Chaos

Another big topic. Here goes:

In the process of creativity and life at a certain point chaos reigns. Think: making the big life-changing move, know where you're moving to and what goodies await. Yet still: there are the bits and pieces of life waiting to be sorted and packed and classified in order to make that big move. At first, all is well but at the end there are always things to save and organize but not enough time,energy and inclination to do so.

Every time I begin a painting this happens. At first it's all big ideas and big brushes. Inevitably, at some point reality will set in and I will think, "What was I thinking"? It's at this point the sheep start to get separated from the rams.

Choices in art and life abound at this point:
Give up and walk away?
Throw something and swear vigorously?
Paint over the damn thing and pretend it never happened?
Some combination of the above?

Whether any, all or a combination of the above, I think it's important to recognize that chaos is integral to change, growth and life in general. Our companion chaos is not comfortable and not warm and fuzzy, but I'm thinking chaos is necessary to all of us on our journey.

Persistence

"Kate Comes Ashore" is a personal study in patience and persistence, and I am pleased to say she is finally getting the attention her little self deserves.

I took the photo of my BF Donna's daughter Kate way back in '99. I held on to it until about 3 years ago, when I (finally) felt I had some of the skills necessary to do her justice in a painting.

I used scale and a grid on something like a 1:5 scale to work out the proportions. I painted the face with the image and the canvas upside down to force the L-R brain shift and make me see what the shapes of her face REALLY look like, not what my left brain thinks a face looks like.

The first few times I showed her, the reception was less than enthusiastic. I really got a little paranoid about what people were telling me about her, because I have no experience with portraiture and I had to go back and work out issues several times. I persevered, and now she has a play date at the Museum of Florida Art in DeLand for Florida Biennial V from April 9th through May 30.

BTW: the painting looks just like her at age 4.