Canvas As A Playground

As mentioned before on my blog, I was given a very large canvas a couple of years ago, as a gift. At first I felt very intimidated, as it was far larger than any work I had done in the past. At the same time, I was extremely exited to get started. My first attempt didn’t work out well, and the canvas stood in my studio for a long time, quietly waiting for me to try again. I’ve had many ideas, but none of them have made it all the way from my mind to the canvas. Until this week, when I tried again. I don’t know it is is due to the size, and the unfamiliar feeling of this huge format - but I felt inspired to play with the surface, experiment with color schemes, shapes and expressions that are entirely new to me. I work a little at a time, then look at it, trying to take it in, and then change elements or continue a few days later. As I am writing this, the canvas is on my easel, patiently waiting for me, as I am playing and hopefully find out something new about myself and the way I work. Generally, I am attracted to (and inspired by) abstract work, but I am such a structured person that I find it hard to be spontaneous and not plan out every little detail before even starting. But this time I am determined I do it differently, and I am trying SOOO hard, not force the my ideas and pre-thought visual plans onto the canvas...

The intimidating White Canvas

Starting a new painting - for some reason - can be quite intimidating. Personally I never liked the white canvas, starring at you, waiting to be covered with your ideas, thoughts and paint...

Only within the past few years I’ve come up with a way of making this start to a painting a little smoother - now I first layer a thin collage and paint it blue before I begin my work. To me, this subtle change makes a big difference. The fact that you spend time preparing the canvas before starting the actual piece makes it a lot easier. And personally I think blue is a better (softer) start than white.

In Dec 08, my husband gave me a HUGE canvas as a Christmas gift. I was both excited and a bit scared to get started. Then there was the move to Guam, I got busy with other things, and it wasn’t until this past fall I actually began the painting. The canvas is measuring 4 ft by 6 ft. This is a very new size to me - I am not used to paint on such a large scale, and it is a very different way of working. You have to get far back with almost every stroke of paint, as you can’t overlook the painting as a whole.

The image I first started I got stocked on for a few months, and I decided to leave this idea, and instead start over. Right now, as I am writing this, the canvas is (once again) covered in blue, and soon I’ll sketch a new drawing in charcoal, as a beginning to a new image.

# 12 Art Class - Acrylic on Canvas

It was our last week this semester. Unfortunately only two students were able to make it for this class. It was time to paint on a stretched canvas - acrylic on canvas. Last week I asked if they would prefer to paint from their imagination or look at a still life. Still life was the clear answer, so I made a little arrangement with a vase w/ dry yellow flowers, a book, a pomegranate and a (lit) candle.

The atmosphere was very calm and focused, it was cold and dark outside and very cosy inside. Both boys worked concentrated - I really tried to force them to LOOK at the arrangement, not just assume. To use their pencil to measure the different objects to each other, and also pay attention to light and shadow. They took their time, changed detail when they realized it wasn’t right. A lot of work and very little giggle! The two hours were spent well, we had perfect time to finish the pieces, talk about each one afterward, and we even had time to play with Playdoh the dog, who was not happy about being placed in the basement while the class was going on. He came up to say hello!

Later this week or early next week, the student’s work will be on display at the Metuchen Library.

I will offer two make up classes in the beginning of December, I will post into on the themes at a later date.