Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Little by little


It's funny that Robert Genn's latest newsletter
talks about the importance of taking a break from
what you're painting. You can get so close to a work, and so frustrated with a flaw in a certain area, that your brain freezes.

I think I'm blessed by the need to escape. When I'm working on commissions, I need frequent breaks to rethink, not think, and get back to my original vision. Sometimes I need to revise that vision every five minutes, but on occasion I'm lucky enough to know what I want to do, and do exactly that. Bliss.

On the other hand (I am part Libra -- we do weigh and balance) I love the happy accidents that happen in painting, when I brush on the wrong colour and in wiping it off, see that the small remaining traces make the paint beneath what should have been a mistake, sing.

Here's the second picture of the Elizabeth
painting. At this stage I'm pulling in background, starting the beautiful gauzy dress,
thinking about colour relationships.

Have a bright day.

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Portrait Artist

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!