more experimental painting

Monday, February 13, 2012

second layer of my painting in Flora Bowley's painting e-course (canvas #1)

Remember the beginnings of 2 experimental paintings that I posted last week? Well, this is the second layer, and I am totally and completely digging them so far. Flora told us in in her e-course to not worry about creating something beautiful at this point, and I tried hard to remember that while working on this second layer and just let go and have fun. I just dripped and dabbed the paint and had a grand old time, loose and flowing. I'm telling you, I haven't had this much fun painting in a while. I feel a new freedom, and it's totally addictive.

While I know these aren't beautiful yet, I'm in love with them nonetheless. I feel like they're totally new and different for me but that there's also a thread of something that ties them to my typical style of work. I suspect it's the color.

second layer of my painting in Flora Bowley's painting e-course (canvas #2)

Can you see the piles and piles of wood panels in the bottom right corner of the top image? Those are for a whole bunch of gloss prints that I need to make that sold during my fab.com sale-- I find myself once again wishing for more space..... if I visualize my dream studio hard enough, do you think I can make it appear when I move to a new city in a few months? (Please say yes! Tell me your stories of visualizing things into existence!) I'll find out in just a month where we're moving, when Ryan finds out where he'll be doing his residency!! Have I told you how weird it is that my husband is going to be a doctor in 5 months? Totally weird. And also totally awesome. He's worked so hard, and I know he's ready for this next phase. (I am, too!)

Anyway, back to the paintings. I feel so happy to be doing something a bit different creatively right now-- I get so caught up in everything that I have to do (my to do list is never-ending it seems) that I often forget to have FUN and PLAY. And that's a huge part of why I do what I do! It seems crazy that I'd forget to have fun when I get to create things all day and make art that goes out into the world. (I'm so lucky to get to this every day. I don't know if I've mentioned how grateful I am for that lately. I am SO grateful!) So I'm glad for the reminder through this class.

Do you forget to have fun sometimes, too? What do you do to re-inspire yourself to have fun and play and be kid-like again?

comments

Annemarie commented on 13-Feb-2012 09:10 AM

Looking forward to seeing the next step. Have fun.

Annette Deardurff commented on 13-Feb-2012 09:23 AM

This is so cool - can you put the pic of first layer on there next to the second layer, so we can see the progression side by side? I have a big canvas that I have had for a long time with the intent of creating some painty, collage-y thing for our bedroom.
Haven't given it much thought so far, so watching your journey might give me enough inspiration to get going with it! Happy painting!

Carly commented on 13-Feb-2012 09:25 AM

LOVE these! They are so fun and colorful!!!

Jessica Swift commented on 13-Feb-2012 10:07 AM

Thanks guys! I AM having fun. Annette: I'm going to leave the post as is (since I already posted the first 2 photos last week), but you can see all teh photos together on my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessgonacha/sets/72157629301995289/
Hope that helps! And get busy on that canvas!! :)

Laura Simms commented on 13-Feb-2012 10:42 AM

Heck yes to your new studio! I think if you are really specific about your needs and wants, you will take that with you into the moving process--it'll be easy to say no to the wrong spaces and yes to the right one. Exciting!

Barbara Swift commented on 13-Feb-2012 12:09 PM

Jess, I still LOVE these paintings. About visualizing/creating the dream studio--I just began reading Martha Beck's new book, "Finding Your Way in a Wild New World" (subtitled "Reclaim Your True Nature to Create the Life You Want"). It is phenomenal, and
she speaks to my mind, heart and soul. The introduction is absolutely moving and inspiring and I can't recommend this book enough! I think you would love it, being a Wayfinder, too, and a member of The Team. You'll have to read the introduction to see what
that means...

jessica swift commented on 14-Feb-2012 03:09 PM

Laura: yes! you are so right! Barbara: thank you for the book recommendation-- I've never read anything by Martha Beck but have heard great things about her. I'll have to check it out! I'm so curious about what a Wayfinder is, and who is on this Team...!

JIll commented on 14-Feb-2012 05:13 PM

Jessica--I think they ARE already beautiful-seriously. The colors are great and just knowing how you say it made you feel doing them--makes them beautiful to me. I'm going to paint in person with Flora this Sept. when she comes to my state of Wisconsin
and I CAN'T wait to paint freely like this! Jill

Sandra Dumais commented on 16-Feb-2012 08:45 PM

These are so beautiful and playful! Great direction! I love what you said about forgetting to play and to have fun. I was reminded of this the other day when I showed my 2 year old (also named Flora! ha) how to paint with paint brushes. It was so, so much
fun! The work we made together is, actually, quite beautiful. I taped all the paintings we did onto the wall in the kitchen and every time I look at them I am reminded of how much fun I had sitting painting with her, it's evident just looking at it. Like with
the work I see here. Super tempted to take the Flora Bowley class now.... Sandy

Kaci Ferguson commented on 16-Feb-2012 10:45 PM

To remember to have fun I started art journalling once a week as a way to step back from my usual work and fully enjoy the process with no concern about the outcome...although I usually love the outcome anyway :) love your painting, I'm huge on color too!