Ships of the Desert 12 x 16 Mixed Media on Canvas
Study for larger work
Monument Path 10 x 18 Mixed Media on Artist's Canvas
Preliminary photograph
The above picture is not the best possible of this work. It is a painting I do not know if I am quite done with. And one of the ways I determine that is to photograph it and see what sticks out at me. Another way is to have it sitting around the studio where I will see it every time I walk in.
The top picture is a study for a much larger work - 24 x 36 I believe. The "cartoon" is all laid out and masked off and I have not dared to apply paint yet. This is primarily because of the clouds. I wanted to see if my mental image of the clouds could be carried onto the canvas.
I also, inadvertently, discovered something else when doing this study; I did not want to do Shiprock Monument as realistically as I had conceived. I am living with this work too for a while before I begin doing its big brother. Easier to change things now on a study.
Today I will work on two other little works and begin another medium work. I am still undetermined how to fix another little painting I am working on or if it is time to just chuck it. It could become an experiment in gessoing over and existing canvas.
I was asked by a magazine writer recently how an artist continues to grow. My question is how does one remain the same?
Everything is in motion. And thank goodness for that. Especially you artistic types...we rely on your ever changing and improving on what is perfect in our eyes. Thank you for your constant movement....Of course I like them both..but am awaiting the rest.
ReplyDeleteI like the rain squall clouds and the water mirage effect of shadow-fall below your Shiprock. Can't wait to see the "finished" version.
ReplyDeleteIn Monument Path you've really captured the vastness of the region and your tiny Navajo shepherd and sheep really sharpens that vastness for me. I really like this.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing these; look very much forward to seeing more, too!
ReplyDeleteIn Monument Valley you've depicted the desert so well: the cool water, the blazing hot sun, the cool shadows that emerge toward sunset. I also like the unusual size and shape of the canvas in this.
ReplyDeleteHow do you manage to work on so many different paintings at a time? Is it a 'have to be in the mood' thing for a certain one?
ReplyDeleteThere's something different about Ships in the Desert - it's the clouds.
Most effective use of time. I paint in water media and have to wait for layers to dry, etc. So I lay out a bunch of paintings and mask things off and do all the skies at once and then work on 2-4 at a time through various stages.
ReplyDeleteThe upside is since I am using the same colors people could by multiple paintings that coordinate.