Whirlwind and Happenchance

Some weeks are more dramatic in the studio than others.  I am used to experimenting and its what ultimately drives my work, but last weekend was definitely a whirlwind  of change and new excursions. I am in the habit of posting ‘works in progress’ in facebook on a regular basis. I enjoy sharing, always receive some great feedback (for which I am grateful) and somehow it amplifies my own connection to the process. I know I thoroughly enjoy seeing other artist’s works as they are being made. It also makes me realize just how much works can change when I can refer to this digital trail. What starts out as one thing can easily transform into a completely different painting. Its always fascinating to balance the risks and rewards in making a painting that builds over time. I love the interplay of what is lost and what remains.

Sometimes I title paintings early in the process of making them. This is especially true when I post them. For one thing, it helps me keep track of the work! Once in a while, I change titles if they don’t fit any longer as the work transforms. This week work changed dramatically every time I worked on it and a few titles changed as well.  Maybe is the energy I feel in the cooler air and the early tinges of fall out there?

I am also energized with some upcoming exhibitions. The most exciting one is a group show in New York City in November, curated by Allison Malafronte,  called “Converge: Where the Classical and Contemporary Collide.” I will return with details of the show in a future post. Something was driving this whirlwind of activity and it was an interesting ride!

Here are a few moments of  from the studio this week.

This little painting started out as a rather loose interpretation of a wall I shot in Florence this summer. As I worked on it, there was some interesting new territory, but I think it felt too literal. I don’t usually work directly from an image, and when I do, its only a jumping off place. When I was looking at the digital of it on the computer screen, for some reason, I decided to look at more photographs from this summer.  I started  playing around with combining things.  I want to get explore this idea of digital compilations feeding my painting process midstream.

Compilation of a digital of a painting in progress collaged with one of my photo images.

The painting below is in a response to dramatic grafitti marks I saw all over Florence. I liked the visual shifts on what otherwise is a more continuous field of color. Here is a close up of that gesture.

I am experimenting more with thicker texture and glazes.

I am also trying to build surfaces more slowly with more subtle shifts. Here is work in process at two different stages called Memory Place II.

Fragment of Memory Place II

I am appreciating how these digital trails map my thoughts and ideas, trials and tribulations, and what kinds of things transpire in building the paintings.

It’s quite the adventure in the studio these days!