Would you believe me if I told you these two paintings are one in the same....
I loved my new painting but I wanted to work on the hair a bit and her eyes weren't quite right. And I wanted to fix or finish her dress. Anyway - I completely lost my way. Terribly. After trying many different things, I eventually took my rib and I scraped back all the paint... and tried again.
Scraped back all the painting again... and tried again!
And had to scrape it all back a 3rd time and used white gesso to rework my surface...
until I was left with this.
Even though not much was left I could still see her emerging from under the gesso.
I took my rib and scratched in my outlines... And I knew I loved her already!
I love the butterfly looking earring and bun and simple beauty.
I grabbed my red and started working on her mouth, added white to the already gessoed face. And my burnt umber to her neck. And then I continued to build her up until I crawled into bed - soooo stoked. Even though it looks like a completely different piece - I'm so thrilled with a few things... That I didn't give up even though I wanted to a few times and even when it was so bad and I had lost my face completely - I tried new things and I didn't feel completely panicked like I usually do. I love that when only a mess was left - I could see her emerging and I could see she was beautiful!
I loved that more than anything.
Whenever I'm stressing through a piece and going through the places where I'm really not liking what I see and I'm huffing and puffing. My beautiful daughters always say... "Ahh mommy, it will be okay - she will come to you". I love their gentle encouraging words. And I love that they are always right...
i think this is one of my favorites! i even love her ghostly after you gesso'd her…oh my! so much soul in this piece!
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend, I learnt so much through this piece... for the first time, I didn't have fear when I completely lost my image and my way. This was the first time I've felt like that - I just had the best time playing and messing about.. pure joy!
DeleteWow! I love seeing your process here! And the finished one seems more "you" - your style has really emerged in full strength this year! �� Love, love the finished result! You've inspired me. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Doodlebug (I still love that name) - I feel like this year has been a year of growth for me too... and looking forward to continue along that journey!!!! It has been for you too and it's been so wonderful doing some of that journey with you this year too. I loved doing this piece so very much! Thank you for your encouraging words.
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