Once I was being asked if I ever continued to work on painting after I considered it done, after showing it, perhaps even years later. I remember thinking that was a strange question - only because I had never even considered it. I feel that at some point the painting ‘closes’ and it is almost as if you can’t get into it again, even if you want to. But I also like the feeling of being done, and moving on, to new projects.
I made this painting ‘Diva’ a few years ago - about three, I think. I have showed it in a couple of exhibitions, and also used it in promotional material.
When we moved to Guam it was soon after hung over our bed, and I would look at it every night, before going to sleep. Suddenly I started seeing things in it that wasn’t right. The texture of the skin looked strangely see through, and the eyes were too wide open - all in all, I took it down and it went back into my studio.
I was not sure if this was a good idea or not, but a bit intrigued to get started. It took me only one afternoon - between other paintings - to come to a new result. A result I am very happy with. Maybe because it had been so long, it felt like a new face, a new painting.
And because I felt the painting was a different one all together, I decided to add it to the (generally) newer paintings I am showing at SUGAR & SPICE, here on Guam...
