Sunday, April 19, 2009

Go with the flow...


First version...
above - Below: the third

Two weeks have flown by, blown by - and I - like a leaf or bit of flotsam have been carried along in the maelstrom. I painted this one evening and felt wonderful about it. It actually gave me a little thrill each time I looked at it. Next day I felt a few tiny changes were in order - and I "ruined it" !! Then I wasn't able to get back to it for a few days. Finally, yesterday, I spent time trying to regain the freshness of the first draft, so to speak - and made it worse.

The lesson? Don't be so eager to be working (painting, finishing things) that you overwork and lose the very quality you sought. I should have started another rather than changing what I had. My excuse? Since starting the "job" I've not had time to prepare more panels... Well, it's a reason, but not a good excuse.

Today I'm looking at it anew - trying to be objective - and it's not so bad, it's just different from the first version. Like I said, I wish I had both interpretations That's the beauty of working in series. One gets to see a progression and to explore so many options without the burden of thinking there is/was only one way to make that painting.

Today I'll take it to the Heritage Center and just look at it while I work on something new. It's 24 x 24, by the way.

And good news...
I was juried into the Sautee-Nacoochee Arts Center Gallery this past week and they took four of my large paintings for the current show! I went to the opening reception last night though I was dead on my feet. Being in this gallery has been a long time coming and I wasn't about to miss my first showing there. Yeah, there's a story there, but I think I can finally let some hard feelings go. The current director is a charming and knowledgeable artist with a broad view of the arts and an eye toward balancing the scope of the gallery between quality professional work, and a venue for area artists and students of the arts.

















It's a spring of blue and lilac for me. I've always been drawn to purple, lilac and blue flowers, favoring violets and purple phlox and deep dark clematis and iris.

So here's Winkle, my only "exotic" kitty - a blue-point Siamese, accompanying me on a stroll to the pond. She coordinates quite well with the lilacs - though it's the little fishies in the pond that she is stalking here...

14 comments:

Unknown said...

The paintings (both versions) are both beautiful and thank you for sharing your story because it give novices like me hope.

Congratulations on getting large paintings into a gallery! I hope to do the same some time in the future so you're my idol!

Roy said...

Congratulations on getting into the gallery!

Ima Wizer said...

I LOVE the above painting! What are you talking about? It's fabulous!
Congrats on the gallery...sounds like you had a previous history there...don't get me started about the absolute assh*#^s running the galleries in Austin!

Patricia said...

Congratulations on the gallery! As to the paintings, they're both wonderful and it'll all come right in the end. And congratulations TO the gallery. They're lucky to have your work.

Dave King said...

This is the eternal problem isn't it? How do you know when a work is finished? When it corresponds to your original vision, is one answer, but it probably never does exactly, yet there comes a point at which to stop trying to get even closer. recognising that point, it has often seemed to me, is 90% of genius.

Shayla said...

What a newsy post. That first painting is brilliant! I've done that before- so many times. Once I cried, heartbroken. You've given me a new perspective on what to get from a series. I like the second version too and congrats on your show :)

jennifer woodburn said...

Way to go on the show! I love these paintings (both versions), you could drift away right into them! I am with you in my love of the blue/purple flowers. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of our lilacs up here. Keep painting Patrice!

Kat Mortensen said...

Hey! Thanks for visiting Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes. Your blog is compelling. I'll definitely visit again.
How many cats have you got? We have 4 beauties.

Kat

jgrow2 said...

I do miss lilacs. Out here in the desert there are a different variety of flowering flora, some even have sublimely beautiful smells.

I do miss the lilacs though.

Anonymous said...

First off - VERY COOL about the gallery! Good job! You deserve it!

On "ruining" your work: I can only imagine how many times I would feel that way if poetry were a canvas and words were paint. I am so self-critical, sometimes it can leave me in misery. I do not think I could function in your medium. That said, both versions you posted are excellent and I would be proud to hang either in my home. Wait and see... I've said it before.. One day soon I will have an original Patrice Lynne Young!

Nuzzle Winkle for me!

DJ said...

Patrice, I wish you well in your relationships with gallery owners, and other "gatekeepers" of the art world. :-)
Keep looking at your paintings as you put the brush down. Trust your instincts. Life is all about learning. And every day is a new canvas.

Dean H. said...

Both paintings display great energy!! Congrats on entering the new gallery, Patrice...here's to a long and happy association!

Unknown said...

It's so gorgeous! I know exactly what you mean though about being so eager to keep working you can "ruin" a great piece by going too far. However I have to say that I love the second version - the colors and energy are just beautiful. Congrats on the show!

TSL said...

I love this painting!