After a tough morning in my studio, I have some thoughts about my recent small black and white pieces and their translation into color. First, they work differently because they have a white border around them. That gives them some breathing room, some quiet space. All my work in the recent years has had that but usually in the middle of the paintings. These black and white are active in the middle, quiet at the edges because of the border.
Then too, I used a brush and the brush marks are a very active part of the piece. I’ve been using oil bars (paint sticks) for over twenty-five years and don’t want to start using a brush again. I don’t want to have to clean the brushes or use any turpentine in my studio. So I am having to continue with the paint bars.
Interesting thoughts. Now when I look at work I did last year, before the holidays, I want to rework so many of them. I have started to do that but I also want to leave some as they are and start fresh. So I have a stack of stretchers and bought some canvas yesterday. Lots of work to do.
My works have been packed away in crates and boxes for so long after we moved up to the farm. It was a total surprise to see them all again and start overafter several months. I had no place to work for months, it was terrible . . .
But now I think it was a good thing: I've got a fresh start and the opportunity to look at my works with different eyes and a new angle.
Some of the works were left in black and white, before they were packed away! When I look at them today, I want to finish them in totally different colors, than I was thinking last year.
Hope you are having a good start of the new year!