As my hero David Byrne once sang,
“I'm painting, I'm painting again
I'm painting, I'm painting again
I'm cleaning, I'm cleaning again
I'm cleaning, I'm cleaning my brain…”*
Studio time in the middle of winter doldrums is here, and though overwhelmingly tedious, it can also be extremely productive. Let’s face it, there’s no distractions, little clutter and absolutely no excuse to do the work of making art. Except… the overcast days are so soft and hypnotic, the smell of coffee and freshly baked banana bread is so inviting, and the couch and new library book are so enticing. Procrastination commences it’s lazy filibuster in your head and the next thing you know, you’re napping. Thankfully, my studio is far enough away from my couch and kitchen, so that if I force myself into my painting shoes and down the outside stairs, temptations are minimal and I can get after it.
For me, this is the perfect time to continue down paths that are familiar, but need attention. Taking care at each and every turn, it’s time for focused exploration into past bumps in the road, all with the intention of fine tuning many aspects of my approach to the easel. This certainly includes things like technique, color management and craftsmanship, but also the art of seeing, the craft of story-telling and how the paint itself is handled. In more hectic times, these things often get overlooked and rely on muscle memory and habit, so the slower pace of mid-winter is ideal for thoughtful retrospection and contemplation.
So, it’s back to my very familiar yin and yang - oil paintings of urban landscape and watercolor still-life. These disparate subjects and mediums have evolved into a delicate balance of attention and output over the past three years. One is more controlled and even tempered and the other wilder and unpredictable, but they both inform each other greatly.
Watercolors, like the one above, are still new to me, so much of my work this winter will be a continuance of learning my way around it. I’m still exploring pigments, brush styles and surfaces, but on the edges of that creative play, a new sensibility is creeping in, as well as how to use light. I’m excited as to what lessons are ahead.
And then there’s my very familiar urban landscapes, which I’ve been painting for over twenty years. It can feel like there’s little more there for me to mine, but there are other times when I’m out in a city and every turn presents an interesting visual seedling worth considering. This chowder ain’t quite ready, so I think I’ll let it simmer some more and take a good long look at my body of work to see where it takes me.
As Mr. Byrne says so clearly:
“I don't have to prove... that I am creative!
I don't have to prove... that I am creative!
All my pictures are confused
And now I'm going to take me to you”*
*Artists Only by Talking Heads, 1978
I’m pleased to announce that I have had a painting accepted into the Duxbury Art Association’s Winter Juried Show to be held at the Ellison Center for the Arts, 64 St. George St., Duxbury. It’s not virtual either - real art on real gallery walls! For more info on how to see it safely, click here.