Another new painting! Prints will be available soon- this painting is actually wider on the right but you couldn't read the writing unless I made it extra large. One of my favorite things in the entire world is a beautiful small town. My husband and I were in the Alsace region in France, which is one adorable, small, red-roofed, hilly town after another, and I thought I would loose my heart entirely with the outrageous charm and beauty present in every moment there. This painting is probably inspired partly by that trip, but for some reason, I think this couple is in Romania.
This week I have been working on a very large painting and I am feeling, honestly, a little stuck.
This is only my third big painting and I had the same experience with the other two. See, at some point, my paintings get really ugly, then (hopefully) something nice begins to emerge out of all of the layers of paper and paint. But they all go through a little awkward stage of terribly muddy or washed out colors, and they are usually missing something that is important that I do not figure out until the end. Then, voila! Finished!
In a normal sized painting, thankfully, this ugly period is short lived before the end result starts to peek through. My husband can attest to this. He used to come in my studio and look quietly at one of my paintings in the ugly stage and say something like, "Um, what's going on over here honey?" (finger slowly circling around the area, worried I completely lost my artistic mojo.) Then later in the day he's shocked and happy with the direction it is going and suddenly I'm an art superstar.
The thing with a big painting is that this uncomfortable stage lasts a really long time. I start to loose my confidence a little bit and get discouraged. Makes me think about how this whole process is really a metaphor of life with it's not so pretty parts and it's shining bright parts. So, it's cool. I know it's all in my mind and I'll work through it.
Starting early tomorrow morning with a hot latte in my hand!
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Have you been to SPRING? I love it there. It is a pull-up-your-chair-with-a-warm-cup-of-coffee-and-stay a-while kind of place. And the four women who run it are lovely. I was lucky enough to meet Michelle Ward and Jessica Swift in person (swoon) at SURTEX where Jessica was rocking the house with her art. In person, those two shine. I mean really.
I am doing a grateful giveaway there and there is still time to sign up!
8 comments:
Wishing you much inspiration and light at the end of that "ugly" tunnel! Keep going - you will get there!
~Kelly
well honeeee,
you knOw
this speaks
to me!
i loooove it!
my leg
kicks up
just to
take it in.
***
loooooove you!!
xoxox
i would have never known that your paintings go through such troubled times on the way to their finish! that is fascinating! keep painting, lori - you are on a roll!!
Wow, Lori,
The part in your post describing the uncomfortable period of your creating, when it is still unfolding made tears spring to my eyes. It so spoke to me and my creative process and how often I give up before I see it through. Thank you for sharing this. It was profound and inspiring. I think of your example in those moments, to give me the energy to keep moving. Your painting is beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your process, sweet Lori..this feels deeply significant, especially in this moment when I have several paintings that seem to be stuck in that "ugly" phase.
Continuing through the "ugly," uncomfortable phase brings growth & expansion, even if we end up not liking the completed "product."
Beautiful things happen when we suspend judgment, get the hell out of the way and continue...your art, for example. :)
I love hearing more about your process and the "ugly" times, we all go through them with our paintings. It can get frustrating when the ugly stage lasts longer than usual, but yes lattes help! :)
Wishing you a quick resolution with your big piece, and your new painting is beautiful, I also looove cute little towns. xo
OMG! i LOVE this new piece of yours!!!! i love all that you do of course! who woulda thunk this painting was ever "ugly!" i can just picture your husband coming in... hilarious! you ARE an art superstar!
swoooooon :)
love u <3
This is so comical, the way you describe the big painting process. I totally get it--I have the same exact thing happen right down to the husband and everything {although his is more of just a "hmm" sound with one raised eyebrow.}
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