unusual metamorphosis

8x8 pastel

Just returned from Sedona and the Plein Air Festival. It's always quite beautiful there. But this year, due to the rain and clouds, I especially resonated to the fields of cooler colors.

 I do love these events due to the people. Whether it is the artists, the organizers, the host families, or the town people, it's these people that make it all worth it. I enjoying returning year after year to the same event. It takes time to have places that I can't wait to see and paint. These are places where I have a relationship and a love for the space.

This particular painting had an usual metamorphosis. The watercolor underpainting was done and the pastels placed on top, but I couldn't get it to work. Finally the paper would take no more pastel. I didn't want to give up. In my bag I found a small jar of clear gesso. I took the risk of just painting some on in all the areas I wanted to rework. At first it looked horrendous- dark and splotchy. (I should have taken a photo of that step!) Then gradually I built it up to say what I wanted. It was a risk, but as I tell myself, "it's not precious till it is beautiful. What have you got to lose?"

Out in the field

The golden grasses of summer have returned. Lately I have been working with many layers of watercolor under painting with pastel on top. I am careful to make my watercolor darks dark enough so that I can leave them more transparent. Yay summer!!!

controling your influences

Thinking about what we allow to influence our art (or even our life) is something we need to do every once and awhile. We, as artists, constantly barrage ourselves with images. These images of others' work come from galleries, museums, books and the omnipresent Internet.  We look to these "others" for many reasons. Sometimes it is for inspiration, and other times it is to study..... sometimes just because we "like to look."
My sensibilities were shaken up a little during my summer blogation. Which brings me to this question. How would it be different if I didn't look and instead only looked inside? i am venturing to guess there will be a radical difference.
So, I ask, why not take an influence vacation and just look inside?
I am trying to do just that.

Egad, it's hard.