This week’s sketchbook exploration was inspired by Jane Davies. I recently listened to her 2019 interview on the “Learn to Paint” podcast, and in that interview she spoke a bit about a 30 minute mark-making activity: she sets a timer and makes marks on a piece of paper for 30 minutes. No larger goal than that. It is a way for her to get out of the mindset of trying to finish a painting.
I thought I would give that a go in my sketchbook. I am guessing she starts with a larger piece of paper than 9x12 inches, because after only 20 minutes I had a gooey mess. I recorded most of my marking tools as I went, which was not in the “assignment” but I wanted to have the reference.
I very much enjoyed myself. I did not mix anything on a palette - I just loaded paint from the tube right onto my mark-making tools.
I am heading into the season when I spend about three months only exploring, trying new things, and asking a lot of questions about how I want to work. This 30 minute mark-making exercise (on bigger paper) is something I am looking forward to taking further.
Prompts for the Week:
Is your studio practice affected by the changing light as we (in the northern hemisphere) move into winter? How do you feel about it?
Mark off some two inch squares on a sketchbook page. Make several tiny paintings. What is challenging? What can you learn from them?
Do you have a “gathering” season? A time of the year when you worry less about producing a painting and concern yourself more with exploration and inquiry? If you do, I would like to hear more about it: when does it happen, how long does it last, how do you feel about it?
I have noticed, since I started making art full time, that December and January are fallow times. I need to let painting sit quietly while I explore other creative outlets until the world and I start waking up again with spring.
It feels so good to know it is my need right now. Recognizing and honoring our creative rhythms is so important