Today I walked to my studio only to realize that I had left my ipod at home. I usually listen to audiobooks or news podcasts while I paint. The silence, however, proved beneficial. By working in silence I was able to think about the paintings as I worked. I made clearer decisions and stayed focused. I think that the painting was better for it. I confess, I still intend to go back to my ipod while working, but I think that a break every once and a while is necessary. I was forced to talk to myself (in my head) about the work, instead of painting passively by listening to the latest novel or news item. It was an eye opener.
Sketchbook
This drawing was done today in my sketchbook, in crayon from photo reference. I am doing these in preparation for a new direction my work is taking. I think I am going back to oils. I will be reacting to new images, and also past images of landscape. I expect the final paintings to be a copy of a copy. Twice removed (at least) from the original landscape. Along this path of abstraction, the final image will be filtered by photograph, drawing, medium, color, and of course, me. I have never been able to do abstract landscapes in oil. I confess, something about the medium has always caused me to tighten up. Something about my recent acrylics, poured and splashed, has given me room to find what I am looking for. There is still control and decision making, but I think I now know to what end.
Productivity
It has been a lovely five day weekend from my day job. Most of it was spent doing 4th of July festivities. However, yesterday and today were mainly devoted to painting. I realized, however, that my work does not lend itself to full days in the studio. My thin, watered layers of paint take sometimes several hours to dry. This means I paint for an hour and watch it dry the rest of the day. Of course, I have several canvases going at once, but the situation remains. As much as I have enjoyed entire days to paint, I think my 2 hours every morning before work can be just as productive.
On a side note, as I watched paint dry I finished rereading Tom Wolfe’s The Painted Word, which was well worth the down time from painting.