What’s That Noise?
Shh . . . do you hear it? It sounds like a kind of a frantic pitter-patting. No, it’s not Budda trying to catch me unawares. That my friends is the sound of panic . . . (in a hushed voice) and I think it’s gaining on me.
So I am down to the wire on the Colton painting. I have 2 weeks left (and that includes time for scanning and print making AND shipping. Plus depending on time and just how generous I am feeling, framing as well. YIKES!!!)
I haven’t done a single thing on the Colton painting since the last time I posted a WIP. And so now that art shows are done (for a little while) and I have met most (there was quite a few) my deadlines with the exception of this one. It is time to chain myself to the drafting table and get after it. I had seriously thought of keeping my gallery doors locked yesterday for a full day of uninterrupted working, but in the end I kept the gallery open. I mean really, that is what I am supposed to do. And yes I had customers. And yes it blew my afternoon with no work getting done on the painting.
So what’s a girl to do? Come in, in the evenings of course. When I can keep my doors locked completely guilt free. I was at the gallery until 9:30 last night and in by then the following morning. I plan to work non-stop on Colton today, until some framing comes in via SpeeDee delivery, and then I’ll work on framing for awhile. But I’ll be back tonight.
And to add to the pressure I really want to run wild this weekend. There is a horse event that I really want to see, that I missed last year as it was same weekend as the Octagon. But this year we got separate weekends. Whoo Hoo!
The best laid plans . . .
So since I am short on time I had decided to start a new painting using oil pastels. As they are so much quicker. (Let’s call that Plan B as Plan A was my first WCP painting of Colton.) But then as the hours rolled by while I was looking at my reference photos trying to come up with a new composition. I realized that I was wasting time and since the hard part of my watercolor pencil painting of Colton was done (and Karla Siebert of IERAL had already approved it) I’d be farther ahead to just finish it. Besides, I can’t work oil pastels at night because of the whole metamerism thingy that happens.
But then, late last night as I lay in bed glassy eyed, with images of Colton rolling through my mind, I had an Aha! moment. A composition came to me, that would be simple yet artsy. I thought “Thats it! That’s what I’ll paint. I’ll go in first thing in the morning and (with doors locked mind you) get the new drawing started and with any luck I’ll be able to knock that painting out in 3-5 days.”
So what do I do? I get up early, run into the gallery and look at the Colton piece I have so far, glance at my stack of reference photos and return to plan A. Finish what I’ve got. It’s a good start and has the potential to be a good painting.
So thats how I know it is panic gaining on me. Because I am switching my mind back and forth, when what I really need to do is stick with Plan A. And that’s exactly what I’m gonna do . . . I think.
Hi Mona - so sorry you are going through so many back and forths with finishing the Colton painting. Looks like you have most of it done in WCP. Hope you get to work on it today and feel good about it.
Your writing is really descriptive and really brings across what you were going through — really shows some of the agonies of the creative process.
I have never experiences that “metamersization” you mention while working with OP under a daylight lamp at night, even if I started it in the day.
Sorry, don’t have a wip for the tigers — we were advised to keep them under wraps anyway for the contests sake. The judge for the contest is Polyanna Pickering — a wildlife artist who works with conversation groups and travels to the locations for alot of her paintings — www.polyannapickering.co.uk I am doing my piece with colored pencil and plan to use some watercolor pencil for the background — I haven’t tried the watercolor pencils yet. It is a larger piece for me - 12 x 16 - plan to be loose with the bacgrouond, will see. The contest entries go up on 10/31.
Hope your painting time today goes really well, Angela
Sorry, left an l out of Pollyanna’s name. It is Pollyanna Pickering at www.polyannapickering.co.uk
Hey Angela, It is written slightly tongue in cheek though my waffling on what to do in regards to the painting is all completely true. And I do really want to go to the Dances With Horses event this weekend and it is far enough away that I will spend a night in a hotel. So that means 2 days away from the painting. I think though that I still should be able to finish it up by middle of next week. (so I can sqeeze in my outing.) I’ll ought to get done just in time (just barely, you know with 24 to 48 hours to spare.)
Can’t wait to see your tiger. I couldn’t get the link to work though. Maybe I’ll try googling her.
I do use natutal lights over my drafting table but the problem is more using lights as opposed to working in natural daylight with the lights off. There is a noticeable difference with my brights, they just lack the pop. I think the lights tend to make the OP work glow (which I love) but when no light is directly on them they look flat by comparison. So I try to work with OP with the lights off and thus no working at night (at least during winter hours.)
Googled her, there are two L’s in Pollyanna. (aha, that what you mentioned in you 2nd comment. I’m a little slow on the uptake this morning) Lovely work. I really like her graphic design look. Her tigers are gorgeous. I also really liked her barn owl. Nice!
Glad you liked looking at Pollyanna’s work — I say there are two ll’s in her name and then go and write the link again with one l — so I don’t think you were slow on the uptake. I worked on my painting all day — not extremely happy, changing the background alot now — could turn into a mess. Have to go take some photos today for a commission another friend wants. Then will be out for most of the weekend with some have-to’s visits. So probably won’t get back to it late Sunday, or more likely Monday. Hope you have a great time at the Dances With Horses Event! Angela
I really hate the background process. I have major fear issues starting the background because I know there will be “ugly” moments where I am just sure I have ruined it. Fortunately most of the time things work out fine. Occasionally they don’t however which is why I have fear issues in the first place.
Hope your “have-to” visits turn out to be enjoyable, I no doubt will have loads of horse pics to share upon my return from “Dances.”
Plan A looks beautiful so far, so I would definitely say stick with it!