Introspection and Creative Challenges

 

Three One Hour Sunset Paintings

Lately my art friends and I have been sharing our art via Zoom meetings. In the last meeting, I proudly shared a larger painting that I had worked on over multiple days. I worked on this particular painting in the studio and was happy with the outcome-- the tree reflections, clouds in the sky,  trees on the shore-- I felt I captured it all.  Might this particular painting be show worthy? Imagine my surprise when my fellow artists Oohed and Ahhed-- but not over my studio painting but over a one hour plein air painting. This signaled that I had some introspection to do -- are my more painterly and less planned paintings are more appealing? Perhaps I need to focus more on those? One hour verses the 10+ hours of work leaves me questioning myself. Where should I dedicate my time and effort?  

I decided to put away my studio paintings and instead focus on one hour studies. I set my phone timer once I am set up (paint out, brushes ready, canvas on easel) and the countdown begins! I try to put down the paint quickly--laying out masses of color, typically darks first. And then I work into the masses and try to build up to the details. If I want a few minutes more I set another 10 minutes; although, often I let the painting end when the timer goes off. 

What I like about the small paintings is that they are not time consuming. I like to see how far I can get in an hour. How much paint and composition I can get down on the canvas? There is no second guessing when you only have an hour to paint. I think I will continue these little quick studies for a bit.  Someday I will have to get back to studio painting and larger painting--that is in the back of my mind. 

I painted the three sunsets over three different days. I chose the sunsets as they are photos of the same place the same night within a few minutes of each other. I really love how the color brightens in the last painting. Sometimes it is nice to get to know a subject and for me lately it's all about sunsets.