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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Fear, loathing, and painting faces

Today I was thinking about Trust and Fear. Specifically how they relate to me as an artist and the risks that I do and do NOT take in my art.  This thought pattern came from my ecourse I am taking from Kelly Rae.  It is challenging me to rethink my process, open up old wounds, confront my weaknesses head on, and challenge my comfort zone.  So I am terrified to try to paint people again.  I havnt done so since 1993, when I left art school for the "real world." I keep myself from doing people because I know that I will have to face the reality that I am not as good as I used to be.  That perhaps my art is (gasp!) bad.  I cant keep doing this though.  If I am really to move forward I have to put myself out there and take a risk and make (gasp!) bad art, to allow room for the good art to peek through and, hopefully, take over.

So I did this painting...


Its just a start.  The girl needs a lot of work, esp in the face, and I am not sure exactly where I was going with it, but it will come to me along the way I suppose.  I wanted to try using alcohol on the paints to make them run, and went a bit overboard.  I really like how the flowers turned out, but the girl... not so much.  I'll try again and show you what I end up with.


Then I wanted to do something really free.  So I employed my 2 year old son Israel, a budding artist i tell you.


He LOVES painting with momma, so we got all set up and did some collage/painting (which involves me squirting paint onto the cardboard in color palettes that I like, him having a party with the paintbrush on it, while I slap down collage pieces in between his brush strokes.
Once they are all dry and done, I'll post pics of them.



6 comments:

  1. I love the picture of all of your work and supplies in that last photo. Though I crave organization, it usually feels pretty good to have all of those supplies around me--all the potential therein!

    (cam over from Flying Lessons!)

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  2. funny how you don't like to paint faces. i don't like to put heads on my sculptures! i've wondered if there's more to it than the fear of creating them. perhaps the meaning behind a face or someone's head. it's
    how we identify someone...
    btw, love the new painting! and thanks for stopping by and the kind words. =)
    i'll be flying back soon...
    samos

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  3. I am taking Kelly's class as well. I am just beginning....everything! Your work and your blog is very inspiring. I will be keeping up with you!

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  4. Hi Harmony, I sent an email as well, but I wanted to feed your blog, and let you know I love the watercolor girl...how muted and subdued she is. Looks like you and Israel has some great fun! Catch ya in class.

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  5. Harmony,
    Please do not be dismayed. It will come back and when it does it will be bigger then you ever expected!
    One yr. ago I could not draw a line, and now I have gone leaps and bounds.. ! Don't ever give up. remember you are throwing away a gift that God gave you if you don't contintue to create such beauty as I see here!
    I am in Kellys Class to learning more and more!
    So much on the internet to learn..
    come vist when you can.. you may think I am fibbing you.. but I am not.. I promise..
    Hugs, Darlene.. take flight!

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  6. oops forgot to tell you i am on FB and twitter too.. just tweet me!
    LOL
    hugs

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