I am a planner by nature.
So for years, whenever I’d hear artists say things like
“just let it happen” or
”let the painting tell you where to take it”
I’d be skeptical.
Lately though I’ve been forcing myself to the easel
without an idea or a plan (or a reference image!)
and the results have been quite surprising.
“Alone Together”
10 x 10 oil
This began loosly as a beachscape, until I found myself thinking
about all the people who are losing loved ones
and cannot be with them to say goodbye.
Soon, the colors became muted, the linear shapes appeared
and marks were made;
seemingly without my direction!
Yikes.
I’m not sure I’m totally comfortable with this approach,
but I do think that less planning produces more discoveries!