Wednesday, 8 July
Blessings from the Universe
I sit here looking at four pieces in various stages of completion. One large 5ft by 5ft canvas onto which I was inspired to paint a tree. I came across a photograph which (thanks to the photographer) inspired me. The lone tree, somewhat scraggly, sitting atop a golden plinth of sandy rock, strewn with brittle looking shrubby growth, a moody sky. This image evoked a rebirth, despite it seemingly striving to exist at all. A tree of life?
Unusual for me, a first even? Landscape not necessarily being what I try to represent. Is it done? Not sure.
The other three, total opposite, being portraits of women wearing a voluminous green gown. Again, the inspiration to try something, to see if I could? The fabric, the drape and creases against ivory white skin. Exacting, succeed or fail? Interpretation and skill.
I add that the canvases in all four cases came to me as gifts, more blessings from the universe and generosity. The tree canvas was treated by a previous artist with some background wash; this I gently sanded and rewashed in burnt umber oil paint. Fantastically enough, this canvas had a frame which influenced my choice of image. The frame a classic mahogany with gold etching. In my mind not best suited to an abstract, maybe to some, but to me I saw this tree!
The three green gowned ladies came on canvases also framed but, again, with previous images I assumed to be giclée, having that pre printed, mass produced feel to them. Same method to prepare: sand, gesso, find inspiration. Inspiration, as is often the case for me, came via photographs, for which I am eternally grateful to mostly unnamed photographers that post their work for me to come across.
Am I plagiarising? Do we not all discover inspiration from things seen, not always with our own eyes but recorded by others for our viewing? How else, in my case, when travel is limited? Anyway, here I confess to some of my creativity stemming from that of others! The information highway!
Are these ladies finished? No, not yet, but I can almost sense their departure. Will I gild the lily, overdo aspects? We will see.