Today I signed an abstract feathers painting I wasn’t sure would ever show itself to me on the canvas. I have photos of this painting’s base being started earlier this year. It changed some but mostly sat waiting for me.
Sometimes paintings are like that, like a bar of slippery soap. One minute they’re in my hand and the next minute their on the floor. Literally. I set paintings on the floor of my studio or at the base of my easel when I’m stumped. Some have been sitting around longer than I like to admit.
Ideas come to me and patiently wait their turn to be created. I still have many waiting. Sometimes they don’t work out, or sometimes have a rough start like this painting of soon to be abstract peacock feathers. Most paintings still don’t turn out as I see them in my mind’s eye. But that’s okay, it’s a called a studio practice for a reason.
In this close up, you can see the wet shades of blue against the darker blue and bright green. It was at this point I started to see the feathers forming. Up until that point I wasn’t sure where the painting was going.
But they weren’t the peacock feathers I was seeing. They were long wings of a night bird that didn’t quite make it to the show. That idea might come out for a revisit, or it might not.
I even tried a technique I learned from a friend, applying a resist to preserve the colors underneath then painting over it revealing interesting marks and shapes. That almost made me paint over the entire thing and start again. I really didn’t like those results so I started randomly applying paint to cover it up.
Instead, the cool colors became shorter swipes of paint and lighter in color. I added chunks of lighter color over the dark and then familiar marks emerged. Symbols came and some were painted over, all part of the dance. Peacock feathers finally started to show up.
Peacock Feathers
Tweaking and refining lines make the painting what it finally became. While adding swishes, I saw an eye form, but I chose not to pull it out for this, but that is certainly on the back burner. If you know me, you know I love to paint weird stuff like that.
I like what ended up being abstracted versions of this exotic bird’s feathers. As far as a title goes, I kept my initial title idea of “Night Flight” that the painting began as… a night bird. The finished painting is shown below.
This painting should make it’s way to my online shop soon. I’m rather far behind though on listing new paintings, several are waiting to get listed. I have two shows in September and it should go to at least the later one, Funk in the City, September 21st. Maybe MiniCon, but that booth is pretty small so I’m not sure it’ll make the cut.
I’ll add a link on this post when I get it listed. Or if you’re interested in it before I get it in there, just contact me. It’s 24″x12″ with the sides of the canvas painted.
Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page under the additional links menu. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery and telling mystical stories.
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That came out beautiful. And I love the photo of your workspace. It’s fascinating to see where creativity comes out, and what artists surround themselves with in their space. Your post is also timely because you really hit the nail on the head about how some things just need to almost gestate for a while. It’s the same thing with writing. I have an idea and have made a few starts on it, but I can tell the beginnings are all wrong. The story hasn’t simmered long enough yet. Like you, I’m going to set it aside for a while so my subconscious can work on it. I know we’ve talked about this before, but I love the similarities in process between painting and writing.
Thank you Lisa, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out as well. I’m so glad to hear you mention the studio workspace. Many times I think it’s just too messy to share, but that is how I work. My space gets smaller and smaller and finally I have to take the time to clear my work table off just so I can paint again! I love how you say it has to gestate a while, that’s a perfect way to put it and I agree the thought process for writing and painting really are similar. I just visited your site yesterday and saw your new book is out, it sounds like my kinda read. I’ll be buying that one as soon as I have a chance to read again.
Your art table looks so much like mine!
It doesn’t take long when you paint like us!
So true <3
Nice. Makes me want a peacock to strut around the garden.
LOL thanks Jason! My husband’s cousins used to have a peacock running around on their property! I thought it would be pretty cool, too. Have you heard their call? It’s down right scary!
I have not, but I would like to.
Have not heard it myself but have heard others call it quite raucous.
Oh yes, that’s a good description. If caught off guard, you’ll think a pterodactyl is swooping down on you!