This week there was no sketchbook work going on in my studio; my husband and I took a short trip to Montréal. I have written before about the need for a balance of gathering and blossoming. I think of gathering as our time spent outside our studio collecting inspiration, and also time spent allowing that inspiration to settle within us. Collecting inspiration can mean so many things: wandering in nature, traveling to a new city, taking in an art exhibit, listening to music, reading a book, having a conversation with friends, dancing at a wedding. I am using blossoming to mean the act of taking these settled inspirations into the studio and creating. Maybe these new experiences make their way into our work, or maybe they don’t, or maybe it takes them years to assert themselves. But if all art is a self-portrait, we only make that portrait richer when we take the time to get out of the studio and live a little.
Thanks for sharing this - yes - that is my answer too. I have some space constraints with going bigger. But when I push against them they are superficial. I could put down a tarp and paint in the garage. Otherwise it is just fear about spending the money on a larger substrate. But again - that is easily solved with paper.
I actually have two answers - "If I were brave I would paint more expressively" is my second. I am slowly trying to push against that one too, but always seem to rein it in to something more orderly in the last phase.
Lots came up when I tried to finish that sentence...
If I were brave, I would paint much larger... paintings as tall as I am.
If I were brave, I would paint people/figures within my landscapes 😬
If I were brave, I would paint more often.
Lots to unpack here 😆
For me too! Lots to talk about on Tuesday!
If I were brave, I would paint __big___.”
What stands in your way? No room to paint, no room to keep, don't want to waste paint ...the usual excuses. lol.
Oh! there you have a suggestion for me in the next line. OK, will try. :)
Thanks for sharing this - yes - that is my answer too. I have some space constraints with going bigger. But when I push against them they are superficial. I could put down a tarp and paint in the garage. Otherwise it is just fear about spending the money on a larger substrate. But again - that is easily solved with paper.
I actually have two answers - "If I were brave I would paint more expressively" is my second. I am slowly trying to push against that one too, but always seem to rein it in to something more orderly in the last phase.