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| Bear Mountain View, 6x12 oil - SOLD Visit the Sale! |
After I've painted a demonstration or a painting for myself - each of which takes a great deal of thought and verbal articulation, either to myself or to my students - I'm usually a little weary. Especially my head. But being brain-tired can be a good thing. Sometimes we talk too much to the paint, and following up with a second painting when you're in this tired state can lead to interesting places.
The painting at the top is one such piece. After doing a demonstration and making sure my students had what they needed for the next few minutes, I grabbed a knife and went to work. No preliminary thumbnail sketch, no value or color analysis, no talking to myself. Just mixed paint and spread it on. I let intuition and experience take over, giving my brain take a rest.
I was surprised and pleased where this painting took me. It's different from my usual work: broad strokes, richer color, more painterly. I actually felt rather rested when it was all over!
By the way, if you haven't heard it enough, my holiday-studio-clearance-extravaganza continues, and I'm including the piece above. Click here for the event.
Also, I'm teaching a four-week "Plein Air Essentials" course through Artist's Network University starting December 10. Click here for details or to register.
Did I mention Paint Sedona? We have space left in several weeks from now until mid-April.
