If You’re Stuck, Back Up and Turn Around
Well now I’ve gone and done it. I have irreversibly changed a painting that wasn’t making me happy at all, and I’m still no happier than I was before. Sigh.
You may remember how this one started out:
And that didn’t work, so I changed it completely:
Then it ended up like this and stayed that way for a couple of months . . . but it still just didn’t work for me for some reason.
Yesterday I walked by and said OK, today is the day I change this piece again. I wanted to make sure I couldn’t see what had come before, because it wasn’t telling me what it wanted to be, no matter how many times I stared at it.
Now this is what I have, and I still don’t know what to do next. 
Some paintings are like that. It’s as if they sit over in the corner of the studio plotting against me. But I do like black at the top. I’ll let you know if and when I conquer this little 8×8″ square panel.
Note: I guess I should back up and re-read my blog post from last week, titled Try and Try Again.
An Artist's Journal 
For me it’s saying: turn me 90 degrees. Don’t know if that landscape feel would be too representational for your taste though.
Either way, it’s fascinating watching your process – thanks for the privilege.
Hi Martha,
I’ve just found your blog and I like what I see. I’ll be back.
Maybe a touch of ‘blind collage’ over the top. A bit of tearing might be interesting.
Who am I to say, I have several just sitting waiting for a revisit.
What a great idea, Sassa! I had this at its current stage before seeing that video. A rigid surface like this one lends itself very well to collage. It would be a fun way to shift gears.
I find that I have to be in the right mood to actually improve a painting. But at least in watercolor, if the paper is good, I can wash the whole thing and start over. Like this One http://carolinesloft.com/Pictures/hanginglamp.jpg
Wow, Caroline! I absolutely love the patina you achieved on the building facade. Just wonderful.
Hi Martha! Thanks for visiting my blog today. I really like yours and have added it to my Google Reader so I can keep up with you! 🙂