Without A Plan

I am continuing to paint intuitively, without a plan. I just pick colors that I like and start in with painting. I am stressing texture, line and color - or lack of color. Also, much removing and covering up is done. Wonder where this will end up!

Note to Me

I have been wanting to incorporate words into my artwork for some time, and today I did it with a "Note to Myself". There was something I really didn't want to forget, and I had been working on figuring out how to remind myself of this. I watched a u-tube video by James Kalm that said that words are becomming a big part of the art scene, and I figured there was no time like the present to try this. Paintings as journals can be a fulfilling experience. I will try more.

Searching

I have still been working with the AARP online class, and for the past month we have been exploring ways of expressing ourselves with self-portraits, not in a realistic sense but in abstract form. At the same time, I have been trying to find my "artist voice" as I have had a problem in the past actually defining my work. I love to explore new options and go with the "what if" questions, but I am beginning to see that I can only be myself. I may admire the bright colors and bold statements of others and want to do that kind of work, but in reality, I am a quiet, reserved kind of person who values a more subtle approach. I think that is why no matter how many bright colors and strong values I start with, I end up covering up a lot of it and am left with suggestions of what is there. For me, I don't feel the painting is right or working if it is not refined to a more calm feeling. A breakthrough???

Snow Storm

We have had a snow storm here in the South for the past two days. The snow is beautiful, but it creates a real problem here as we are not prepared for snow and ice. Everything closes down, and we are all stuck at home. Of course, that just gives me more incentive to paint! I am still working on abstract images, and this one is an abstract of a snow storm.

Another Me

I have been working with self-portraits in an online class by Steven Aimone on the AARP website; these are not to be actual portraits of how we look, but rather how we feel. I have discovered that every painting I do is actually a "self portrait" as it reflects how I feel at the time. In fact, doing this kind of exercise can really be a journal done with paintings or drawings instead of words, like a sketchbook. I am going to try doing this often in the future.

A Writer's Life

I have just finished reading Pat Conroy's new book, My Reading Life; and I am thrilled to be able to see some of his creative mothods and inspirations. As I have said before, I am interested in the creative spirit and the connections among the different creative areas in art. Hearing how the artist goes about his/her creation is so amazing, and I have learned that there are common threads among the arts.

Abstract Self Portrait

This is a computer generated self portrait, done in abstract form. It is to be seen as a feeling rather than a realistic picture. It is done completely intuitively without thinking too much, but rather feeling the gestures. After doing this, I realized from comments made about it that it really did reflect "me at that time" and maybe painting from feelings does lead to some truth.