sketchbook
How about a peek at a current canvas painting? Right now I have three canvases going that are 24in. x 36in. For their compositions I am pulling ideas from my sketchbook. Here is a section of one of the canvases and a view of the sketchbook drawing that got it started.
Autumn is here. School is underway. This year I am teaching two full days a week and working in the studio on odd days. The weeks are full. In the studio, I have returned to painting on canvas. Currently, I'm working on a canvas that is 2 x 3 feet, which is larger than my norm. At first I felt like I had forgotten how to paint! Not the best feeling. But it's progressing. I'm going to finish the painting before I really evaluate it. It's hard to make and criticize the piece at the same time, I could never get anything done that way.
On most studio days, I begin by doing something in my sketchbook. It is a warm up and gets messages flowing through the brain wires, so-to-speak. And at the end of some teaching days I also will dash something in my sketchbook, as a filter of the day, or simply to be able to make something. I'm hoping to fill this book by the end of the year and I think I'll be able to. In the back of my mind I've been toying with an idea for a project, something to do with my sketchbook. The idea intrigues me, as it's something I've never done before. After I do a test, I'll share it with you.
I found a draft for a post that I never published, from a few weeks ago. I had forgotten about it, obviously.- "A couple nights ago I declared aloud that I need a new dream. A new goal. But, I don't know exactly what it is. There are threads I can see, but don't know yet how to tie them together. Does that make sense? Or, maybe (also) I need to give my current goals more time."
As I think about that now, rather than having a new goal, I think I may simply be finding a way back to my original goal(s). This month I've been trying to tune out rif-raf to prevent distractions and discouragement, and focus on working. Through working I find those goals. It's kind of like the idea 'if the hands are working the ideas will come', sort of thing.
And if anyone is curious, yep, we still have Tommy cat. He's the downstairs studio cat. We still don't know if we will keep him. We're just taking care of him. Tomorrow, he goes to the vet for a check-up. That may inherently solidify the relationship.
