WORKING ON MORE THAN ONE PAINTING AT A TIME.

 May 28, 2010

  Let me share with you the four paintings I have on the easel in various stages of completion.

  Besides these new ones, there are three older ones I am in the process of working on to bring them back to life – sort of. I certainly don’t think I am the only one who works like this. But for those of you who don’t work like this or are just interested in why I choose to do this, let me share some interesting bits of information with you.

  As I have explained before, ideas for paintings float around my brain all the time, stimulated by what I have recently seen, photographed or have stored on my computer. When I need inspiration or am nearing the end of some series of paintings (or not, as the case may be), I may spend hours looking at digital images I have stored on my computer, sort through hundreds of printed photos from the many years I took photos before my first digital camera or I simply get in the car and head out for some new rendezvous with gorgeous Colorado scenery. Typically I will find up to 20 images of interest this way and these I print out and pile next to my easel. For a few days, as I work on the paintings on the easel, I peruse these ‘new’ images for additional inspiration. This act secures them in my brain where they begin to reveal their virtues as paintings. Honestly, that is what it feels like.

  Eventually one image begins to demand my attention and so with my interest peaked, I reach for a surface to paint on and begin my compositional design. I’ve talked about this before, so you may understand how this demand on me can be interruptive and untimely. But, better to be excited about the painting ahead, while loosing concentration on the one in front of me, than to miss the wonderful sense of exhilaration that commands me in the moment. 

  Sometimes, I neglect the paintings in progress at the time, and frequently there is not just one new idea seeking my attention, but two and then in a few days, a couple more – hence the four-at-once syndrome! 

 I am a very organized person in my left brain. After a few days of total confusion on what to do first, the left brain takes over and though I keep the new ideas circulating in my brain (delightfully, as in looking forward to that ice cream cone), I return to the ‘old’ ones and finish them. This is learned behavior – delayed gratification where you-get-the-work-done-before-you-play habitual behavior! You guessed right, sometimes, one of these ‘in-progress’ paintings gets ignored – maybe it wasn’t coming together as I wanted, or I felt uncomfortable with the statement of the painting – anyway, such is life and someday I will return to finish the painting or I will chuck it altogether! 

  Funny, but I still think of painting as play and I think hard at putting it into the ‘work’ category in order to get anything done at all! Again, that’s behavioral modification for you – just try to change it – good luck! But that is another story about family.

  Pardon me; I just got sidetracked in my brain and just where was I? Oh ya, I remember now.

  There are subtle issues at play here too. Frequently, somewhere near the finish of a painting, I need to release it – let it go, sort of. A painting has a life of its own; I really don’t know how it will turn out – things just happen. When I let it go in an unfinished state, I feel relief and excitement too about its future. Over a few days, months or even years, the painting recovers from my input and re-presents itself to me with fresh ideas. Paintings are individuals in need of representation – sometimes I misinterpret their message – sometimes I hit the nail on the head. I am really not in control here – they are - and God bless them everyone!

  Well, that was pretty deep stuff; if you read between the lines, you know more about me than I do! All artists have some of the “Van Gogh” syndrome! I’m not ready to cut off my ear, but sometimes……..

  Today most of the paintings on the easel are nearing completion and my brain reaches out again for inspiration…..….I have 1500 photos from England…….hummmmmm… and some are marvelous…..

 Stay tuned in.

 Thanks for listening.

 Later,

 Ginger