Did you ever want an Undo button or a Do-Over button on your
palette or easel? Just like the Cntrl-Z button combo on my PC? There used to be
an undelete function when PCs were line command machines. Man I miss those
days.
I started a new pastel piece in the studio with flowers and
vase and teacup and Cobalt blue vase. I tried a new paper I do not normally
use. I tried a new lighting key and
value backdrop for the background. I tried flowers I have never painted before –
peonies. OK, I know what you are
thinking – what’s with all the changes? I was trying to get out of what I perceived
to be a rutt in my approach to setups and works based on them. I was trying to
see how successful or unsuccessful I could be by changing some of the
variables. I wanted something new to be
excited about painting.
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| Section of Peonies and Tulips Pastel on Wallis Paper NFS |
I found out. Some things worked OK. My drawing was sound,
but I was so distracted by all the other variable changes, that I made a
bonehead composition faux pas. (For non French speakers faux pas = idiot move.)
I did something I have never done before. I placed three items across the page
equidistant from each other. They couldn’t have been more equally spaced if I
had measured them out. Now all I can see is the goof when I look at this piece.
No other thing seems to be redeeming enough to make up for this; not the
brightness of the colors, nor the immediacy of the strokes. It’s like the
escaped nervous giggle at a funeral. Nobody ever forgets it, especially the originator.
So what to do? I wanted to rip it up and end its life. I
didn’t. I began to think about its value as a lesson to myself. Whenever I see
this piece I will be reminded to keep my eyes on the prize. To stay true to the
initial concept. (You see I had moved the teacup, and that was after hours of
doing a lovely setup.)
The second lesson was to limit the change of variables in a new piece. If you change a few things at a time, there would seem to be a bigger chance of success with the painting.
The second lesson was to limit the change of variables in a new piece. If you change a few things at a time, there would seem to be a bigger chance of success with the painting.
The pity is that some parts of this piece are acceptable.
Shoot.
I want an undo button on my easel.
Or look at it from the point of view that you have to kiss a lot of frogs to meet your Prince
ReplyDeleteMessing up is normal and predictable. The only thing to worry about is if you do it too often!
I admire you for being so open about something we all have probably
ReplyDeletedone or still can do. You are a good painter and because of that you know what to do to correct it.
It is the ability to be able to critique ones own work which l feel is an invaluable tool in becoming a better painter.
I am always amazed at hearing group critiques where artists, eager to show their knowledge, can spout all the rules but not see it in their own work.
I am still learning it myself.