“The growth that an artist seeks is a fine combination of mastering craft, garnering an audience, maintaining one’s mental health, and working mightily from a ever-expanding base of experience.”
- Eric Maisel
"Collective Harmony III" 21" x 21' work on paper
I have been trying some new things. Really they are old things that I am refocusing on. Drawing is a basic necessity of creating art. I have to admit I have not been drawing very much of late. I love to dive right into the tactile pleasures of the paint. I’ve found that the spontaneity of the brush to canvas has been inspiration enough. Now don’t get me wrong, I do use line, liquid acrylics, pencil, conte, charcoal all faint and scribed within my pieces. I have done this in my work for a long time. I love quality line work. I would like to incorporate more black line into my work – I will draw more…
When my son came home from College this spring he had to ship back his art supplies. He shipped home a giant bottle of India Ink that of course leaked [kids! - oops - I mean young adults!]. Fortunately he had put the ink in a plastic bag so the clothes were spared [ I must have taught him something somewhere along the line]. In cleaning up the mess, I was reminded how wonderfully black India Ink is. It was an inspirational moment disguised as a big mess! I filed that one away in the thought banks.
Last weekend, I was in Philadelphia exhibiting at the Rittenhouse Square Art Show. I was close to another painter pal of mine Joyce Stratton. I love her work and suddenly there it was – Joyce had used India Ink in her paintings! Is the universe hitting me over the head with this or what?? Joyce shared with me some of her tools – I showed her the lines I have been working with. Long story short, I am now way out of my comfort zone, experimenting with ink drawing, and ‘working mightily from an ever-expanding base of experience.”
Not quite ready to post new pieces, but stay tuned…
"Vibrant Perspective" 14" x 21" work on paper
“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”- Brian Tracy
Both artworks are available in the Martha’s Vineyard Decorator Show House and Gardens 2009. Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard is the beneficiary of all tickets sales and a portion of the sale of the furniture, accessories and artwork through out the house. Click here to see my works in the Captain Thomas Mellon House.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Deborah,
Me too-try walnut ink also-beautiful tones……
Deborah, loved this post. I have found that many times if I’m having trouble with a painting, I sit down and do a very meditative pencil drawing, just moving the pencil back and forth, hard and soft pressure, just being in the drawing, in the moment, listening to the graphite move across the paper. It somehow connects with the painting I’m doing and then I’m refreshed and ready to get back into it, and break it up if I have to. Drawing is so fundamental to our work, and the pleasures of paint sometimes overpower the still, small voice of ink or pencil. Looking forward to seeing your new pieces! (PS – love the quotes, too!)