Painting On Raw Canvas

A vision of new paintings crossed my mind today. They include squares of raw canvas, a flow of gesso, thinned acrylic paints almost like watercolor. I want to play in paint for a week. I can't wait to start ripping the canvas into squares.

I also want to do a big white canvas. The canvas won't be just white. It's hard to describe what I saw in my mind but I am intrigued.

Alizarine Crimson Warms Up the Blues

The first layer of oil paint that I put on the canvas to create "Oklahoma Fields" was pure Alizarine Crimson, which gives these cool blues and greens a surprising amount of warmth.

Photo Shoot

We are planning a photo shoot for Wednesday night. If all goes well, soon, you will see photos of my artwork with their owners at home and in offices. Stay tuned!

Getting Up Early-Progress Report

Another title option: Problem Solving 101 - For the Artist Who Works Their "Day" Job And Needs More Energy To Paint After Work

A third title option: Warning! Processing Here.

I promised to keep you posted on my progress for going to my "day" job at 6am in order to get off by 2pm and head over to the studio to paint from 2p - 6pm.

It sounds so doable, but I have yet to pull it off. I work for an accounting firm and now we are in the thick of it. Accounting is definitely a thinking (wo)mans career. My brain is full of numbers. I never knew that thinking could make you tired! And, whoever said accounting was boring never did accounting before. Every day, something new. Every year congress changes laws and the IRS set new rules.

Still, even though I didn't get out of bed today until 1 hour 45 minutes later than scheduled, I am optimistic. It's spring. The days are getting lighter, longer. I have options.

One idea (and it may sound crazy) is I am thinking about changing my diet. I am wondering what foods are the absolute energy boosters; a smoothie instead of coffee, a boiled egg instead of a scone. If I ate energy boosting foods for a while... It's a thought. Which leads me to more options...

• Meditation. Empty the brain.
• Visualization. Fill the brain with images of painting and running my art business all day.
• Actualization. Be the change you want to see in the world.
  

The last sentence a quote from Gandhi. It's a perfect quote for me in my life right now. I am so inspired in the mornings to be the change I want to see in my life. The trick is to be inspired right after work. Right after work is my weakest moment of the day. I spend a little time in the morning meditating and visualizing. I can try it right after work too to see if that helps. Another thing that might help is:

• Exercise...

If my weakest moment is right after work, it makes sense to exercise right after work before painting. Exercise is the absolute best thing I can do for rejuvenating the mind and spirits after a full 8 hours of numbers.

Ok - so here's the newest new plan: Still work at getting up early. Eat energy oriented foods throughout the day, then right after work spend an hour exercising. Spend 15 minutes meditating and visualizing. Eat a healthy energy boosting meal. Then, get to work on painting.

I bet after doing these things, I will get my three to four hours of daily production time in during the week.

Painting Over Underpaintings

These are about to change. What have been paintings for six months are now considered under paintings. After I finish the sandwich board sign for a friend that I promised to do, these paintings are next on my list.

My studio mates are getting use to me painting over paintings, though I am not sure they always approve they totally understand the process. I love changing a painting that I have lived with it for a while. Something better always comes along. It's like the first painting breaths mystery and intrigue into the final work of art. The viewer knows something is there, though they may not know what.