I don't know why I torment myself with these large canvases. There is nothing like biting off more than you can chew over and over again. Large paintings take considerably more time, more paint (which is pricey if you use the good stuff, which I do), and more creativity (in my opinion) because there is such a vast amount of space to work with. It's overwhelming.
On larger canvases, color can be used more aggressively and textures have more room to play out, in addition to an array of brushwork or even knife-work, finger painting and the like. It's a great way to experiment, but if it ends up ugly, then it's not just ugly, it's big and ugly.
I began a painting of some waterman...Shellfish were in season here in Maryland and I had just too many great fried oysters not to paint about them. So, at the artist's reception for the City themed show at West Annapolis Artworks this summer, the gallery owner, Su Anne Martinez, mounted canvases to a brick wall on the entry side of the building. All participating artists were asked to paint outside, while our patrons watched. Talk about performance anxiety. I was a hot mess. But it was a good exercise. I need to stop worrying so much about what I'm doing and just do it, you know, let it happen naturally instead of forcing it.
I came up with a darling sketch and even did some background color of the seascape. There was a couple who were at the party, watching me try to paint. They told me about their dear dog that had just died, so I drew their beloved pooch with his paws hanging over the side of the boat. They inspired a story on the canvas. So, I got about two hours into it, then it was time to go inside. Well, that was three months ago. I finally went today and picked up the canvas that I never finished. I'm going to go ahead and finish the darn thing so I can stop thinking about it.
Tomorrow I'll paste a photo of the what's been done so far, then hopefully post as I go. I hope you like it. If all goes well, I hope to have it in the holiday show at WAAW, or at least posted here on the blog.
Thank you for reading and I hope wherever you are, that you're warm!