Steven LaRose, Omeed, 2009Oil on wood, 14.5 x 11.5 inches
I have 13 panels prepared for this next suite. I can already tell that the increase in scale, although small, will require me to rearrange my studio. I can no longer work sitting down on horizontal surfaces as I now need to be able to not only step back, but to careen back to various points of view. I am officially dancing with the surfaces now.
11 comments:
Maybe you should, like Vivaldi, title these after seasons. It looks like you've entered Winter.
Interesting that "Omeed" then translates from Farsi as "hope". I was a little uncomfortable with the Mr. Freeze palette until Stacy saw it and said that I wasn't allowed to sell this one.
One of my favorite things in life is the juxt of red and green blues.
The leap from working sitting to standing is a big one. I can't wait to see where these go.
Even though it's a pain in the neck, I always feel a new enthusiasm for my work after I rearrange my studio, even if I am just making some minor changes. As always, I am looking forward to seeing what you do here, Steven.
I love the notion of dancing with the canvas. Sort of celebrates the workspace outside the self, the space in between. With the shuffle of the studio, it seems like there could be a lot of new energy flow/patterns. It's exciting to look forward to more to come.
No pressure from the ladies. I can't imagine a better audience. I wish I could say something like "Too bad you paid full price for your seat, because you will only use the edge of it once I get in my groove." But, actually, I am going to try and keep things tied together and revisit some things that surfaced when I was working on the 7 x 5 inchers. Instead of stretching my arms with the scale increase, I was hoping to follow a vein or two. Increase one parameter while decreasing another. But yeah. . . with all the notions of maintaining some sort of cohesive past, I too am looking forward.
As you scale up, I'd recommend re-reading (or reading for the first time if you've missed it so far) Darby Bannard's "Touch and Scale". You probably understand everything he says intuitively, and possibly even consciously, but I think it never hurts to go over it again.
I've been thinking about touch and scale in my own work lately. Also color. Also composition. Also surface prep and paint consistency. Also whether I'm just an incompetent bozo who should retire from painting already.
I have a new suit
it's covered in sequins
Chris: I haven't read it yet. But tonight I am determined to think with the brush. I am in no position to give advice, but. . . (there is always a "but") "incompetent bozo" is the liberating power to Do, not the wet-blanket to quit.
Jacques: Sounds like a Sweet Suit (mirror-ball inspired).
The liberating power to do. I like that.
Alas, the trouble is not in the thinking, it's in the doing. The doing hasn't been going well lately. And not just in the "things are going well lately" way, but in the "I don't think things have ever gone well" kind of way.
You sat down to work on the 7" x 5"? That's fascinating- they're so full of movement.
Good luck with the new scale. Dancing is good. It will be interesting to see how or if that plays into this suite.
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