Early Morning Painting in the Studio

It's a Monday morning, almost 6am now. No alarm is needed to wake up at 5. Yesterday's coffee is too bitter even with water so waiting for my French press coffee before I paint.

I started by moving the Gone Away painting off my easel since I love the drawing so much I may have to leave it alone. I read a little bit about Sargent's process. Most artists have been taught a method of painting from the middle. The difference with my process is I prefer to paint in the middle with washes of transparent colors so the canvas shines through the paint. Using opaque colors such as yellow ochre and titanium will dull the drawing and I loose my passion there. Lines can not be clean with opaque paint. For the bulk of the artists that is the point. This journey of painting is a process in itself. I do love my drawings and my color but always seeking to improve.

The bottom line that must exist in any great work of art is an emotional response! We should not stand in front of a painting and ask 'why?'. No matter how well done the technique, there is always depth in the why. I was at a show recently and realized that I had to wonder why on a majority of the compositions. That reaction reminded me to paint with purpose, not just technique. Compositions in vibrant color are my purpose. I love the moments that happen so fast most ignore and forget them. Or maybe they have seen it so many times that they forget the emotion that is attached to the subject gesture. I have isolated myself from other artists these last couple years. Only in a quiet studio away from the noise can I really think on my own about these ideas. I am a bit lonely though. Some mornings I wonder how many great artists felt this way when they really had to buckle down and work hard. I look forward to having this show hanging in a grand space that I have always dreamed of.

Thalo blue on my palette this morning. It has been a while! My summer palette has lingered longer than I expected. Today it is expected to reach 90 again. No rain for so long now. The grass is pink crispy with soft purple for shadows. I see PR 102 everywhere. Karen Ewbank's portrait is the blank canvas on my easel this morning. It was a very cold morning hunt meet with Blue Ridge. It may have even been closing meet. Colors of that day were much different than they are today. So, I read about portrait colors of the masters first. Then I threw those colors out.