Stalled and Unsure?

Stalled and unsure about what to do next? 

Poppy.1        6"x 6"   on cradled canvas $100

Have you felt this way? Sure you have and that's where I am right now. I'm stalled on a painting, this time an acrylic canvas that was going great guns until life interfered, resulting in a week away from the easel. Now I'm unsure about what to do next.

The story is a familiar one to most artists. I had a painting that simply wasn't ever going to make the grade so I began again by covering the whole thing with gesso except for the sky area which had potential. I grabbed an idea... red poppies... and took off running with brush and paint in hand, remembering a workshop with Jennifer Bowman where she demonstrated painting poppies modeled on dozens of varieties which grow in her backyard. My other poppy painting, In Flanders Field, has brought me great joy and I wanted to do another. 

I began by shaping some individual poppies on small cradled canvases. Those four turned out very well and onward I went.

Poppy.2       6" x 6" $100

This new iteration was well on its way when I was interrupted. Each day as I pass my easel I think about painting, working through ideas and hoping I can make time tomorrow or the next day, and that I'll know what to do. 

Poppy.3         6" x 6"   $100

Poppy.4          6" x 6"   $100

Just Do It

Nike has the solution... Just Do It, proclaimed on millions of tee shirts. Just begin. 

 When you're stalled or uncertain... just begin. Just Do It.

Pick up the brush. Dip it into the paint. Make a mark. Step back and look at what you've done. Repeat, repeat, repeat. There's something in the doing that propels one through the creative process.

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Have a great week. I wish you joy.

Jo

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Making a Stripe Collage

Here's a DIY for making a collage of stripes.

By now you may have figured out that I love pure abstract design:

LINE.  SHAPE.  COLOR.

This month I returned to an earlier exploration of using stripes in collage.  What' Going On, an earlier piece owned by a collector, marked the beginning of my playing around with stripes.

What's Going On? 12 x 35.  Sold

This time I'm taking a more structured approach to the stripes.  Here are a few of the new ones, both studies and more complex works.

Red with Blue and Sand - 6x6" study on paper $65

Red with Blue and Sand 12 x 12" on panel  $275

Sand and Sea - Study 6x6" on panel  $65

Sand and Sea  12 x 12" collage on panel  $275

Sand and Sky - 6x6" study on panel  $65

Sand and Sky 12 x 12" collage on panel  $275

Here's how I'm working with stripes this week, in case you want to try your hand at making something similar. I warn you, it's labor intensive.

1. Cut strips of heavy paper in a variety of widths from 1" to 5" x 11" or 12" long.
2. Establish a colorway for the work and choose a variety of papers in these colors.
3. Cut the papers into narrow strips of varying widths.
4. Use your favorite adhesive to glue the papers to the heavy paper backing.
5. Now that you have an assortment of striped papers assemble them into a pleasing composition and glue them to your substrate. I prefer a flat or cradled panel or 300# watercolor paper or museum board.  
6. After all is dry apply a thin coat of gloss medium to the surface.

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Your visit to my blog is deeply appreciated.
 Jo Reimer