After studying “Don’t Suck Me In” for awhile, I decided it needed some retouch varnish before making any changes. It had a dead appearance and needed brightening up a bit. That was a good start. Now, I could proceed with actual changes or additions, whatever the case may be. I decided additions were needed. I zeroed in on what was supposed to be my center of interest. I used some white spray paint, silver spray paint and white oilstick. As you can see, I added some writing: “Open for business”.
I already had a plan in mind for the coup de grace. But, I’d have to wait for the paint to dry before proceeding. That was hard because I really wanted to charge in and finish it up and stand back and gloat about adding the perfect final touches. White paint can take a long time to dry, so patience was required. The image here shows where I had to leave off. It may not look that much more exciting than before I started. You may even wonder if it helped at all. You may wonder if I’m crazy. Why would she do THAT?
You’ll have to hold your breath til the final installment.
“Don’t Suck Me In”
….in progress
“Can We Get There From Here?”
36″x48″x3″
Oil/Mixed Media on Panel
Yup, JILL. That would be the feminine for…you got it – jack of all trades. I suppose I shouldn’t focus on gender. All of us artists are up against the same thing: the need to be able to do it all. It seems that ALL is getting bigger and broader and more demanding.
I wish that being an artist meant that one would CREATE ART. That’s all. Times have changed. Our needs have changed. And, there’s more than ever to do as an artist. There’s so much preparation. There’s promoting oneself. Showing the work. Being a good salesperson. Keeping accurate records.
Before I can begin a painting I have to come up with a painting surface. Sure, surfaces are available to buy. But, there are many things to consider. What kind of surface do you want? Can you afford to buy a prepared surface of the quality you want? Or, if you want a “custom” surface that isn’t manufactured, you will need to create it yourself. This is where the “fun” begins. A knowledge of building materials and tools comes in handy. Tools needed to build the surface are needed. And, a place to work at building is needed. Time is spent building the painting surfaces.
The best part, for me, is the actual creating of the artwork. I get the most joy out of painting and whatever else is involved in the creation of my work. I work rather quickly as far as the actual painting goes. But, I can spend a lot of time thinking, viewing, coming up with ideas of “what’s next”. Do I want to include this or that, do I want to add this or that found object, do I want to add marks in pencil, oil stick or spray paint? This is where I really enjoy the process. These are the decisions that truly affect the final outcome of the work. The answers to each of these questions make or break the success of of the work. I love it when I feel like I’ve made the right decisions.
Now, I need to be able to promote myself. In the past that meant being able to photograph your work well (or hire a professional photographer), keeping your resume up-to-date and searching for opportunities to show your work. Opportunities to show your work is still the goal today. But, there are so many more opportunities for promoting yourself. Hello, computer! If one has the skills to create one’s own website and keep it up-to-date and photograph and photoshop one’s work – that One is in good shape! Hooray for you! If, on the other hand, one (ME) is a bit of a dinosaur in this area – there is a lot of frustration. I feel like I’m spending all my time learning how to do everything that needs doing. And, where is my painting time?
Well, I’m not giving up! I’m still plugging away at it all. This painting, “Can We Get There From Here?” shows how making one’s own painting surface contributes to the end result of the painting. I’ve altered the shape of the rectangular surface by cutting out three semi-circles with my handy-dandy electric jigsaw. I photographed the finished work. With help from my fabulous webmaster, Trillian, I’ve come up with an image of the work. She’s still working with me on how to do all this stuff.
I’m always looking for opportunities to show and sell my work. I watch for competitions that I feel are worthwhile to enter. And, when things go well, I have to get down to good record keeping!