Thursday, March 12, 2009

Good Day, Bad Day

Dying Sun, 30 x 30

I set aside Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to paint large versions of last week's studies. Tuesday was a good day... everything seemed to click and I was pretty pleased with this larger piece. The large ones are so different to execute and have a completely different presence than the small studies, so when it worked out, I thought I was on a roll! But...

Bruised Sky, 30 x 30, WIPEDOWN!

This is all that is left of yesterday's effort. After painting all day, my garbage can is full of scraped paint and oily paper towels, and only a ghost image of the stained paint remains on the canvas. Some days are just like this! Sigh.

10 comments:

Mary Anne Cary said...

So glad I'm not alone!!! (Although I have a feeling I'm there a little more than you.) First one is beautiful!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Laurel,

I agree with Mary Anne. Those days happen, and make us crazy. But you know what -- the one you're happy with is great, and the ghost image is pretty wonderful too.

XOXOBarbara

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Better a wiper than a painting not up to par! We all have them, but, I share your frustration, thinking about all the lost time and effort...have to fall back on the "I learn from my failure" theory. On the other hand, "Dying Sun" in STUNNING!

pablo pablo said...

Very nice, i love colors!

Janelle Goodwin said...

Hi Laurel, Your sun paintings are amazing! I know how frustrating those wipeouts can be. I think it shows that you have high standards for your work.

Jala Pfaff said...

Fantastic result. Good for you!!

Jala Pfaff said...

P.S. How did you keep your colors so clean?!

Jann Alexander at AustinDetailsArt.com said...

it's so kind of you to share your near-miss, but seeing the stunning sunset you turned out, I know your work to be consistently lovely and breath-taking. keep working. Wonderful.

Jann Alexander at AustinDetailsArt.com said...

and on another topic dear to our hearts (especially Bill's): here's a tip I just figured out to keep our lovely white Mac keyboards paint-free. Put some Gamsol on a small triangular cosmetic sponge (also useful for wiping off all of the paint we don't like on those near-miss canvases) and wipe away at your white keyboard while you're chatting on the phone. bingo! new white clean keys like magic! Bill will be soooooo thrilled!

Kelley Carey MacDonald said...

I am SO glad to hear you say this, Laurel! This week I had the same experience! One day, you're just chugging along, and every stroke seems to be the right value, color and texture. The next.... AUGHHHHHH! But the one of yours that worked is so great... just be happy for that one. The other painting will just 'show up' in it's own time!