I really enjoy learning new processes. Have signed up for a little online course, and it has helped me to re-think how I approach my painting and drawing. The above image, which I am currently working on, is using an old abstract painting I did several years ago with acrylic paint. On top of that I am working with charcoal, oil pastels and oil paint. It is a self portrait, drawn/painted free-hand from a selfie on my mobile phone without gridding - so the impact is a little looser. The image is quite large and it is fun to change the scale of my portrait work. I'm always available for my portrait practice - as it I'm sure my partner, (the lovely) Ed, gets bored with sitting for me so often! He is very patient though!
One of my concepts of creating art, is the possible conflict between drawing and painting - and I want to break that personal conflict. The idea that painting and drawing are part of the exact same process is freeing me from preconceptions of what is expected in 'painting' in opposition to 'drawing'. I also love the excitement of this process.. waking up and wanting to get straight back onto the canvas is something that I have missed for a long time, ever since I started working in academia at University.
I have also seen the concept of 'mindful/slow looking'. Tate Modern talks about it and holds some events around this. I have always had an intensity of looking, all my life - and I am slightly amused as to how this activity has been packaged for a new generation who appear to experience this as a new and novel phenomenon. I will be broaching this subject when I run my intense observation drawing class later on in March.
In the meantime, I will continue working on the above picture.... what should I call it?
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