I have been reading a lot about picking a word for the year, that will help you through the year on any journey life seems to take you. However, picking this word has much to do with my art practice, not my art but the practice. There is a big difference.
How did I get to my word? It was pretty difficult at first, my mind seemed to be blank. I am never really clever with words. The first word that came to mind was PUSH. I really think I have to push myself more. Not curl up in a cacoon, play solitaire, or feel sorry for myself. After listening to a TED talk about
struggle more words seemed to pop into my consciousness.
STRUGGLE
PERSEVERANCE
THRIVE
PROCESS
PERSEVERE
I decided on PERSEVERE. It sort of combines perseverance and struggle, and the outcome will be that in that process I will thrive! All comes together in that one word.
You all may know, or not, that I am sort of obsessed with tutorials and online classes. This past year I took part in PHYSAS 2019. What I found was that this is not really for me. There were some really great classes and great teachers and lots of new techniques but I felt sort of overwhelmed and that many times it was too much and instead of moving forward I was sometimes at a standstill. I have to decide where I want to move forward.
So I decided to make a big jump. Since I realize that in the perceivable future I can't take any 1 to1 workshops the next best thing is an online workshop, not a class, but a real workshop. I decided to take Joan Fullerton's online workshop. I have always admired her work and process. She combines abstract, landscapes, some realism, and design. She calls it a
class but for ME it will be a year-long workshop. As I said a BIG JUMP!
Also, since I work in oils and cold wax I signed up for Jeanne Oliver's new course called
Underneath
I just couldn't resist! Now the blinders are on! These will keep me very busy!
I have been busy with some pieces but feel they are still in WIP form. Each seems to need something. I have been experimenting in using Topaz Studio 2 and photoshop to tweak and find some solutions. Really great fun.
WIP I
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax Oils sticks
cut canvas
WIP II
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax Oils sticks
cut canvas
Tweaked in photoshop
WIP I
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax Oils sticks
cut canvas
WIP II
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax Oils sticks
cut canvas
Tweaked in photoshop
Haven't done the actual tweaks, appreciate any suggestions and feedback!
