When I have been out of the studio a while, even for a month, it takes me a while to feel at home. Not really feel at home as such, as the Studio is where I feel most at home, I guess I mean re connected. In touch with what I am hoping to create. I am sure we all know what I mean even though I am not expressing myself adequately!
In October, one of my young friends is getting married. My daughter will be one of the bridesmaids for this very formal and special wedding. I have been asked, in lieu of both engagement and wedding gifts, to make art for Anna. I know that Anna loves my work but all those confidence lacking traits seem to come to the fore when I am painting/creating for someone, rather than them seeing a work and saying that they love it ..... hence the way out of my dilemma is to spend the next month making a dozen or more images that I think Anna and I will both like, and then let her choose. This may be a cop out - but it also means I will have lots of hanging artwork completed once she has chosen.
Starting points ...... a few of the artworks will be formed out of my manipulation of paper. I sometimes like to use this method to prompt ideas, rather than impose my thoughts on the paper. I have enough of those and will be spending time forcing my opinions onto those blank spaces but yesterday I began playing with some paper to see what ideas would arrive. This first one has given me plenty of room for thought and I am looking forward to bringing it to completion. I have shown small snippets of larger sheets in subsequent photographs. Certainly there are enough marks, and enough interest to lead me along the way. I have been working with books and hence much smaller images so much over the last while that I hope I am able to sustain this form of imagery on large sheets of paper.
mmmm amazing! Sometimes its hard to re-find the rhythm, to re-connect with the ways and the steps of being in the studio. It;s in our bones and in our hearts, but we sometimes just have to rekindle it. It sounds like you are on your way!
ReplyDeletethanks Fiona - I think this feeling is one shared by most artists every now and then. It is good to be getting back into the flow. Sometimes that may mean just being in the studio and playing, looking, pondering - until those idea form again.
DeleteIntriguing! Certainly greys, earth tones, and gold are elegant companions as well as being reminiscent of geological formations. I perfectly understand your feelings after an absence - I also think that this can happen when there is a prolonged period of considerable input but with hardly any output.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing more.
thanks Olga. Yes - I love that juxtaposition of the earthy tones with a splash of bright - in this case the marks have photographed gold but are really just luminous rust! May work with that though ..... we will see. At present I am still sitting looking at them .....
DeleteI'm in the same studio-distant state after family visits at the end of August and vacation... when I re-enter the studio, I often feel somewhat nervous. I have left the flow of the energy and I'm always a bit anxious about stepping back in. I know the solution is to begin working, but there is a real edge to beginning. Do I think somehow that I will have forgotten how to paint or that I will fail somehow? I don't know. Maybe I understand that when I am deeply in the flow, other things get put on the back burner. Anyway, I completely understand. And, I think making a bunch of work for Anna to choose from is a wonderful solution.
ReplyDeleteThanks Valerie - good to know that we all go through the same angst! I am so pleased with the idea of the 'bunch of work'. Takes all the pressure off - gets me working, and then happier thinking that Anna will be able to choose ..... an easy solution in the end.
ReplyDeleteWhat beauty in these pieces Susan. Oh what wonderous colours!! I do understand exactly what you are talking about - usually if I just make myself start on something things get flowing again, but how hard it is to get myself started. I tell myself to just dive in, and I don't need to make anything great, I just need to make something. I think your solution of making a number of pieces and letting her decide is GENIUS! I will have to remember that!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for those kind words Kim. Now that the pressure is off to work a single piece for Anna, I am forging away with new ideas on many fronts and once Anna has chosen, will enjoy having lots more work around .... Sometimes one just has to make a start!
DeletePieces to go into and sleep in their shadows. There's something magical about them, the kind of magic you can find in some fairytales. Night indigo skies and rusty Milky Ways.
ReplyDeleteOk, I just wrote what I felt, it doesn't need to be rational, does it? xx
some comments just leave me with an inward glow - this is one of them. thanks Ersi. Love that you didn't need to be rational!
DeleteSB - incredible beginnings - for some of us these pieces would be enough for a final outcome. Go well, be well and create as you wish. B
ReplyDeletethanks Barry. Sometimes I fear that my endings won't be as successful as the beginnings! I haven't taken these further yet ..... but will :-)
DeleteThis is fantastic!
ReplyDelete