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11/08/2008

Lots of toned ground

Yesterday was a day of preparation. I have had in my mind, for some time, an idea to do a triptych for the kitchen of my son and his wife. A still life on unframed canvases that involves a lot of bright colors (reds and blues and oranges - a ewer and fruits. I have also prepared a canvas covered board with a toned ground for a new painting I want to do of the little boat - this time, the boat will be sitting in a flat sea at sunrise.
So for right now, I have my models in place for the triptych and the canvases toned, and the canvas covered board is toned for the new 'boat' painting.

I plan to experiment a little, this time, with the idea of doing an underpainting in acrylic for the triptych, rather than oil. I am hoping the acrylic will work out as the underpainting, because it will let me work faster.

I purchased a couple of gessoed hardboards, yesterday, as well. As an experiment. They also, have been toned. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them, yet. They haven't really spoken to me, yet. I don't know what they want to be.

It's a lot like the story of Sarah, really. I don't create the story. I'm just the vehicle the characters use to write the story. I really feel that the same voice that wants me to paint is the voice the characters have found in the story of Sarah. And the pieces of canvas or board, or whatever the new support is, speak in the same way - they tell me what they want to be - what they're going to be.

I know, I know, it sounds pretentious ... and a little weird. But I don't know where this stuff comes from - and that sounds as reasonable an explanation as any. To me.

Peace.

14 comments:

Jientje said...

I think I know what you mean.
Suddenly it's all there, but you did not know you had it in you in the first place.

witchypoo said...

My first reaction to the kitchen triptich was that it would be covered in grease from cooking.

Shadow said...

weird? not at all. close your eyes, follow the gentle nudges and urges of your soul and you produce a piece of you. wonderful!

www.ayewonder.com said...

I would imagine that it's a lot like writing. Sometimes a piece writes itself and other times you labot over it. Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

Sounds perfectly normal to me - have fun :)!

Patsy said...

No it isn't weird at all. I'm exactly the same way with the color and decore of a room. I had a horrible time picking the color for our new house because I hadn't lived here, the rooms hadn't spoken to me; I had no feel for them. Needless to say that since we have been here a little over a year I've painted nearly all the rooms. Yep, painted newly painted walls. So what you expressed is exactly how I too work.

Unknown said...

I know exactly, completely, what you mean. I am a quilter, and fabric sits over there, in a pile, smirking at me, until it is ready to tell me what to do. And, then after I have finished making the quilt, the dang quilt sits there, sometimes for years, before it lets me know how to quilt it. Art is its own creator, not matter what the medium.

Christy said...

It's like anything you really love. In the moment, not planned.

It's like sex, or running.....

Anonymous said...

I would love to see you do something very colorful and filled with brights and festive ones. A change of pace, right?

Ndinombethe said...

sounds like you managed to spend some time at your easel and that's great...

Unknown said...

Jientje: Exactly.

Witchypoo: You know, you're right. I'm going to have to check with Vikki to see how one protects an oil in that kind of environment.

Shadow: At least, we hope it's wonderful.

Ayewonder: Sometimes- but if you labor- and you step back - it will come on it's own - unbidden - if it's right.

Nicole: I will - and have done.

Patsy: Cool.

Karen: Absolutely.

Christy: Spontaneity. Yes. Oh, yes.

AFF: Yes. A change of pace.

Tash: I just wish I had been happier with the results.

Joyce-Anne said...

You don't sound pretentious. Your creation has to speak for itself with its own voice. That is art.

Jennifer said...

i get you. i totally understand what you mean. some times... things, they just come to you. the speak to you. they tell their own story and you just help it to be heard. you are the voice. i get it, really i do.

i don't think it is weird at all. not one bit.

you are fabulous!! :)

xoxoxoxo

Unknown said...

I'm excited to see how it comes together...however that may be.