My daughter, Cynthia, came back from San Francisco last night and today I took her into my studio. She took a long pause and said, "Mom, don't sign that one. It is too pretty." She had other comments that I took as "never let this painting out of your studio and paint over it" ; also adding "you make beautiful paintings, not pretty ones."
The sad thing was that after an hour of mentally making excuses, I
knew she was right. There is no saving this painting. I am posting it
before it is destroyed. I will ask my assistant to sand it smooth and gesso over it.
I trust Cynthia to be completely honest with me. She is an artist, the most creative person I have ever met, and has had the experience of being one of the top art dealers in San Francisco for 16 years. She given me the inspiration for some my best series over the last 20 years. And she doesn't try to flatter me.
If you remember, I have been having a struggle with this paintings. I knew I overworked it. I faced it everyday with a bit of a knot in my stomach. I was determined to make it work. Trust that gut feeling! Just because there is a lot of time and paint on the surface, does not make it a good painting.
Particularly since I am in the last chapter in my life, I do not want to make weak, poorly painted art with no reason for being.
I have more ideas for the next paintings and I am glad that Cynthia is home to keep me on track.
Showing posts with label #dissatisfaction with my painting #figurative oil painting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #dissatisfaction with my painting #figurative oil painting. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Boring! 2 Weeks of Work on the Same Painting
Two weeks of work on the same painting gets boring, so I am going back and forth on 3 paintings.
In my yogic practice, we are taught not to be attached to the outcome of our efforts, just do he best that we can. I am finding that that is not easy while trying to push my painting boundaries and not being satisfied with the results. I look back on photos of my older work, and at times I realize that I destroyed a good painting. Too late to do anything about that now.
I stared the painting "Reaching" 2 weeks ago and there is still more work to do on the arm. Not today. I am taking a brake before I paint the whole thing out.
In my yogic practice, we are taught not to be attached to the outcome of our efforts, just do he best that we can. I am finding that that is not easy while trying to push my painting boundaries and not being satisfied with the results. I look back on photos of my older work, and at times I realize that I destroyed a good painting. Too late to do anything about that now.
I stared the painting "Reaching" 2 weeks ago and there is still more work to do on the arm. Not today. I am taking a brake before I paint the whole thing out.
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| Here is a new one that I started. |
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| second day |
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| Add caption |
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| third day |
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| I like the contrast on this painting |
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| Tired of looking at them today. I will watch a movie and go back to work tomorrow. |
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