Reflecting back on my painting class the other day it made me smile.
All we do is have a good time, tease each other about the various stages of our paintings, and do good work.
There is learning here. The students are expanding their repertoire, learning that oils should be worked in stages. That usually every painting has it’s struggles and challenges to figure through.
Then I look over my burgeoning studio and long for a larger space. Or an empty one to fill anew. That would be very exciting; an empty studio with clean lines, empty walls and light. But that… is just a dream because my studio runneth over this snowy morning.
Which is just where you want to be this time of year. My galleries will be pleased.
The paintings are everywhere and the work has never been better. I have a huge Tuscany rolling hills on the main wall, hung just a bit lower that my colorful farmland Brittany painting, done on location. After a year of hiding it on myself, finally I took out of storage my “Night Tugboats on the Canal” and did what needed to be done all along. “Take out the two poles in the middle Loretta and it will work.” I couldn’t get the painting on the easel fast enough. Three minutes later the poles are painted out and shazam, it’s working. Now I plan to put a few more hours into it and order a frame. Right now it sits up high on another shelf and stares down dark and beautiful over my bright beach series, Sandy Neck rolling dunes with the canal’s Sagamore silhouette painted just a hint for those that would know.
There’s London studies, a major Brooklyn piece, plus new Fenways and that’s just the oils. No wonder I am tired.
Tomorrow class will see my “Night Tugboats on the Canal” and I will explain to them, if you consider when I shot the photos for this in (February 2005), which is when I started painting it in my head, explain about the recent changes to it after much delay, they will be shocked that a painting could take four plus years and still be unfinished.
I don’t have all the answers, but I do know having choices in my studio works for me and the empty walls with clean lines are just in my mind.
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