After devoting the majority of my studio time to creating original work this summer, I have eleven paintings. As the canvases accumulate, I am sitting with them in my living room and noticing patterns across the pieces.
I have been asking myself:
What recurring colors and values am I noticing?
What compositions am I drawn to?
Do I want more texture in my paintings?
What themes are showing up again and again?
What elements do I want to take from these paintings and bring into future work?
I am reflecting on these questions in hopes of developing a distinct voice. I want my perspective to show up in my paintings again and again, regardless of subject matter or medium.
Patterns of Note
Color, Value, & Light
I am continuously drawn to both bright and soft colors paired together in artwork. Various shades of blue, green, yellow, and pink make repeated appearances across my eleven paintings. Softened neutral tones are paired with bright colors and deeper values to create the feeling of glimmering or glowing light. (At least that is what I hope to achieve!)
Although color selection is a challenge for me, I keep returning to the idea that each painting is an opportunity to try new color palettes. I kept this Pinterest mood board, throughout the summer to inform my color choices.
In future paintings I will continue to explore how color and value can be used to convey a dreamy atmosphere of light.
Composition
This is an area of my original painting practice that I can see evolving over time. At the moment, I am enjoying simple compositions with a singular focus. (Think a single bowl of strawberries rather than the whole tablescape.) By having less subjects in a given painting, I can give more time and attention to what is in the painting.
Realistically, I am also attempting to raise a toddler and balance custom artwork orders. Time is a factor in how complicated I can make my compositions. Rather than thinking of time as limiting, I am embracing it as a creative constraint. The choice to have simple compositions allows me to emphasize items in my paintings such as the two friendship bracelets on a handmade dish.
And maybe it is the constant stream of information to which we have access, but my brain often feels so busy. Time constraints aside, I feel myself craving simplified, still images. I plan to carry this pared down approach with me for the months to come.
Texture & Brush strokes
I love texture in paintings, but it is something I have difficulty adding into my own work. It always feels messy when it is my own paint brush making the raised or bumpy marks. This summer I wanted to test out adding a bit of texture into my paintings.
In these eleven paintings, I kept a generally smooth painting surface followed by strategic additions of thicker paint with a visible brush stroke.
Both texture and brush strokes are elements I want to grow more confident with adding to my work. To me, brush strokes give an unmistakable and irreplicable energy to an artwork. A goal of mine moving forward is to make my brush work more expressive.
Themes
My eleven paintings consist of still life and animal paintings. While the exact subject matter has varied from fruit, to ducks, to books and flowers, the overarching theme of elevating quiet, little moments is pervasive. To me, those small instances can hold magic when we are present with them.
Whenever I take time to reflect on the meaning I find in my work, my desire to capture everyday, mundane moments persists. Perhaps it has something to do with attempting to hold onto time that inevitably passes. I suppose I am mushy and sentimental in that way. I may not be able to walk around a lake with my two year old daughter mesmerized by ducks forever, but I can paint those little ducks and hang them on my wall.
Dare I say, this theme may stick with me for as long as I can paint.
Reflecting on the work I have made throughout June, July, and August feels important- like it will guide the rest of the work I make this fall and winter. I suppose that is all our work and “artistic style” really are- continuously evolving expressions of what we want to share and say. We are constantly reshaping it within the cycle of creation and reflection.
Thanks for following along! What elements are your favorite in the artwork that you create or collect?
Talk soon,
