Imagined Landscape

Imagined Landscape   6 x 6 inches, Oil Pastel on Linen

My grandaughter Emilie told me tonight, "there are no mistakes in art. Art is always is good and never bad". Obviously, she has a very enlightened art teacher who encourages her in all forms of art making. this is such a wonderful message to give students from an early age. I imagine all the years of self criticism and not making art that might have been avoided if I had been taught this when I was little, 

Today, I gave into whimsy in this painting which I think is different than pure abstraction. It is similar in that I have no idea where I am going when I start but once the theme emerges, I am more focused on some direction. In this case. landscape. This is not a place I have seen. It grew out of the process of painting and playing with colors and shapes. In these paintings principles of design and color play a big part in the process as I go along.

I spent my time in the studio today finishing this piece and then working some more on the large painting that I started last week. I am applying oil paint that is darker than the pastel drawing I did. I am not sure about the direction this painting will take but I am simply doing the next thing and watching to see what might emerge in the process. I am finding that working big after so many small paintings, is very different and fun.

 

24 x 24 inches, Oil on Linen