Transitioning
The following two paintings were my first visual creations of 2020 and, unbeknownst to me, transitional in my art making process.
Transitional 1 has many of the “splatter and run” elements of my past paintings, but also introduces strong geometrical and layering elements.
Transitional 2 has fewer “splatter and run” moments, incorporates stronger geometrical and layering elements, and introduces more value variation and optical illusion.
Check out this blog to see where my painting process has landed.
Why my creative process transitioned is quite simple: during the first 2.5 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, my dance studios were shut down and I, thus, had endless free time on my hands; I had the opportunity to slow down, read, think and see who I am now as an artist. I, essentially, stepped out of the painting-rat-race and was able to stop and survey the current landscape (of me). Here I am now, in the present, feeling what I want and need rather than basing my idea of “self” on some previously understood (and created?) version of me.
These two paintings, and the Geometric Series, feel more like mine (me) than anything I’ve ever painted. And I think that just comes with maturity and slowing down (these paintings took way longer to make and I was less frenzied (a state I once adored) in the creative process). Every day I sat at the foot of the canvas, sipped a cup of tea and asked the painting, “what would you like to become?” I had no opinion myself. I felt no sense of urgency. I was content to look. And I think that’s a great place from which to paint.
I plan to write more about what that process was like and what these paintings mean to me, but in the mean time, please enjoy.