unexpected gathering

"Gathering" finished, 22 x 30, acrylic on BFK

The final version of this painting came through a series of responses to this question:

what would happen in a gathering of aprons?

charcoal drawing with transparent acrylic

Since I love drawing, this stage of the painting was a joy. Loose charcoal lines laid out the placement of the aprons. The last apron became something more with the suggestion of the head and legs. I looked at the painting at this stage for a long time before doing anything else. For all of its interest, it lacked a stabilizing horizontal shape.

stabilizing the horizontal plane

How best to do that? A line would have worked. A horizontal block of color would have worked, too. Or, to continue with the idea, why not an apron?

comes forward, goes back

That feels better. Now I can play with pulling some of the shapes forward and pushing others back.

finished!

Sarah McLachlan "Building a Mystery."

stages of an idea

30 x 22, finished

Change up your painting process and unexpected things happen.

30 x 22, process

It takes the pressure off to think of the painting as an evolution of an idea. The process becomes the goal. To be willing and brave enough to act on the intuitive impulse presumes that I actually can recognize that impulse when it makes me itch to act. In this case, it's a good thing to scratch what itches.

Melody Gardot. "So We Meet Again."

sisters

22 x 30, acrylic on paper

Something special happens between sisters. I know. I am lucky to have two. Over the years we have been close in proximity and far apart emotionally. Now we are far apart in miles, but very close like some sisters are. As we age, we look and sound more and more alike. It's sweet. And weird. And very comforting.

The Andrew Sisters "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."