Monday, August 04, 2008
ArtPact #62
(Also published on "Unchain My Art")
Back from a vacation in British Columbia, which was bitter-sweet.
We spent 10 days in Vancouver and then Vancouver Island (mostly Victoria).
Being a vacation I anticipated for 10 years (long story), you can imagine my expectations were at their peak. And, as happens with high expectations, reality does not always stand up to them. So, we saw some great views, had wonderful food, had some miserable weather, made some wrong choices as for where to go and what to see, got stuck for some hours on the flight back - It was one of those vacations that actually made us happy to go back home. You live, you learn, you blog.
And now we're back. The JohnnyB to his work, and me to my new freedom.
No longer the president of our watercolor society, I am still involved in a more behind-the-scenes sort of way, and helping maintain the website and organize exhibits, but I've pretty much got my life back.
Which allows me to start painting up a storm, right?
Thing is, after months of not really painting seriously, it's not easy to get back to it. There's this fear that I forgot how to paint, and I know the only thing that can put me back on track is just jump into it and start painting, gain some brush mileage, waste some paint, ruin some paper.
I started doing it at the figure drawing class, but the summer session has ended, and the next one begins only in September.
Which is actually a good thing, as I cannot cling to the straw of a class. I have to paint at home, on my own - the best way to advance and do my own thing, find my own voice again.
So, in the past couple of days, I've been bozzettoing my way back up. I'm in a couch potato Blues mood these days, and - loyal to this, I spend a lot of time in front of the TV.
Rather than fight this, I decided to set a tiny "studio" there - a lap desk, brushes, some paint, bunch of papers and water. And, just as I did when I was stressed in time, whenever I see an image that appeals to me, I pause the TV and make a little painting of it.
No commitment to create a masterpiece, no pressure, no fear of the world coming to an end if it's not successful - it's all about getting my muscles back in shape, about learning to see and choose what's important to render and what's best left out, about combining colors and shapes, about where to put lines.
These two images are my first attempts, done with watercolor on smooth Bristol paper. No preliminary drawing - just the brush.
Not sure the brush mileage I gain this way will get me an around-the-world free ticket, but at least I can eventually upgrade to getting back to business.
previous ArtPact... ...next ArtPact
Back from a vacation in British Columbia, which was bitter-sweet.We spent 10 days in Vancouver and then Vancouver Island (mostly Victoria).
Being a vacation I anticipated for 10 years (long story), you can imagine my expectations were at their peak. And, as happens with high expectations, reality does not always stand up to them. So, we saw some great views, had wonderful food, had some miserable weather, made some wrong choices as for where to go and what to see, got stuck for some hours on the flight back - It was one of those vacations that actually made us happy to go back home. You live, you learn, you blog.
And now we're back. The JohnnyB to his work, and me to my new freedom.
No longer the president of our watercolor society, I am still involved in a more behind-the-scenes sort of way, and helping maintain the website and organize exhibits, but I've pretty much got my life back.
Which allows me to start painting up a storm, right?
Thing is, after months of not really painting seriously, it's not easy to get back to it. There's this fear that I forgot how to paint, and I know the only thing that can put me back on track is just jump into it and start painting, gain some brush mileage, waste some paint, ruin some paper. I started doing it at the figure drawing class, but the summer session has ended, and the next one begins only in September.
Which is actually a good thing, as I cannot cling to the straw of a class. I have to paint at home, on my own - the best way to advance and do my own thing, find my own voice again.
So, in the past couple of days, I've been bozzettoing my way back up. I'm in a couch potato Blues mood these days, and - loyal to this, I spend a lot of time in front of the TV. Rather than fight this, I decided to set a tiny "studio" there - a lap desk, brushes, some paint, bunch of papers and water. And, just as I did when I was stressed in time, whenever I see an image that appeals to me, I pause the TV and make a little painting of it.
No commitment to create a masterpiece, no pressure, no fear of the world coming to an end if it's not successful - it's all about getting my muscles back in shape, about learning to see and choose what's important to render and what's best left out, about combining colors and shapes, about where to put lines.
These two images are my first attempts, done with watercolor on smooth Bristol paper. No preliminary drawing - just the brush.
Not sure the brush mileage I gain this way will get me an around-the-world free ticket, but at least I can eventually upgrade to getting back to business.
previous ArtPact... ...next ArtPact
Labels: Art, ArtPact, Vacation
# posted by Nava @ 4:09 PM 
Comments:
I really like the 3rd painting...
all of them but that one the most.
so happy for you to have your freedom back.
:)
# posted by 
: 8/08/2008 9:02 AM
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all of them but that one the most.
so happy for you to have your freedom back.
:)
# posted by : 8/08/2008 9:02 AM
: 8/08/2008 9:02 AM 
