At the suggestion of Lianne, and in the interests of determining from both sides of the coin what makes my art feel like mine, I have decided it might be interesting to look at the paintings I’ve done that don’t give me the good feelings when I look at them.
It was harder than I thought actually; not because there aren’t any paintings like that, but because it felt like I was saying I didn’t like them, or that they had less value than my ‘favourites’.
and the fact that those two butterflies were a total fluke}
So I just want to be clear that I still love these paintings; they just don’t, for whatever reason, have that familiar clicking in feeling to them.
{too pastel for me and no discernible focal point, but i LOVE the details}
What’s quite interesting to me here is that it’s helping me look with a more dispassionate eye at what works and what doesn’t. I can see where some paintings need more work, some need less, and some are just part of a style that I feel I’ve passed through now. Thanks to Lianne for suggesting this exercise; it’s definitely a way to look at your work that gives some clarity, sometimes in surprising ways. 🙂
An excellent idea–its a great learning tool, and also a way to see how your work is evolving.
I love this idea! I definitely don't feel like I have a "style" yet, but I also realize as someone who is really quite new to painting, that it will evolve and slowly come into it's own.
What I found really interesting in this post is how you took paintings that you did not previously 'click' with and then worked through the bits you *did* like. I can also see in these images pieces and styles that you've picked up on, or evolved from, in other areas of your work.
xx
That is a very great idea. I think I may do the same!
Great idea! I *LOVE* the colors of the first painting – so gorgeous. Hope all is fab with you and you are having a rockin summer so far. xx
I'm glad you showed this! I'm impressed by the range of your work and how you're getting to the point of refining it into 'your own'. It must feel really liberating.
Each piece has it's perks, I really like some, but my main point is that it's really interesting to see how these pieces are quite different atmospherically to the pieces you do connect with. And even next to each other here, they're not as coherent as a group, whereas your other post was almost an exhibition of work as there seemed to be a stream of related ideas and feelings.
Its a very instinctive selection process and proves you know your work and can define yourself and your style even if you can't express that in words. Words are not enough perhaps?