I was not happy with, but I saw in it the composition for an ‘abstractified’ painting. {Nothing gets wasted around here!}
Having nothing else on the agenda right then, I thought I might as well give it a go. I chose an old canvas from several years ago that I no longer felt any connection to, and let rip with the red paint, thus:
I used the drawing I’d just done to sketch out the rough composition I wanted to use from it with the other end of a paintbrush, and added a bit of gesso with my fingers because I felt like it, and also because there was a bit of the original painting showing through that I didn’t like.
And then I just painted. The composition I’d borrowed rapidly disappeared but that’s fine – it was a starting point.
After a short time I remembered this image you can see taped to the easel below. It’s a photo I took a while back and messed with in some apps. I didn’t want to copy it, but I planned to borrow a few shapes and patterns of light.
Some of my best paintings come from no planning, from spontaneous choices like this, and from very little thinking throughout. I was listening to Imogen Heap for most of it and that helped me get away from the usual head monologue enough to be absorbed in what I was doing.
As usual, no regard for ‘actual’ colours. 🙂 Nature already does that so well, why would I try to copy it when I can do it my way?
It came together very fast, comparatively. I hardly even spent any time in the ‘but is it finished’ thought process, which was unusual! I just decided it was. {And let’s face it, I can undecide that at any time.}
It was just joyful from start to finish. I love the spontaneous marks, the colours, the lines, the suggestions of things. Just goes to show that it’s worth making art you don’t like, since it can be a stepping stone to art you do.
Unexpected Detour
I love the expression of joy that comes out in this painting!
Thanks Jo!
Tara, this is one of the few occasions where I first looked at the Pictures only, then wanted to go back and read but found myself in the comments sections, without having read what you have said about it. This is beyond fascinating both in Progress and in outcome!! I wonder where the stairs would take me, I would love to wander around in this beautiful colour-landscape and be ready for the miracles they seem to promise – wow! But now let me go read your thoughts as well 😉
best, Nic
I’m so glad you enjoyed it in such depth Nicole. 🙂
A really nice post and a painting even more beautiful! Brava Tara! 🙂
Thank you so much Cristina!
Hi Tara, great work, i like your painting and the way you build it. I think that the unexpected can makes great results if we let it go…and gives us a big satisfaction at the end. Thank you for sharing and i am waiting for your new course.xxx
Beautiful point about the unexpected Maryse – thanks for leaving your thoughts here! 🙂