I am currently working, in my head, on a project. It has taken me a long time to realize that part of the painting process, for me at least, is in my head. The process goes something like this:
- Get an idea–usually it is a request from someone or an idea that is inspired by something or someone.
- Push the idea to the back of my mind since I am busy with something else.
- Idea keeps coming forward, eating at my brain.
- Chew on idea, consider beginning but decide to keep working on it before I start.
- Consider idea some more, start thinking about possible execution.
- Come up with multiple ways idea may present itself.
- Chew on it some more.
- Begin to consider paper size and possible colors for idea.
- Change mind multiple times.
- Get sudden bee in bonnet to just do it already. Push all other projects out of the way while work on new pet project.
Am I the only one who works this way? I am surprised to realize that despite it only taking me an hour or so to execute a painting it has taken me weeks of brain work to get it right–and the paintings I have put the most thought into are the ones that turn out the best. Some of my favorites–like the shoe painting took years in the making even though they only took 3 hours from the moment the pencil hit the paper to finish.
And what got me thinking about this? I have a project for an illustration for a Homeschool Zine that has been running round and round my head and I am itching to begin but am forcing myself to wait until I have it worked out before I start. I have learned that that makes all the difference.
Idea: 3 years in the works Painting time: 3 hours start to finish.
Idea: 1 year Painting: 4 hours
Idea: 3 days Painting: 1/2 hour (small painting–5x 7″)
Idea: 3 weeks Painting: 1/2 hour
Praise the Lord! He is Risen! He is risen indeed!
I have a potential project for which I am doing some ACEOs (art cards–2.5″ by 3.5″). I am not going to go into it now in case it doesn’t go through but it is rather exciting to me and I wanted to share the results so far. The ACEOs need to work in black and white so these are ink (Micron pen) with a bit of watercolor wash instead of straight watercolor.
The 2 photos down below are actually larger than actual size–which is why I took a few photos with my brushes and whatnot–to give you context. After working on the much larger series it was surprisingly fun to go back to working small scale. Tiny details are fun to do and get lost and forgotten when working larger scale (when I was working on the large series I was too sick of the painting by the time I was at the end to do small details). An ACEO only takes maybe half an hour or so from start to finish including a detailed beginning sketch-which I usually don’t do when working straight watercolor.
And yes, as you can see from the photo I like using cheap mechanical pencils (.5 preferably) –I HATE broken pencil led and sharpening pencils and like the crisp line I get from a plain old #2 mechanical. And the gumband on my paint brush is to make it easier to hold–when my RA is bad thsoe tiny brushes are tricky to keep hold of–most of my pencils and brushes have gumbands on them as grips.
I finally finished the series–despite many setbacks. I am not thrilled with all of them but content with them I think. I will try to get decent shots of them before I take them tomorrow. For now here is the entire series.
Faithfulness, Peace, Patience, Love
Self Control, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness
Half of Love, Joy, Self Control, and half of Kindness
And there you have it. We will see if I manage to enter the whole series in the art show–it is my intention and thus far, despite many setbacks, God has blessed it.
Third in the Fruit of the Spirit series:
I finished what I believe to be the next painting in the Fruit of the Spirit series last night. Loosley based on one of myfavorite photos of Esther (very loosely).
February 25, 2009 – 2:54 am
This is the potential beginning of a painting series I am planning based on the fruits of the spirit. Considering that this is a 12″ by 16″ painting we will see how far I get.
February 13, 2009 – 6:10 pm
My Valentine’s gift to you. Have a blessed day regardless of your circumstances and relationships and know that you are loved with everlasting love that goes beyond that of any mortal (John 3:16).
February 10, 2009 – 3:00 am
Imaginary little girl combined with the real waiting room –drawn while waiting in radiology for a friend who’s daughter has spina bifida. Painted and little girl drawn later in the Spina Bifida clinic while waiting some more.
Funny story about this one. While waiting in the clinic for several hours children and parents came and went. Finally, after reading for some time I decided to work on this a bit more. As I got out my watercolors the sweetest little girl, about 3 years old, came over and started watching me work. She then ran back to her mom on the other side of the room and told her there was a “painter”. The mom shushed her and said no, I was just wearing a beret. She isisted and finally they came over together, her mom tickled pink that I really was an artist and really was working and that I was allowing her sweet little daughter to watch and ask questions while I worked.
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