Sometimes I Go Crazy

Sometimes I go crazy waiting.  Each painting in my series To Keep Us Human requires a lot of thought and research before I start to paint it.  Once I start, the work requires patience and time.  While oil paint can be worked wet depending on what you are painting and the effect you are seeking, for most of my work I need to let it dry, which can take a day or two.  Each painting in this series takes weeks to complete.  “Finding Hope” took me 7 weeks to complete. 

Last Monday I could wait no longer.  For over a week I have been doing research and sketches for my next painting “All Parts Matter”. But I wanted to paint now, to paint boldly with what has been pent inside me.  My creative spirits screaming at me to paint something with purpose and unafraid.  I know to trust them to lead me with color and strokes. 

Waiting was a 24”x48”x 5/8” canvas. This was going to be a painting started and finished in one sitting and no waiting for the paint to dry.  Artists call this doing a painting “Alla Prima” (a method of painting in which pigments are laid on in a single application instead of being built up by repeated paintings).  For me that means using acrylics.

I got up and went to my easel; told my studio partner I needed to go paint now!  She looked up at me and said, “Good”.  What else could she say with that crazy look in my eyes.  I walked up to my canvas, looked at it for a couple of minutes.  A voice from within said, “Get at it”.

I turned, grabbed colors at random, brushes and a board 1”x2” about 2’ long.  Driven by my pent up need to go crazy and paint; I went at it and didn't stop painting until I was finished.  Less than a hour later I stepped back and looked at what was on the canvas. I loved the painting.  My studio partner, seeing that my crazy look was gone replaced by a smile, said, “Are you really happy with your painting, let me see?” She got up from her desk with a serious look and stood in front of the painting.  After what seemed like a long time, finally said, “Well I like it too, sign it.”

I had to take a dance around the studio. I felt relieved and energized. Back at the easel I started to sign it with my usual signature stroke but stopped when I heard her say, "sign it with a flair".  I was in the moment, having conquered my immediate desire to paint, I SIGNED IT, with a flair.  YES!  AND NOW ......... HERE IS THE PAINTING:

I named it FATHOM FACES.  Do you see any faces, if you do, how many?  I have found 7 so far.  What else do you see?    Any suggestions? I welcome all comments.

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Now to finish my sketches and begin “All Parts Matter”.  I will share some of my sketches next week to give you a peek preview.