Showig Up

I have been doing a lot of reading lately; I always like to read about creativity and hear other artists' thoughts. Two things have struck me that I need to take to heart: one is that the artist is a servant of the creative process and his/her job is to show up and listen, the other is to try something new and different for at least one month. Even when we don't feel inspired to create, we need to follow somewhat of a routine and show up for the work; if we listen to the silence, we can access the creative spirit. I am showing up and still working with grids, my "new" thing for at least a month. Today I tried a different approach and did atomatic drawing first, then followed a very faint grid pattern. Much more "uncontrolled" for me!

In and Out of a Grid, again, A Work in Progress

Another day of working with grids! My major conflict of styles has always been doing simplified versus "busyness" in my paintings. I love both and cannot seem to stick to just one style. I recently was encouraged to see a quote attributed to Degas that said "I'm glad I haven't found my style yet, I'd be bored to death" and that is the way I feel. Today I have been working with "busyness" in and out of a grid.

In and Out of a Grid

It is so good to be home again and have all my art supplies handy. I am still working with grids and have worked at covering up most of the grid. Going back and forth, asserting and covering up, drawing and painting, this is what I love to do.

Rothko Inspiration

In the AARP Expressive Drawing class that is being led by Steven Aimone we have been looking at some of Mark Rothko's earlier paintings and drawings. I have always loved his later paintings, but I never was introduced to the earlier ones. It has been most interesting to see some of the periods he went through during his lifetime of painting, not to mention that it is encouraging to me to see that he went through so many styles. I have found that I really love some of the earlier ones - ones done during his movement into abstraction. Since we have been working with grids I have done a few Rothko-inspired grids. Some of the grids are readily visible and some are obscure. From what I have been reading this period was called his Multiforms period, and it lead to his Color Fields period for which I think he is most famous. Isn't it great that there is never-ending learning that can be done in the pursuit of painting!

Small-Space Grid

Today I have been working with a grid of smaller spaces than I have done before. I really like working this way! I limited color and concentrated on not seeing any recognizable thing happening in the painting. Setting new challenges for myself is a good way to go, I think.

Painting with a Grid

The new challenge for the AARP painting class with Steven Aimone started yesterday. We are working with grids; either starting with a grid and developing the painting/drawing or starting with intuitive drawing and imposing a grid on it. I have done this a few times in the past and am finding I really enjoy this method. I think I may do-over some old paintings.