What am I Doing?

#5 Over and Over Again
7.5" x 7.5" Pastel
© V.N.Ross

let me rephrase that. WHAT the h*** am I DOING!

TeeHee, RB Wicki won. But, WHAT the h*** am I DOING! Karen Margulis and Deborah Secor and Marla Baggetta have already done this, written the book, and have the shirt. I had to get clear that I was doing this for ME, not for anyone or anything else. I wanted a platform where some elements were pre-determined so I could do some impulse painting. 

Wanna paint with four very dark colors? Not my typical urge, but if I want to, I can! High Key (all light colors) or Low Key (all dark colors). Underpaint with watercolor? mineral spirits? water? fixative? What about modeling paste...gesso...matte medium...paper making fiber...crackle...gold leaf...gold webbing spray...collage...NOW Wicki has come up with something different. Mixed Media. Whatever tool I have in my magic tool chest is legal.

Ok, I've rationalized how I can make this idea my own. Now. Typical artist mentality...sure don't want to waste good pastel boards or gesso boards for playing! So, having enough watercolor paper in inventory to satisfy this part of the world, that will work! SIZE? Of course, what will a full sheet of paper break down to in squares (my shape of the moment)...no waste. Easy to fold in half/thirds/half. 7.5" is the magic number so they will stay small and not cost an arm and leg to frame.

For several weeks I'd find me looking for the perfect simple compositional shapes...ones that wouldn't confine me too much...and that would not be restricted to one genre like landscape. THAT solved. Tape first three to board. Now what? 

Go back and read and look at what the others did. Back to the easel. Sit. Stare. LB Victoria is fighting to maintain control. Wicki gives in a bit, and creates some fairly typical landscapes in the first three. 

Now What...? Stay tuned...

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xxoo

Three down. Ninety-Seven to go. Can I do this? Can I ignore the nay-sayers who mean well, but ask me "what are you DOING this for?"  As I mentioned in the first post, Vicki's 100 Repetition with Variations #1, I tried to talk me out of this. Victoria told Wicki (LB told RB in ZenZone post) to STOP bugging her about this crazeee idea. To just go paint if that makes her happy, but DON'T start another project. 

Talk about Shapes

Already had some emails about shapes...and was explaining it to various people who have been in my studio lately. 

Typically, if a painter has to explain their painting, they did something wrong. I think that is a bunch of hooie, really. Where is the theory about letting the viewer create their own story from the painting? That's what I'm talking about (besides, it's a good story when you missed your target completely :)

However, this variations project does require some explanation. Remember (from the previous post) that the size and shapes are all that is consistent. Karen Margulis and Marla Baggetta each set a time limit on their little jewels...and for the most part, stuck with a landscape motif. I allowed myself to not only experiment with mixed media, but to explore non-landscape motifs that fit the shapes. I also didn't force them into a daily painting routine. Some came together quickly, some over several sessions.

They both report huge strides in freedom and expression that carried forward into their regular work. I am happy to say that I'm on number 40 or so, and still wake up with ideas.

I chose a strong vertical almost on the thirds here. High sloping line just under a high horizon bumpy shape. Yeah, I know...clump of trees, edge of meadow and mountains. But you'll see why I didn't want to label my shapes. I also think it is good to use thumbnails and not photos so your creativity can kick in a bit.

My source pic and rough thumbnails are first:

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Vicki's source and thumbnail

Here are Karen's:

a just under center horizontal horizon line, Crop of trees on left, Sky shape completes the image with a good negative shape.

Karen's source and thumbnails

And Marla's: High horizon line, sparse trees, and meandering road/stream

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Marla's thumbnails. Image from her book 100 Variations on Blurb

PS: If you are reading this through email as a newsletter, click here to read in the actual blog and see Comment area which is at the bottom of the post. Click on "Comment", then scroll down to see the box. Let me know if this doesn't work...OK?

xxoo

Vicki's 100 Repetition with Variations #1

My source that provided general 4-5 shapes. 

I stumbled on this idea from Karen Margulis Blog. Karen got the idea from Marla Baggetta. Kevin MacPherson painted his "pond series" (where he did a painting of a pond in his backyard everyday for a year). 

Not exactly Daily Painting...I'd shoot me! I don't do well with "have-to's". Guess I spent my career years dancing to the tune of someone else's deadlines. Today's Wicki has given herself more freedom to float. BUT, on the other hand, doing 100 of something arty was intriguing. I even woke up in the mornings thinking about it. I'd find myself going back to their blog pages over and over...wondering...plotting...thinking.

Finally I decided that I maybe COULD do something simular (sic). Can't paint a tree or landscape to save my life...so that was problematic. BUT, maybe that could be fixed and the hurdle crossed. The next step was to settle on 4-5 shapes, and I worked on this detail for several days. I discussed this with JoAnn, our neighbor, who is also an accomplished artist, who thought I was kidding)...and Randy, my rock...whose first reaction was WHY? 

I can think of many reasons why. #1 is that Wicki would turn it into work...sales, blogposts, pinterest, Facebook, twitter, Fine Art America, a gallery. Of course she did. The entire purpose of this is to PLAY. You know all this tidbits you pick up every day, every workshop, every tutor? This would be a good time to experiment. 

So now I was even more determined. First, size? Economical. What about watercolor paper? I like a square format. Figured out that 7.5"-ish square would leave no waste on a full sheet. Second, framing? (See, developing a product already) Just in Case. I like a black shadow box for small works, letting them float and ragged edges showing. 

Hardest was settling on my shape pattern. Could I actually be creative with something based on a landscape? Karen, Marla, and Kevin did great jobs by altering their color palette and mark making...but I needed more flexibility. I wanted to play with multi-media Ala Bill Creevy and mix pastel with acrylic mediums...alcohol ink...watercolor with pastel...oil on copper...

So, what I came up with is:

• Same size: 7.5" x 7.5" deckled or distressed edge
• Mostly watercolor 140 lb paper, cold pressed
• Same basic shapes
• All eventually framed alike

The shapes have evolved into a tall "something" near the right side third, a smaller similar shape to the left, and another stretched toward the left edge. A slanted straight-ish line from center-ish left to upper right. Another curvy horizontal line from left to right.

From there, all bets are on. Dryer lint and acrylic medium: check. Gold Leaf: check. Oil, Pastel, Oil Pastel, Cold Wax Medium, Encaustic: check. As long as the size is the same, and the general shapes are the same it qualifies!

PS: If you are reading this through email as a newsletter, click here to read in the actual blog and see Comment area which is at the bottom of the post. Click on "Comment", then scroll down to see the box. Let me know if this doesn't work...OK?

xxoo