It’s been awhile since I’ve written about art … and even
been in the studio. (Except to water plants.) Art was kind of put on hold for
the summer as so many other projects took forefront. Plus, I don’t like the
last pastel painting I had framed. Does feeling that way add to my dragging my
feet to get back to painting?
Oh, I’ve made feeble attempts, then walked away discouraged.
I lost the creative fire, and with poetry, too. Maybe it was the summer with
the creative endeavors and energy going into designing more gardens. I enjoy
flowers.
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| Crowded studio with plants brought in for the winter |
Now I’m ready to get back into the pastels ... but I’m
hesitant. There’s still one partial painting on one tabletop easel. There’s another
I started on the big standup easel (then wiped most off and restarted). There
are two others on tabletop easels with a brief hen scratches drawn on.
What’s the matter with me? I get photos and for a moment I’m
inspired … then the flames die back. I’ll start something and think it’ll be quick
and easy, then the minute I run into a challenge, I give up.
Time for reflection and figuring out the next step in my
artist’s evolution.
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| Time to reorganize and revamp my crowded studio |
The other day I returned to one I’d started after my trip to
the seacoast in June. This is the one I’d wiped initial workings off. I love
the scene. I’m just having trouble getting the perspective.
One of the problems, which I realize I do to myself, is I will
take three or four photos from different angles figuring I’ll incorporate
favorite aspects into one painting. Doing this means perspective will be off,
and I need to make adjustments to create a good composition. Perhaps that is an
immediate setup for problems – but I’ve done it before, so why am I struggling
now?
I wrote a blog last week on creating structure that works
for my size, height, weight, flexibility, etc. Maybe this line of thought works
on my studio space, too. I considered the height of my easels and where I tape the
paper I paint on.
Three things stood out.
One, I paint standing up and usually tape the paper so it’s eye-level
where I can better see what I’m doing. In re-thinking this, I realize this
height makes me raise my arms and shoulders higher than comfortable, which in
turn, creates tension across my upper back and shoulders. (And it doesn’t help
I now have arthritis in my back.)
Two, earlier this year I read about making the work space
more up right so excess pastel dust falls off into the tray and less gets out
into the air. I adjusted my easels. Now, in thinking about that, along with the
easel height, I realize an upright angle is not comfortable for me.
Three, perhaps I should narrow my focus to only one or two
paintings on an easel at a time. Part of me rebels at this because this has
been one of my quirks of how I work. I’ve used this as part of my rebellion at
doing it like other artists.
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| Pencil sketch of "Winding Through Autumn" -SW |
The other day a friend posted a scenic photo I fell in love
with and was given permission to use it for a painting. I printed a copy in
color and one in grayscale. That evening I did a pencil sketch while watching
TV. I was very pleased, not only with the result, but for the fact I usually
get bored with sketches and give up!
Time to set up for the painting. Yesterday, I adjusted the
angle of one of the table easels, then contemplated the height of the table. The
legs are on 6-inch bed risers to raise the height. I’m afraid if I take the table
off the risers, the easel with then be too low. I walked out of the room
without doing anything else.
This morning I discussed the dilemma with my neighbor. He
said we can use blocks of wood leftover from when he just rebuilt the garage
steps. This way we can create the perfect height for me to work comfortably.
I’m excited again and can’t wait to get to it!
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