Early last week, I wrote about spending several hours working on a piece that seemed to go nowhere, had no rhythm or flow. I was trying to force things that just weren’t there and the whole thing gave me an anxious feeling. I decided to count it as a momentary setback and painted it over, erasing the failure and creating a clean slate on which to build something new . I then went to work, trying to quiet my mind and letting the piece grow bit by bit.
This is what has emerged.
I am temporarily calling this painting, a 36″ by 36″ canvas, Redemption Bay. It’s obviously named for the effort in reversing a failure but the name may fit in other ways, as well. I’m still reading it and trying to decipher exactly what it says to me. I can see many themes in it. Cycle of life, external guidance and so on.
It has the flow and rhythm that was missing in the first attempt, elements meshing together to create a movement that takes the eye through and into the piece. It’s exactly what I was trying to force in the failed attempt and came once I let the piece go on its own. It’s been my experience that my best work comes when I trust instincts over intellect. I’m going to spend some time with this piece and see how it grows on me now.
So far, so good.
Redtree Times 