Taking things slow..
...is a work in progress!
“You can’t force ideas. Successful ideas are the result of slow growth. Ideas do not reach perfection in a day, no matter how much study is put upon them.”
Alexander Graham Bell
Although last week’s post showed me making quick decisions - leading to a ‘ripping time’ - that is not my norm…
I've been having a ripping time!
It’s not often I shock people. I’m not someone who purposely courts controversy or who engenders strong feelings in others, apart from my own family - at least I don’t think so! Of course there are those who don’t like my art or my writing; that’s okay, you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
Where major decisions are required, I like to take my time, to pause, to cogitate, to meander through the possibilities…
At the end of June I had a mentoring session with Elaine at Studio 1850. Since then, whilst life has gone on, I’ve been ‘mulling things’ around, chatting to my OH and friends, allowing thoughts and ideas to sit, to percolate…to dissipate or crystallise, as I map out the next stages of my art/business.
Taking things slow, not rushing to make drastic changes, enables me to determine what I want, what I don’t want and where I see myself heading…
And directions and aims are slowly forming - which is just as well, as by the time you read this, I will have had my follow up session with Elaine to discuss all the aforementioned plans!
Plans to ‘step up to the next level’ - after first determining what I mean by that. How do I see my paintings developing? Do I want to step up in size? Stick with the same formats…? Do I want to aim for more high profile ‘art fairs’? There are so many possibilities; it’s impossible to do them all at once. For now, it’s a case of deciding which are the most important right now, and work on those. I’ll update you in the coming weeks…!
Taking things slow has also been the order of the day in the studio recently. I’ve found my way back to these florals, and now, the studio is in danger of resembling a florist’s shop…
Although I continue to work across several pieces at once, I’m really taking my time with these; the soft, gentle palette suiting my penchant for calm, muted tones…
…and I’m enjoying seeing the blooms slowly emerge on the paper. From the initial ‘‘sploshes and splats” of the water and ink, to picking out more detailed flowers and adding highlights with negative edges… I’m using Wallace Seymour products; Kendall Green ink, Cobalt Turquoise Light, Indigo and Iron Plum watercolours, which I purchase online from Art Req Ltd.
But it’s all about finding a balance between the detail and the more expressive areas; providing just enough for the viewer to discern the subject of the work…
I always try to end a painting session at a stage I’m happy with; the real test is whether I’m still happy when I go back to it…
I tend to work quite quickly, and I think with these, the worry is that I’m beginning to lose some of the ‘freshness’, that it all starts to look a little too contrived…?
Or perhaps, because I’m taking so much time, I’m overthinking? LOL!!
Anyhow, rather than do my normal thing, which is to carry on ‘faffing around’ with these, I’m going to grab some fresh paper and splash around anew; that way I can let my usual expressive style find its way onto the paper without constraint…
It’s a continuous process going from one to the other, adding, taking away, dancing across the paper - until hopefully, at the end, I produce something I like!!
And it all takes time!!
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
Leo Tolstoy - War & Peace
P.S. Here’s a quick update!!
An artist’s life is never boring though is it? Alongside all of the above, I’ve been holding my Studio Sale over on my website. It’s been fabulous seeing work finding new homes…
There’s still a few pieces left, so if you want to get ahead with your Christmas shopping, or perhaps are looking for a gift for yourself, then why not head on over and take a look?
Until next time, happy painting!
The flower paintings are beautiful, Carolyn. They remind me of my own garden which is full of pumpkin greenery and sweet pea blooms. I am glad to hear you are taking things slow though. That's part of the fun. Some of us (like me - cough, cough) tend to forget that there is no need to rush these things.