The Start of Something New
The dreaded moment of staring at a blank canvas whether literal or metaphorical is a feeling I’m sure most of us can understand. New beginnings are always daunting, especially as a self-diagnosed perfectionist I’m hit with the weight of all the expectations I have of myself and as a result, my art. In the last few years, I’ve picked up some methods from other creatives and I’ve developed my own process to get started when I’m staring at a blank canvas. 🎨🖌️
When I have an idea for a new painting there are almost always questions going through my mind. Which colour should I stain the canvas, how will I paint this specific lighting, will this composition work etc.
This is where a small study comes to the rescue! Using small panels by Belle Arti, I start a much smaller version where I work out the composition, tone and colour palette. These studies can be freeing, I can experiment without feeling pressured and it can be rough and quick. After a couple of days, I have a great starting point and I’m itching to start the final piece.
This will probably my most vibrant painting to date, so I wanted to make sure the colour relationships had harmony and I created a strong contrast between the textured bark and the soft blurred background.
The inspiration for it came from a photoshoot I did in the summer with a friend who somehow managed to naturally convey so much emotion. I asked her after over dinner if she was doing it on purpose and she surprisingly wasn’t! She told me she was letting her mind wander. In that moment, leaning against the tree with this rough slashing bark I felt the vicious slashes on the tree trunk represented on the outside how she was feeling on the inside.
I’m just about finished with this study which will inform a larger scale painting. I am feeling pretty good about it as a painting in its own right. 🖼️ What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
As part of my next collection release, you will also have the opportunity to collect painting studies like this. Something I haven’t made available until now. The release date for the full collection will be announced in the next few weeks. My VIP Collectors Circle will have priority access so make sure you sign up if you haven’t already!
In the meantime, I’ll keep you posted on how the larger piece is progressing…
P.S. – Feel free to share this with a friend you think might like it!