Re-Visioning

"Abundance hinges on our capacity to see opportunity where others see disaster." James Richards, Wired for Success Programmed for Failure

In the early stages of some projects, planning and prepping canvases so there's not been much to share. This canvas is a variation of one that people have been drawn to and offered to purchase but my hubby loves it and wants to keep it.  So I thought I'd see if I could capture some of the elements that have drawn people.  I still have a couple of stencils to add to the tree trunk running up the right side of the canvas (have to cut one of the stencils yet)

The other canvases I'm preparing aren't far enough along for picture taking but I'm hoping they will be soon :-)

"What disturbs you the most may have the most to offer in your creative expression.  Creative persons live in a constant state of search and exploration. One of the fundamental skills of the creative person is the ability to constantly re-vision the world." Trust the Process by Shaun McNiff

Is it any wonder we seem to be in varying states of angst and ecstasy!

Natural Movements

Did another practice run using shades of grey, silver and purple, a new colour palette for me.  I keep these gesso boards around for trying new stuff out on and for my Grand-daughters when we decide to sling paint.  Since taking these pictures, I've done an interference silver float over top of the greys and silver.  I'm liking the results. The purple has receded into the background more which I wanted and the interference silver has settled around the palette knife scrapings creating an interesting effect. The whole thing has a more luminous look and greater depth.

I've really been enjoying the challenge of using these colours and trying to figure out what had me so stumped about using them.  I think one of the main things was finding a way to express my own unique style of layers and numerous washes/glazes that bring the pieces to rich, deep tones.  Or as Shaun McNiff said in Trust The Process,

"Approach your painting with the goal of expressing movements that you find natural."

By denying myself the desire for depth and deeper tones I was never happy with the results I was getting. I wasn't following my own natural movements when I paint.  Interesting huh?

And here is my other canvas, I have some areas I want to tone down and a few other touches then it will be time to let both pieces, the practice piece I've shared here and this one to rest.  I need to hang or set them up so I can see them and over time determine where or what else I need to do to bring them to that place of completion.

Till Next Time!

Repeats Are A Good Thing

Been working on several pieces at once this past week. While one is drying I play with another piece. These are a few shots of a canvas my daughter requested in shades of purple and blue. Wish the picture quality was better, still these give you an idea of what they are like.

Also been reading more from Michele Cassou in Point Zero, she has some interesting thoughts and observations so I thought I'd share a few more with you. I've already posted about the dragons of creative block that we face, but then she goes into several chapters on each of the dragons. One that struck me was a chapter on 'Repeats."

"Doing something more than once is often thought of as being uninventive and uninspired. It attracts the Dragon of Control, which loves to struggle with it."

She explains that there are two types of repeats, a 'controlled repeat' done out of our own frustrations when we can't come up with anything new to do. Then there is what she calls, 'spontaneous repeats' which arise out of a deep place of feeling and exploration, when something powerful or significant is being exposed and so we return to it again and again, each time going a little deeper into the heart of inspiration.

Michele says, "The full expression of certain feelings can happen only through repetitions. Repeats signal substance rather than dullness. Dragons try to discourage painters from going further by making them think they are wasting their time.  During repeats, the painter is actually exploring some new inner ground, some place out of the way, some secret area difficult to reach."

Repeats can come in the form of repeated patterns, symbols, gestures or images, etc.  Now I don't know about you but I found that very encouraging, because I find myself often wanting to re-explore some gesture or pattern in my work and have worried that I might just be a one act show!  Anyhow, something to consider as you face the next blank page or canvas or whatever your creative outlet might be.

NOTE: This is an old post that went unpublished so I decided to share it now as you might enjoy what I shared from the book, Point Zero.

Practice Runs

“The thinking that got you into your problem will never get you out!”   

 James Richards Wired for Success Programmed for Failure

Been thinking about the above quote and wondering how often it applies to me.  Too often I suspect. 

I've been doing a trial run with a colour palette that I've not used (successfully) before in preparation for a commissioned, multi-canvas piece I'm to do.  Greys, black, silver and purple.  Love these colours but boy do I have a hard time painting with them.  So odd, and I figure, time to change that in light of the quote I've been chomping on all week! 

Have the new canvas prepped and ready for paint.

  

Lessons in Subtleties

I've been struck this week by the power of subtleties.  After living with some pieces for awhile I realized there were some minor thing each of them needed that could make all the difference.  Small things that perhaps no one would notice but would allow them to enjoy the piece more.  In one it was just one more short line of dripping gold that pulled the eye to where it needed to go.  It completed the design in my eyes. For another, a couple of elements stole the show taking away from the main feature, so I toned them down and am amazed at the harmony it created.  The last one, required a few collage pieces to take it just a little further as a finished piece.

Subtle changes that made a big impact overall.  It's also taught me a lesson in patience.  Not being too quick to release a piece, in fact, I'm haunted by some earlier pieces I let go of far too soon I fear.  I want to go back and look at them again, see if they are in need of a touch of subtle.

Still laying the foundation for my new canvas, thinking and planning and working in some texture before the paint begins to fly.

"Often we need to break down tired patterns before we can create anew...Everything can be put to use within the creative process." Shaun McNiff ~Trust The Process