With a new outlook on my art, work.
Instead of being pulled in half a dozen directions (more paintings of Alaska! develop my Grand Canyon studies! start a big five panel painting of the Petrified Forest! in fact, a series exploring the entire Colorado Plateau! and work in using Creatures in Landscape! work more in Egg Tempera! explore Insects under the microscope!) I've come to the realization that with the limited time I have to work in my studio I will be better off focusing on one area of interest at a time.Duh!
When I think back on my best work, it was done with a singular obsession (Churches, the Train Series, Russia, Shoemaker). Not that it doesn't hurt me to think of putting the other projects on hold, especially when I think of the impressions of my recent residencies starting to fade, but I do have a way of bringing back my memories, and that's to edit and illustrate the journals I kept.
Of course if I could restrain myself from applying to new residencies before finishing work from the previous I wouldn't have a backlog, but that's not going to happen, it's just too tempting to try for the chance to be AIR in those incredible landscapes.
So for now I am going to focus on Alaska, and work on images from my residency with the Forest Service in the Chugach. I have 3 paintings now in progress and am determined to finish my journal. Maybe it will bring me luck as I wait for the decision on my application to Denali!
I have the same problem; it's hard to know where to focus sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThe struggle between letting oneself play and explore vs knuckling down and being disciplined… Probably both are necessary!
Very very wise. And of course, the problem is common. The solutions are many and varied; your ability to bring back the visions you had at the various places helps make the solution a good one. Otherwise it's working too long too hard and perhaps not accomplishing what you want. So, ta-ta. Good luck with the next AIR. And focusing on the Alaska art as well as the AIR there makes good sense.
ReplyDeleteThanks, good to know I'm not alone in being tempted by too many spur trails! Staying on one is working out pretty good for me right now.
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