One Hundred and Twenty Abstracts
.
From November 2019 to March 2020, I created one hundred and twenty, 6” x 6” Cold Wax and Oil paintings, including mixed media on sheets of Arches Oil Paper.
Each painting started with a line using Art Graf. I then either added home made paper, stencil, charcoal, and other mixed media, combined with Oil and Cold wax medium.
My initial intention was to become familiar with abstract design and mark making. Each sheet was a theme of color. Sometimes, I kept in sync with my original intention and sometimes, I surpisingly veered off. But all times, I found something new about myself.
I love working on Arches oil paper. It doesn’t need to be gessoed. Paint and medium can be directly applied to the paper without concern. It also allows for such wonderful marks and texture and shows off the oil paint beautifully.
Painting from the inside out causes you to repeat things that have meaning for you. I started to recognize patterns and marks that are my own.
I decided to pull my favorites from the one hundred and twenty studies and further the series by increasing the size. I am able to increase the 6” x 6” to 36” x 36” using a roll large roll of Arches Oil Paper. I have so many ideas and content, I can’t wait to get started. More on this next week.
Wish me luck!
PS I have posted some of the smaller paintings and they are also available in my portfolio if you are interested
Breakthrough
When you have a breakthrough, you may think it is happening overnight, but what is actually happening is a natural progression from developing more knowledge and experience through the process of doing and learning.
Here are some of the major art experiences that have transformed my artwork.
- Taking workshops in 2016-2017 with Melinda Cootsona, Pauline Agnews, Karen Kaapcke and Martin Campos.
2. Completing the 100 Figure Challenge with Tina Berendsohn on Facebook. The drawings evolved from drawing figures to paintings the female figure over a two year period from 2018-2019.
3. Creating 120 abstract paintings over a six month period from 2019-2020.
The day by day changes in my work over the period of these last 4 years have helped me expand my repertoire of expertise in being able to express myself from the inside out with more ease than I have ever had before.
I remember a significant breakthrough happened in September of 2018. All that I learned about the figure, plus the new knowledge I gained from a variety of mediums and tools have catapulted me into a different level. My style started to be natural to me and not forced.
I have been creating art consistently for the last 30 years, and finally feel confident and free to create what I want without fear. I have had more breakthroughs, because of this willingness to experiment, plus the increased amount of work I created.
Thank you for following me and I promise this year to be more diligent keeping you up to date.
FEAR (False evidence that appears real)
How much fear have you built into your life? Some fears are obvious threats and some are so subtle you don’t realize that you have them. As of now, we have a definite outside threat. How odd, being isolated forces us to come to grips with our values and lifestyle.
I have just realized that not only has my fear escalated, because of the coronavirus it, has also made me aware of the small fears that I live with daily that consume me. The virus has forced me to face my daily fears and ask “why must I have these”? Are these fears forced upon myself, or are the actually valid.
How often are we faced with going into our studio looking at the blank canvas and recognizing that we are afraid? Why? Rationally, it doesn’t make sense that we would be afraid of a benign canvas. The canvas isn’t going to jump out at you and attack you. It does though, bring up our vulnerability to being judged not only by ourselves, but also the fear of other's criticisms. We may feel that we are not worthy as well, or afraid that our visions cannot come to fruition.
So many fears we have developed over the years and the news and advertising industry has not helped the situation. We have become brainwashed and believe things that are not true.
We also have forgotten how powerful we are as an individual and look too much for others to solve our problems.
I do believe for me that this pandemic has forced me to come to grips with my fears and also discover my strengths. All of a sudden, believing I am gluten sensitive becomes a hoax I developed in my mind. How many other things have I caused myself to believe that are not true?
What we once thought was important isn’t as important anymore. I only hope that after this is all over that I remember what I have learned and don’t back to things as usual. This is a time to reevaluate what is true and what isn’t, what is of value and what isn’t, and what should continue in our lives and what needs to be thrown away. [recent max=1 template=caption/]
I Like Keep Things Simple to Appreciate the Details
Just the other day I happened to wake up early. That is unusual for an engineering student. After a long time I could witness the sunrise. I could feel the sun rays falling on my body. Usual morning is followed by hustle to make it to college on time. This morning was just another morning yet seemed different.
Witnessing calm and quiet atmosphere, clear and fresh air seemed like a miracle to me. I wanted this time to last longer since I was not sure if I would be able to witness it again, knowing my habit of succumbing to schedule. There was this unusual serenity that comforted my mind. It dawned on me, how distant I had been from nature. Standing near the compound’s gate, feeling the moistness that the air carried, I thought about my life so far.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking.
Steve Jobs
I was good at academics, so decisions of my life had been pretty simple and straight. Being pretty confident I would make it to the best junior college of my town in the first round itself, never made me consider any other option. I loved psychology since childhood, but engineering was the safest option. Being born in a middle class family, thinking of risking your career to make it to medical field was not sane. I grew up hearing ‘Only doctor’s children can afford that field’ and finally ended up believing it. No one around me believed in taking risks. Everyone worshiped security. I grew up doing the same.
‘Being in the top will only grant you a good life’ has been the mantra of my life. But at times, I wish I was an average student. I wish decisions would have not been so straightforward. Maybe I would have played cricket- the only thing I feel passionate about. Or maybe I would have studied literature (literature drives me crazy). Isn’t that disappointing- me wishing to be bad at academics. It’s like at times I hate myself for the stuff I am good at.
When you step out of these four walls on a peaceful morning, you realize how much nature has to offer to you. Its boundless. Your thoughts, worries, deadlines won’t resonate here. Everything will flow away along with the wind. And you will realize every answer you had been looking for, was always known to you. It would mean a lot to me if you recommend this article and help me improve.
Journey of a Thousand Miles
I am taking a break from Facebook. I am also remodeling my kitchen. And I am 68 years old. What do all these things have in common? Well things inevitably change. What used to work for me is not working for me anymore. I love "most" of the people I follow on Facebook, but I realized that it was not a great use of my time, especially when I am remodeling my kitchen. Time is valuable and it is more evident as I get older.
I have walked at least a thousand miles and yet where have I ended up? Have I become all that I want to be at 68 years old? Has my art been a success? All these are good questions. I don't want to be walking aimlessly, but to have goals and desires that pull me and fill me.
My life has become too serious and I almost forgotten how to play. Can you enjoy, have fun and still be productive and successful? Playing has taken me on a new journey with my subject matter. My new journey as an artist is creating abstract art using the female figure. I am focusing on one thing; women in all sizes and shapes. Using stencils, mixed media, charcoal, oil pastel, pallet knives, large brushes, and painting on Arches oil paper, has resulted in the most surprising and interesting textures that can only be appreciated in person. And in the process I am having fun.
From now on this is my requirement for doing my art. I must have fun and enjoy, otherwise it becomes drudgery for me. Using the tools above opened my eyes to successfully creating and satisfying the child in me at the same time.
"Chances" is the name of the painting above. It measures 18" x 26", available for purchase. The first statement is an entire abstract painting, next a figure drawn in charcoal then layered with oil paint using larger brushes and pallet knife. I used a roller, as well, to loosen up the work and create soft edges. Scraping and stencils under and over the figure were also used to create interest.
Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing or have any questions in regards to "Chances". I also would love hearing from you and any comments you may have on your journey.
I hope you enjoy this new way of my creating. Thank you for your time!