a day in the studio

I really liked the piece I did Week 4, January 25. So I did another one like that. But I felt like it needed something. So I added a white line of paint down the middle. But it still needed something. So I added two pieces of mesh on either side of the middle white line, with more white as an outline. I like it, and I think I can expand on the idea of the line down or across the middle and keep adding mesh as a shape.

The colors I used are the dark reds and browns that I seem to be partial to these days. My original concept was an abstract landscape, but the mesh adds a whole new dimension. I used to do pieces that were flat planes of color woven with more expressive painting. I might like to incorporate some of that as well.

The thing I love about this project is the limitless possibilities and knowing I can really experiment and have fun. The small ones at this point are more successful than the big one, but I continue to work on the big one a little bit at a time until it all comes together. I know it will and I am hopeful it will be one of my strongest pieces.

I was working on my large 54×44 piece one day, gessoing the half that is not woven. My son was all over it. I thought he was watching television and I could get 30 minutes to throw a coat of gesso on it. But as soon as the light went on, he was parking himself next to me. A few minutes after that, he was gone. Into the bathroom. Potential flood waiting to happen, but I was so close to done and yelled into the other room as mom’s often do. I am not exactly one to yell, so my stress level rises. But he came back moments later with q-tips and stuck one in the gesso and started helping me. I don’t know where he developed the idea that you can paint with q-tips, but it was brilliant.

This piece is split in half. I was originally thinking that if I split the canvas in half, that it might resemble and abstract landscape. I have had a couple of print manufacturers interested in my work but looking for something more realistic. I am not interested in going in that direction. I love abstract art and I love creating abstract art. I But I love the idea of the horizon line and doing something with that.

I used yellows and ochres on one side and crimsons and violets on the other. Even though the colors are on the warm side of the color wheel, it still feels cool. I love that. It contains the symmetrical balance that I love so much as well. I love the paint on paint and the way the colors change. It reminds me of sunrise on a cloudy day.

I found some strips of canvas when I was doing a little organizing and decided to weave them together and paint over them as a texture. This is what happened. It may be difficult to stretch, but all I can do is see what happens and if I come across a happy mistake. And it may stretch beautifully. It is a different way to work for me and I found the painting over the texture a bit challenging, but I am very happy with the result. I love the white shape in the middle. I may use that as a design element as well. I have some more strips in inventory and I will definitely do another like this.

This week I hit a wall with the big one, but forced myself to keep going. I am experimenting with incorporating flat canvas with the woven texture, and I am trying to figure out the logistics of making it work. I decided to paint over the woven texture and see what happens. I will start doing that this week.

It is difficult to weave. The mesh cuts my fingers and bends easily. And it is a time consuming process. Time consuming is difficult to deal with at this stage in my career as I am juggling worka nd motherhood, but I got through it.

I am happy with the result and I will continue working on it and posting the progress. I am excited to see the final product on my wall in the future.