Thursday, August 5, 2010

Process Notes: Painted Archaeologies

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One of  two new pieces on my print table, still wet from creating an underpainting on the monoprinted surface.

A newly completed work is a rich resource of  “coulda shoulda wouldas” – not in a critical sense, more in an “imagine if…” context. A great jumping off place for a new work is to respond to the one that’s just been completed. If you did it again, what would you do differently? What would make it richer, more compelling, more articulate?

Having just put the finishing touches on the fourth piece in my Relics series, I am working through my responses to this one – both the likes and dislikes – on two new pieces.

In these, I hope to explore variations on color, composition  and marks that can best convey the feel of ancient writings scrawled or carved on aged, worn, eroded surfaces .

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Here’s a snippet of  Relic 4.  I can’t show the whole image because I’m considering entering it in  an international juried exhibition that prohibits any images of accepted works being reproduced or exhibited prior to the show opening.

10 comments:

  1. Relic 4 is very rich and intriguing Jeanne! I can relate to responding to the previous piece in the subsequent work. Its a great jumping off spot, plus its so very personal.

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  2. Hi Leslie, nice to hear from you. I've finally started to play with a project you suggested when we last spoke. I'll tell you about it soon!

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  3. This is so beautiful. I love old relic surfaces. One of my grad school writing teachers said every story you write has a hole in it and through that hole you create the next story. I think it could relate to visual artwork also. This is going to be a powerful series, I can tell.

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  4. Suki, I like what your grad school writing teacher said. And I too hope the series will be powerful.

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  5. This series is really taking off! I loved your comments about your thinking process. In my opinion, the day you stop having those thoughts about your work is the day you need to refresh and rethink. Look forward to seeing the piece completed.

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  6. Terry, it continuously amazes me how excitement and anxiety can be so intertwined as a new piece unfolds. We seize control, relinquish it, embrace the vision, despair for it and finally try to make peace with it, complete it and move on, eager to engage again.

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  7. hi there,

    i love the snippet as a piece in it's own right!
    Monica

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  8. Hi Monica, thanks. I noticed from your blog that you are an artist too and quite knowledgeable about astrology. I know very little, but I am definitely influenced creatively by the moon cycles.

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  9. I love the new direction of these pieces. How very exciting! I even see parts of a macro butterfly wing. Patterns in life and in nature, isn't it grand how they repeat and show up at unexpected times?

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