Saturday, June 6, 2015:
I spent most of today working in the studio. It was a beautiful hot and sunny Saturday in White Rock, but I chose to spend the day painting. I bought a bunch of 12X12" canvases from Opus the last time I was there and I've been itching to get them painted. I only completed two out of the four canvases that I started today but I'm very happy with how everything turned out.
Today I practiced working on multiple canvases at once and it's definitely something I'd like to start doing on a regular basis. Here's why:
Painting multiple canvases at a time is really helpful when you are adding lots of layers and you don't want your colours to blend or get all muddy.
I begin by choosing a colour and painting it out in an interesting shape on the one canvas and then move onto the next. This allows the first canvas to dry before I go back into it and add other colours or patterning on top of that layer.
As I continue, I start thinking about complimentary colours and unexpected colour combinations that might make for a unique composition. My ideas are always changing and in the end the paintings are not what I initially envisioned. But I'm always satisfied with the result. The best thing about painting with acrylics is that if you aren't happy with how something turned out you can always paint another layer over the part that you don't like.
One of the biggest challenges that I often face while painting is knowing when to stop. I often get too excited and go a little crazy with the patterns and details. I do like it when I am able to control this obsession with detail and leave room for flat areas of colour that help balance the overall chaotic composition of the patterns.
All in all it was a productive day and I hope I've given an insight into the way that my artistic process evolves during a day of painting in the studio.