Painting Again
Nothing lifts my mood more than working on a canvas larger than the usual 16 to 24-inch range. I can create with my work on a table top — working on small paintings or collage — and even sit in a chair as I’m doing it. And that is satisfying to a point. But with my work on the wall or an easel, walking around, moving in and back, standing even farther back to contemplate the work, and letting the studio music guide my brush (and my feet), is a more meditative process. I realized I have missed this, and am resolved to plan this into my studio time again.
This 30 x 40 inch painting is one that had been put aside for years. The truth is that it was already too dark. I was just playing around with it, using lots of color, and this first picture is the result of my first day of work on it. I kind of liked where it was going, enjoying the wild complementary colors, so I posted it to Facebook last week. Several people commented that I should stop. Well, you know where this is going, don’t you?
This next one is the “after” shot. The whole thing became a blue painting with just little shots of pinks, oranges, and yellow. I like it, but am putting it aside again. It hasn’t indicated to me that it’s finished quite yet. Note: but now, looking at it on screen again after a few days, it might be.
This painting is very much within the style of the large-scale paintings I was doing up until about 2010. And then I moved into more and more texture. But when I saw a whole show of my older works at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts back in August, it made me want to go through the motions of the ingrained memory of that way of painting. It feels good.
Against the Current, Acrylics on Canvas, 24 x 30 inches
An Artist's Journal 
I am so pleased you are enjoying the challenge of large paintings with lots of color again. I think change is always in the air, & we benefit from altering our conceptions. Also a great distraction from the complications of life. 🙂
Pat (Trish 😉 ) I have begun feeling a lifting of the cloud that was over me for the several months since Jim passed away. It’s a subtle thing, but it’s a definite movement toward healing. I think the art has been a tremendous help.
I’m so happy for you to see you painting again, wonderful news!
Thank you, Tina. There was a time when I just couldn’t think about painting. It feels good.
Very happy you are painting again, just love your blue painting. Blue is usually my lead colour.
Thanks, Sandra! I do love blue too. Funny how it kept getting bluer and bluer!
It’s wonderful that you’re painting again. 🙂 If painting on a larger scale helps you more, then personally I think that you should do it. 🙂 You should do whatever helps you most. Outstanding works Martha. Isn’t it amazing that a painting often just comes out of us giving us a voice that without art wouldn’t be possible? I think it is amazing. 🙂 Anyway wonderful post.
It is indeed amazing, Angela! I think about that all the time. Thank you!
Your paintings are great. Nice to hear it that you are back again.
these are really nice keep up the good work and thanx for sharing them….