painting redo: day #14

 Sometimes...I complete a painting and just know when it's done! I love it when that happens...when everything just falls into place. When the painting reveals itself and tells me a story. But...about half the time...I need to rework my paintings. I put them aside for awhile and then get to them later. With this painting...I was very happy with some parts of it...but other parts were just not right somehow. I had no idea what exactly was not working...but I knew I needed to keep on painting. So I added collage ...dictionary pages, text, found papers...

 Then...I added more paint, drips and splatters of translucent ink in burnt sienna...more collage...some stamps and texture

 added lots of opaque blue paint...and more inks over top of that...also...two wings appeared. Maybe they will stay in the final painting or maybe not. I never really know and that's the magic of creating. isn't it?? The thrill of playing and experimenting and waiting for the the stories to unfold.

Here's the way I left her after my studio time...still not done but she's on her way to the painting she's meant to become. Stay tuned...

continued...

This post is a continuation from this morning...where I am reworking a painting of mine. I bought this  gorgeous vintage dictionary and add part of a page to her face. I love that there are words spilling out everywhere...even though most of it is going to get covered up...it's there. Oh! I just came across this quote by Joan Miro that I simply love..."I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music." Isn't that just beautiful? I am going to scribble it on a piece of paper and stick it at my work station.

I start adding richer colors to her face...ochres, walnut, dark blues for shadows. You can still see some of the writing at this point...I also add some yellow paint to the background near her face.

Now I add a rich red over the yellow; I really love layering colors like this...it really gives it a richness and depth that just vibrates. I can't seem to get the same effect when I mix the colors on my palette. I also add Shiva Oilsticks over the middle part of her face. I have to allow them to dry for about 30+ hours. I am excited now...and interested to see where this painting goes. One of the really difficult things about balancing mommyhood + painting is that I can't paint when I want. It's really frustrating...I have all these ideas just bursting to get out. On the plus side...I am way more focused now; I can't procrastinate like I used to!!
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*A pic from this afternoon...Tara is an expert at making funny faces:) We spread out a beach towel and some pillows outside and read a few books... watched the sun ...and birds. The days are still quite warm here. Dear friends...I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

struggling... yet trusting the process

This is one of my paintings in progress. There are so many things I absolutely love about it...the rich, warm colors...her hair and form...but it doesn't make my heart sing. Do you know what I mean? So...I am struggling with this painting but...am also trusting the process.

I add these words from a note that Tim gave me; isn't he sweet? My husband is a romantic at heart and I have a huge box full of notes, love letters and cards from him.  I decide that I am going to use some of them in my art.   

I use water and a paper towel and wipe the background vigorously to create a distressed look and allow some of the previous layers to show through. I love all the subtle variations and colors.

I cover up the warm pink in the bottom of the painting with blue; as much as I love warm colors...I need some cool to balance things out. I am still not happy with the direction of the painting and...am really struggling with it. Should I re-work it or completely cover the entire painting or...I am attached to the painting because I have already put in so much time, energy and heart into it. Struggling...struggling. This is the part of painting that is definitely not relaxing...or meditative or...This is the very difficult part of making choices that are going to change the entire direction of the piece. What to do, what to do?

I cover up her entire face with gesso. Now..this was really late last night and...I was totally exhausted. I regretted it immediately! But only for like 2 mins. It's so easy to get attached to something we have worked on and invested so much of ourSELVES in but...I am letting go of my expectations and allowing the painting to birth itself. This is where I have to trust my intuition and listen to the painting. What is this lady trying to  say. Who is she? What is her story? This is the part of the painting process where I have to let go of this image I have in my head and allow the painting to speak to me. Stay tuned!
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*Tara  in her art class yesterday...so very proud of her! She just loves loves love her classes and paints with abandon and curiosity. She is one of my greatest teachers; it may sound so cliche but...it's the absolute truth.