This month-long residency gives me something that’s hard to come by these days — uninterrupted time, no obligations pulling me elsewhere, just me and the work. Yesterday reminded me that even with all of that, things don’t always go the way I hope.
My theme for the residency is “abstract coastal landscapes” — sort of wide open so I can interpret it many ways, basically however I want. For the most part, it’s been going well, some bumps but I’ve been happy with a few pieces. I spent most of yesterday experimenting with colour schemes for the landscapes I’ve been working on, and honestly, at the end of it I left the studio feeling pretty deflated, it was mostly rubbish. After dinner, I think I figured out what had happened — I had drifted from my original intent, which was to work from a limited palette of selected colours as a starting point. Instead, I reached for too many options and lost my way, and the work showed it…see photos above!
I’ve always believed in experimentation — it’s where things get interesting — but yesterday I was experimenting without much thought. My “what if” had lost its direction. Not every experiment is going to work out, and that’s fine, that’s the whole point, but I still need a place to start from. When applying for a residency, I have to submit a “letter of intention” it’s mostly for the residency people to learn about the artist and their practise, but it’s also a guide for me – those ideas I want to explore and I had ignored my own guide.
But, there was one moment yesterday that felt genuinely useful. I found I could carve light lines into the paint with the end of a brush, making a texture I hadn’t quite managed before. I had brought a shaper tool with me to try this, and this time it clicked. Sometimes that’s enough to carry a difficult day and I’ll hold onto that as a mini breakthrough. I can see using that technique but also imitating it later with stitch. One downside of the residency is not having my sewing machine and 300 spools of thread...but then I'll have lots of stitching to do at home!
So today looks different. I’ve put away the paints I’m not going to use, and I’m going back to my sketchbook first — writing down ideas, doing some colour mixing on paper, working things out before I go near the canvas. Here, where I actually have the time, I want to follow that process through rather than rushing past it as I often do...I referenced a photo, sketched it on paper, a light wash of paint, then traced the shapes as straight lines, using that as a referenced I sketched/painted another landscape. I'm now working on canvas, drawing/painting a larger piece. We'll see how it evolves but I am much happier with the colour palette as well.
Maybe that’s what my residency really offers — not just time to produce, but room to stop, reset, and come back to the work with some intention behind it. Tomorrow, who knows, but today I will start again.
So true….. rabbit holes, trying different ideas sometimes work sometimes they don’t. Yet going back to your original plans helps focus and then experience comes into play and you get something quite lovely!!
Love seeing what you are doing. It gives me inspiration to do new ideas.
Love your efforts and your results.
Thanks for your continued dedication to sharing with us!!!!
Great reminder! Often my intent gets lost in my love of color and it’s hard to go back. I needed to hear this today!