Here is a piece I struggled with for quite some time. It has quite a few more layers of various papers and paint than I frequently use in my work, and at several stages in it's creation, looked quite different than it looks, above, in it's final incarnation. At times, I thought that I had "overworked" parts of it, and I also kept fighting the urge to give the piece a strong focal point of some kind (even in my non-objective artwork, like this piece, there is usually some sort of center-of-interest), as I really wanted to focus on texture, pattern, and repetition, here. I put the unfinished piece away for a month or more, and thought about elements that would bring the piece more in line with the mental image I had of it. When I hauled it out, again to work on it, I only ended up changing things slightly by adding several new elements to the composition. Having done so, I knew it was complete. Lesson learned: giving a piece I am working on some time, by putting it away and leaving it an unfinished state for awhile, helps me to process, and can actually give the artwork the space and time it needs, as well, to tell me what needs to happen next!
Nice piece Robert and good advice. Another thing I have found is that when things are not flowing- don't force the issue- do something else for a while.
ReplyDeleteVery nice Robert! I think time gives a bit of perspective. I really like how this came out. It is very calming to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terry and Brian for your comments! Excellent advice from each of you: yes, Terry, I have been known to "force the issue" in my work before, and I'm always sorry; and Brian, time definitely gives perspective, which is not just a good lesson when applied to art, but a good life-lesson, as well! Thanks to you both for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteI really like line pieces and yours is no exception. Nice work, Robert. Having many pieces going at once helps me through what you described. This is like having a baby to nuture, time an patience is needed. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for your kind words, John. Working on several pieces at once is an excellent suggestion. In the case of this piece, I just put it away for awhile (which prevented a "forced" solution), and pulled it back out when I'd figured out what I wanted to do with it. Time and patience, indeed!
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