There was a piece that I featured a few weeks back as a work in progress. It is a 24″ by 48″ painting that I have decided to call Game of Life. I thought it was strong piece at the time and have nothing that swayed my opinion since, looking at it on a daily basis in the studio. But yesterday, as I was framing several pieces, the painting was laying on a table and from my vantage point it appeared upside down to me. I kept coming back to it with my gaze , noting how well the piece kept together in an almost abstract manner with the balance of the painting’s elements still strong.
I was really pleased by this as well as reminded of this earlier method of judging my work, where I would flip a painting over then set it on it’s ends to check it’s balance and to see if it still translated. I don’t do it very often anymore, instead trusting a judgement that has been shaped over the years that allows me to evaluate a piece incrementally as I work. But seeing this painting inverted reminded me how well this simple method worked for me in the past. It forced me to look at and judge the work in from a different perspective. I couldn’t be lulled into submission by the scene itself– it had to stand on strong compositional legs that created a bonded unity in the work.
Now, I don’t know if this method works for all work. I’m not sure all of my work stands the test. Probably not. But when it does pass this test, it’s a reassurance and validation that I really trust.
Here’s what Game of Life looks like in its normal state:
Redtree Times 
Gary, I love it upside down and right side up. Have you ever featured this many (red-roofed) buildings in one painting? This really caught my eye and will now be a favorite. Great blend of colors and shapes.
Kathleen– Yes, I featured a large piece, 4 1/2 ‘ by 7’, at my Fenimore show which you can see on this blog at https://redtreetimes.com/2013/01/02/a-quick-look-back-at-2012/.
I love them …any which way 🙂
Thanks so much!
One of the exercises in Betty Edwards’ 1979 book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, is to copy an upside down drawing (the drawing she used is Picasso’s A Portrait of Igor Stravinsky). The idea is to prevent the rational left side of the brain from focusing on what the image “really” is and to let the holistic right side of the brain simply see what’s there. I remember trying it and getting a better result than I had expected. Click here for a blog post that describes the exercise.
I’ve lived my entire life knowing that “I can’t draw”. I checked out the link, and I’m going to give it a try some rainy afternoon. It ought to be fun!
Thanks for the link, Al. Another thing that I try once in a while is to close my eyes and try to draw a face without lifting the pen. With great concentration, the results can be interesting.
I love this one. Is it for sale?
Thanks, Al. Yes, it is for sale. I am delivering this piece to the Principle Gallery Thursday.
Please email me at writeonce1770@gmail.com so we can discuss it. I’m very interested in this piece.