Okay- I have to admit I'm a bit scattered when it comes to marathon painting sessions. I have a wonderful trunk show coming up at the beginning of May and have been literally camping out in the studio creating works for the event... More on that later. What I have discovered about myself and maybe some of you are like this, I'm not happy unless I'm working on several paintings at any given time. That doesn't mean they are all going to turn out fabulous. In fact several hit the re-do bin or the back shelf before the dust settles. I think that I am most productive working on many at once. This time it was over twenty paintings!!!
My theory is this... When I start a big grouping of works, initially it starts out assembly line style. But as I delve into the core part of the painting, collaging and found object, things really start to happen. One painting has a certain element that I think really works or I am trying something new. I then carry that idea over into another painting and reinterpret it slightly... This may seem like rehashing, but for me it is very much a learning experience. My biggest love for painting comes from playing with different color schemes. I love to take for example the simple shape of a cake(above) and experiment with different combinations of colors and the feelings they exude.
Color is so emotional don't you think? 
While I do work on individual pieces from start to finish,
While I do work on individual pieces from start to finish, it is this mode of working on many that I am most comfortable in.
Here is the grouping in it's early stages. Most of the colors are painted on with a wash of fluid acrylics... I have a background in traditional watercolor and this has been such a natural progression for me. I prefer fluid acrylics over the heavy body acrylics because of their versatility and ability to hold it's pigment load even when watered down. Water-soluble crayons, graphite pencils and oil pastels are used over the top layer of acrylic creating a very subtle yet effective translucent layering effect...
Side shots of the chunky canvases.
Here is the grouping in it's early stages. Most of the colors are painted on with a wash of fluid acrylics... I have a background in traditional watercolor and this has been such a natural progression for me. I prefer fluid acrylics over the heavy body acrylics because of their versatility and ability to hold it's pigment load even when watered down. Water-soluble crayons, graphite pencils and oil pastels are used over the top layer of acrylic creating a very subtle yet effective translucent layering effect...
Side shots of the chunky canvases. Boy, you can really have fun when you have all that depth to play with!
Anyway, the trunk show I was referring to is at the Jealous Gardener here in Portland, Oregon. This and more mixed media pieces are going to be on hand along with treats to eat and some special goodies too... Please come join me if you can!
