Stress frenzies, deadlines and the unbearable pressure of painting
I learned something this week.
High on the successful completion of Icarus (on display through march at steamscape), one of the most complex paintings I’ve ever done, I immediately launched into Midnight. A painting which promises to be not only similarly complex, but also the largest oil painting I will have made to date. And on another deadline.
I forgot one tiny thing.
I needed to forget. I needed to erase the previous painting from my mind, I needed to clear the air and relax before launching into yet another challenge. I needed to breathe and limber up. I needed to do anything other than work myself into a stress frenzy about deadlines and proceed to push myself, already past the point of exhaustion, to Paintpaintpaint. Nao.
Guess which one I did?
Do you know where that stress frenzy of painting got me? Three complete erasures, (uncounted partial ones) two breakdowns, two 3-4am finishes, and a whole lot of time and energy wasted. In 40degree Australian heat. If I had taken the time to relax, to prepare, to mentally for this piece, I would have gone into it with a clearer mind, and probably would have saved time and sanity along the way.
But that isn’t the way I do things.
if I am being honest with myself, I would agree that this was all a learning experience and that I will know better for next time. Except I won’t. And the fact is that each time I went back over it I learned something. It was a little bit better. It was a little stronger and bolder. And now I like where it is. I am feeling the pressure of my deadline. But now that the bones of the painting are laid out for all to see I can finally relax and start fleshing them out.
Continuing the work…
After a solid week of work in the studio this is the result. It’s probably about halfway to completion now! (apologies for the terrible phone photo! It’s just easiest..)
I am undecided about including the straps across the torso from the original render. They are cute, but I don’t want to take away from the piece. There is a lot going on in this one and I like the planes of the torso, they add a stark relief from the darkness.
What do you think? To strap.. Or not to strap?
Goodbye…
Yesterday we held Granny’s Interment. My Uncle is visiting from the US and it was really important that we all gathered together to say goodbye. Yes it was two years ago, but she is finally home now. it was a joyous celebration of who she was and a chance for us to share stories and talk about her wonderful, crazy life.
I organized the music. it was wonderful remembering the music that she loved, like MacArthur Park- because despite her many talents my Granny couldn’t cook. and Jonathan Livingston Seagull which she adored. she loved the story of a seagull who wanted to do more, soar higher than ever before.
this post is a tribute to her memory. I’m glad to have had the chance to say goodbye, and thankyou for making me the artist I am today.
Skybird spread your wings…
On my easel… New steampunk nude!
“We’ve only just begun…” The placement for this figure was an enormous challenge as there are large steampunk wings coming in later. I have less than a month to finish this piece so it’s going to be a hard slog to get it all done to the quality I want!
There are times I wish I could save it as it is. I really like the way it looks now, but I can’t wait to see it finished either! Ah well, that’s what photographs are for!
The finished work will be appearing in a very cool steampunk show during Loréal fashion week so stay tuned!
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