As my work shifts , I am using different approaches to the work : irons , masking , spritzing , scraping and layering . I am still laying in a base of 6-8 layers before I begin all this other stuff . I will probably never give up the depth ; it ’ s my one true painting love affair . I ’ m also all about the development of depth through thin layers as I don ’ t like heavy , gloppy paint . I parse out the paint and allow it to speak “ sotto voce .”
I ’ m now working with the R & F Flexible tools to get a more impressionistic look and feel . The quandary with these flexible tools is the wax temp as I want it to be somewhere between liquid and solid . I have found Paula
www . paularoland . com Roland ’ s light box perfect for this .
Bearing this in mind , the most valuable thing I can suggest to you is this : Show up and work ! Through our work we are able to winnow out the unnecessary parts . We come to understand our purpose and we develop a visual language to express this purpose .
I always make time for the work . Nurturing and developing a great studio ethic is key to settling into my work . I may confidently avoid indecision and doubt . I give myself permission to live and paint expansively and I relish my efforts when I show up and work . Because of discipline and solitude I can truly say that I enjoy rather than endure my studio work .
I know that I keep posing questions ; I am certain that answering the questions will provide the map ( the HOW ?) to satisfying studio work . So let me suggest a few more :
• What do viewers say about your art ?
• How do they look at your work ?
• What do you want the viewer to see ?
• How does the work deliver its message ?
Oh , and answering these questions will help in writing your artist ’ s statement , a whole other discussion but worth mentioning . As I work out my own artistic shift – you know , wringing my hands and scratching my head – I am grappling with these very questions :
“ What am I saying ?” “ How do I feel ?” And , “ How do I want you to feel ?”