Currently there are four canvases in my studio at varying degrees of completion - 36"x48", 36"x40", 36"x36", and 30"x40". The beauty of working a number of pieces at once means that I can continue to work even though a canvas may be absolutely saturated and dripping with colour; that I can incorporate images or symbols that may not be relevant to one of the other canvases; and that I can keep working through problem areas in my mind while I'm working a separate canvas. I enjoy having these works in progress around me to remind me that each one of them goes through a challenging stage and to problem-solve as they inhabit my space...when I think that I will have to scrap it and begin again I am suddenly struck with inspiration. In order to move forward, I must continue to work and to resolve issues as they arise. Looking at each piece with a critical eye at some points and then, at others, just allowing my intuition to reign. The canvas in the front only has two layers of colour and pattern, the one to the left has about five, while the one on the easel has probably a dozen and the one on the right is nearing completion and on which I've lost count. Working in these layers adds such a depth and richness to the canvases. It's a real pleasure allowing my medium to dictate much of what I do in these early stages.
Yesterday I spent the day at the Royal Tyrrell Museum with my youngest daughter's class and was inspired anew not only by the remarkable hoodoos in this almost desert-like landscape in these badlands but also by the delicious textures and patterns of the fossils and dinosaur bones. It's really wonderful to learn about the billion year old history of this place - I do feel blessed to live here. Comments are closed.
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