Right On Cue

My wife was the first to make me aware that my dark moods were seasonal. Reviewing past posts of this blog it is clear that my artistic struggles compound in the winter months. This years dip came right on cue in the form of a sudden and deep existential crisis. Trying to paint more only made matters worse. Embracing family and friends seems to have rescued me. A sunny reading spot in the afternoons doesn't hurt either.

December Light, oil pastel, 9" X 8", 2018

R & R?

Needing a break from the pressures of working from the live figure I retreated to a back room in my studio for a little painting R & R. I was craving a stationary subject whose availability would coincide with my schedule. Popcorn kernels, an old favorite, fit the bill nicely. I have long wanted to explore their exploded forms on a different scale.

Far from being restful and relaxing, however, the early sessions turned into a wrestling match with a rough textured linen surface.

Three kernels, oil on rough linen, 10" X 12", 2018

Drift

In previous posts I have mentioned my tendency to revert to old bad habits when painting the figure. Often it is only in hindsight that problems reveal themselves. To check this inclination I installed a long shelf on a prominent wall in the studio. On it I line up paintings as they are completed. Now I can see in real time when I start to drift off course.

Figure studies, oil on canvas or linen, September - November 2018