We’re currently on a four month break between courses in Mastering Composition. It’s giving me a chance to work on a few other things, as well as do course paintings.

Three older paintings have been sanded into oblivion in order to reuse the cradled panels. The new work often starts with building up layers, involving laying paint down and maybe lifting it off again. Creating interesting visual textures is a big part of the exercise. The process is repeated until I have a basis from which to try pulling out an image.

It’s not as simple as it sounds. Things can start out with a design in mind, but the painting may lead you in other directions. The starting design or idea gives you something to work to, a structure, an idea, rather than just slapping paint about and hoping for the best. Having said that, I’m continually open to serendipitous occurrences and new directions. Slapping paint around is often part of that.

During the four month “break,” I’m doing at least two course style paintings a week. They’re small paintings based on design (as opposed to subject matter), value masses, warm and cool temperatures (as relates to sunlight and shade), and touching on intensity. Here’s the latest one. (Hansen Lake, which is near Cradle Mountain, here in Tasmania.)

Because the course palettes are very limited, it is often difficult to use intense colour. That will be part of the next course on colour. Things feel like they are beginning to sink in, becoming easier. It’s all in the practice. I’m sticking to the two palettes we’ve used in order to better grasp the concepts.

The third thing I’m doing is working on nine small square images that started as a place to use up paint from course exercises. The plan is to create layers here too and include some collage. Rather than start with a structure in mind, these littlies are at the mercy of impulse. Each time I work on them, I look to see what’s there, turning them all four ways to explore possibilities. Sometimes, there are things that you can act upon, but just as often, there’s nothing to prompt any action. With those, it’s a case of plough ahead with more playful mark making or collage, and the process repeats.

It’s a process of juggling purpose, practice and play and it’s what making art is all about!

More to do on these yet.

The two paintings below were recently listed on Bluethumb.

“Pattern Play” 33x35cm $260 unframed

“Making Mountains” 33x35cm $260 unframed

Thank you for reading Studio News. I hope you found it interesting. Please let me know your thoughts. Also, ask questions if you’d like to, for me to answer in future issues.