Monday, February 21, 2011

Works in Progress and Artistic Process


Acrylic on canvas 
30" x 40"


Graphic Ovoids - third state
36" by 36" (in background)

Another one of my "Ovoids" paintings has come out from hiding, ready to be finished, (top photo).   I know where I'm headed with this and one more session should do it.   However, "Graphic Ovoids" is causing a little frustration.  I took the leap and added the textural element on the lower portion of the painting, shown above. I've decided to keep it.  But now, additional treatments to the horizontal band at the top of the canvas have me in a quandry.  I lost the soft ambiguity in the band that was present in the first two states and now I'll have to figure out whether to try to get it back, or to move in a different direction. 

Speaking of process and the protracted completion of works of art.... Shu-Ju Wang, a Portland artist, currently has a wonderful post on the stages of a mixed media piece that she recently finished.  Shu-Ju is a computer engineer-turned artist, having studied in multiple disciplines at Oregon College of Art and Craft. She is a printmaker (including Goco), book artist, painter and teacher who is always generous of her time and knowledge. Find out more about her, and view a lovely video showing her working on another painting, here.

Hope your week is off to a good start!

As always, thanks very much for visiting....

:)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know you disagree but...I think the painting is done. I love it! :)

belinda marshall said...

lovely work {as always} and interesting to read about your thoughts on the next step. your first instinct?? will wait to see which way you went with it.
thanks for the link too :)

Sophie Munns said...

Looks great to me Gloria...
you have been productive of late... looking forward to seeing ovoids as they unfold further!
ciao,
S

Gloria Freshley Art and Design said...

Thank you for your thoughts!! I've added a succession of glazes that have brightened and unified the band of colors. Now I'm really stuck! The painting is currently hanging upside down, in the off chance that this new orientation will suggest a direction! Ha! I've visited your sites recently but I'm woefully behind in commenting. Please accept my apologies.