What's on My Easel
I came to this site a few years ago trying to overcome my inability to believe in my painting. I was called the secret painter and told of how I would paint, then stash them in the closet. Well, nothing has changed, I still don't believe and now there are many of my attempts hanging off some tree where I have frizbeed them out the back door in frustration. But this site was so encouraging and filled with great tips I continued to read the newsletters everyday. When I saw this "what's on your easel" I started laughing because what's on mine is quite bizarre. It's my tongue in cheek look at man's evolution or lack of.
What I'm Doing
I hate its ugliness but was stubbornly trying to do something with it. It's about ready for the trees I suspect, so I'm kind of hoping someone will help me save it. It's done in Jo Sonja and Matisse acrylics mixed with spit, sweat, tears, a bit of coffee and anything that's on hand at the time. It's got a few whack marks on it too where my frustration has won. I don't know what to do with it anymore. What started out as a joke for me has turned into another frustrating waste and it saddens me to say that this may be my last attempt at painting if I end up giving up on this one. Somebody help me I know somewhere deep inside me is a painter.
Advice
- I can see what I want in my head but it never comes out. The more logic I try to apply the worse it gets. I'm not sure why this is so important to me now but as I said it may be the death of the painter inside me if I can't finish it.
- Any tips or tricks that can help me overcome would so greatly be appreciated as I am far too creative to just do nothing with it. Thanks for a great site. Regards Goldie.
What's the Month/Year?
November 2009
Marion Boddy-Evans, Painting Guide, says:
The idea of dinosaurs and surfing early humans doesn't seem that bizarre to me, but then I read a lot of what's now being called "speculative fiction" and do like quite a bit of Surrealist art. Take a look at the paintings by Dali and Matisse for starters, see how they convey an unreal reality.
If what's not working for you is the painting of things realistically, that's a question of practice. Do sketches and small studies of the individual elements in a painting until you get it right. Only then try it on a painting "for real".If it's the idea that now it's on canvas that seems inadequate, study the Surrealist painters and look at how much was in each painting (especially Dali), study symbolism in art and use this to add more levels of meaning.
And read "Art and Fear". The bits about how what we envisage when we dream about painting is the final artwork, not the process of learning to create it.
