“Tangled Forest” – 36″ x 48″ oil and wax on canvas
Recently, I had a conversation with another artist I’ve known for years and we got on the subject of cleaning up our studios. When I mentioned that I had several unfinished paintings in my studio waiting to be completed, she was shocked. I was equally surprised when she told me that she never starts another painting until she finishes the one she is working on.
I know everyone has a different working routine, but I don’t think my method is that unusual given the drying time of oils. Since I paint in layers, I have to wait until each layer is dry before going on to the next one. Quite often I work on three different paintings during the day and then work on three others the next day. Sometimes I finish two in a day and then start a new painting.
DRYING TIME PLUS THINKING TIME
Besides waiting for the paint to dry, I spend a lot of time looking at the unfinished painting and deciding what to do next. I have found that several weeks of reflecting on the composition and colors produces a better painting. Even though my watercolors don’t need the extra drying time, they do require more “thinking” time since I can’t paint over the mistakes I might make in rushing the work.
Sometimes I do feel as if I’m a juggler with too many balls in the air and the drawback of working on several different paintings over time requires me to get back in the mood of each painting to complete it. The benefits are many, though, because quite often something that worked in one painting flows into the next one as well.
The painting above is an example of several changes of color schemes and composition that took place over several years. The finished painting will be in my September show at the Lawrence Gallery.
