this painting is trying to kill me

I only just managed to crawl out of the studio alive. This painting is driving me (more) mental. It started with an inspiration from Mae Chevrette, using a nice layered beach photograph I took a while back… and then went off on a total tangent without bothering to let me know and now I don’t know WHERE we are. Lost. No map. No GPS. I like some of the shapes but I have not a clue where it’s going or why. It does remind me a little bit of some kind of underwater garden but I don’t feel I’ve had any say in what’s going on here; unnerving!What’s quite weird is that sitting here I suddenly realise that secretly I am enjoying the brick wall feeling it’s giving me. If nowhere else in my life, in my painting I can choose to embrace or ignore the brick wall, and no one’s going to judge me either way. I think a lot of painters come across the brick wall from time to time, but that’s part of the journey isn’t it. If it was too easy there would be no satisfaction at the end, nothing would have been learnt. A challenge makes you think afresh; how might I approach this differently? Suddenly it’s not so daunting, it’s just an invitation to look deeper or further or upside down. So maybe I’ll start there; back to the studio to turn this little beast upside down.

Goodness, I think I’ve therapised myself a little bit in one blog post! There, something learned already. 🙂

2 Comments

Mae on December 6 at 4:21 am

Hi Tara! I totally understand the brick wall feeling– it hits me constantly– and its so frustrating when you've already put so much time, effort and materials into the piece of art. I'm jealous of your ability to persist on with it… every other piece I start ends up stacked behind my desk or stuck in the closet for a month while I figure out what (if anything) to do with it 😉

Have you ever used white acrylic ink? Looking at this piece, especially the awesome negative space and chunky silhouettes, makes me think of an abstract garden… I could see fine white lines and details looking awesome against those bold colors and shapes, and giving each of those silhouettes its own personality if you chose to go that direction 🙂

Tara on December 6 at 10:13 am

Oooh thanks Mae! It is frustrating but worth persevering sometimes I think! It's also knowing when to say, you know what, this isn't working for me, I'd be much happier if I just started again. I haven't used white acrylic ink before – will check it out! 🙂

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Mae on December 6 at 4:21 am

Hi Tara! I totally understand the brick wall feeling– it hits me constantly– and its so frustrating when you've already put so much time, effort and materials into the piece of art. I'm jealous of your ability to persist on with it… every other piece I start ends up stacked behind my desk or stuck in the closet for a month while I figure out what (if anything) to do with it 😉

Have you ever used white acrylic ink? Looking at this piece, especially the awesome negative space and chunky silhouettes, makes me think of an abstract garden… I could see fine white lines and details looking awesome against those bold colors and shapes, and giving each of those silhouettes its own personality if you chose to go that direction 🙂
Tara on December 6 at 10:13 am

Oooh thanks Mae! It is frustrating but worth persevering sometimes I think! It's also knowing when to say, you know what, this isn't working for me, I'd be much happier if I just started again. I haven't used white acrylic ink before – will check it out! 🙂