Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Back on the Easel



This painting has been hanging around my studio for a long time. I have almost painted over it on numerous occasions when I was in immediate need of a canvas, but every time I look at it, I see something worthy of completion and I can't bring myself to let the image go. I sketched over it a bit today....I never liked the back on the body just sitting there....so, I thought about water....or snow....or a field of tall somethings the tamarin is immersed in. I think he looks afraid...or somehow hopeful and expectant. Maybe that look, an expectancy to be completed, stays my hand. So, the more I look at it, the more I see. Again, often the paintings tell me what they want to say or be.

3 comments:

Dean Grey said...

This is exactly why I don't feel like I'm a real artist yet.

I tend to create pieces and know exactly how I want them to turn out. In essence, I have complete control over the image from beginning to end.

After following very specific artists, including you Tracey, I see that my way is not necessarily the right way.

That I should be letting the painting tell me what it needs rather than me deciding for it.

The good news is that I'm slowly beginning to pay attention to the artworks' "callings" and am incorporating them more and more. It is a process though.

Thanks for sharing your process with the rest of us!

I'd like to see what becomes of the background in this particular piece too!

-Dean

Kathleen Krucoff said...

There is a great expression in the face of this beautiful creature. I like knowing that the paintings tell you what they want...I find that in my jewelry and glass works too.

Erik van Elven said...

This may seem strange but I really like the sketching over this image, gives the image a dreamlike, abstract character. I also like the patch of orange against the complimentary blue. What did you use for the white sketch?