Some paintings go from idea to finished work quickly and fluidly. Plenty of others get started and then cast aside, lingering around the studio in a half-finised state. Over time I manage to figure out some of these pieces, but there are always those that continue to stick around, not making their resolutions obvious to me while also not inspiring me to give up on them all together. Every once in a while I have to declare a “finish it or ruin it” week to deal with these misfits.
I gather up all the unresolved pieces in my studio and get to work. My goal for each one is simple: either resolve the piece, or ruin it trying. It’s always delightful when I manage to produce a few good paintings this way, but even the ruined ones have their value. Failed pieces can teach me a lot about composition, color palettes, the limits of my materials, and more.
Thanks for the great lesson in this, and for an encouraging reminder how the mixed media approach is so redeeming – allows one to cover, uncover and discover all in the same piece of art. I’m enjoying art a lot more since allowing myself to experiment with various mediums.
I agree, there’s something incredibly satisfying to the layering of techniques. I have been using mixed media even more than usual these days (while my oil paints sit neglected in the corner).
Hi!
I just found your page through the 30paintingsin30days challenge, and I sort of browsed a bit through the world.
Your art is incredible! Many greetings from Salzburg 🙂
Karo
Thank you for your kind words, Karo!
It is fun to encounter artists from all over the world through challenges like this one. Salzburg is such a lovely city.