As promised, here are a few of my recent sketches in what I would like to call my new series of Interior Landscapes. I have become quite a twilight painter as of recently; other concerns and dedications have taken away from my painting time. As a result, rather than be annoyed by this, I chose to paint that beautiful chasing light that floods through my apartment at the close of the day. It is a rush to try to capture it, so I must mix colors and paint quickly and abstractly. Most of the sketches were done in about an hour, and though I will try to return to some of them, I do like the purity of direct observation of form and color. One might think that I have neglected my “housewife” duties, but when I see these mountains of color forms, I think of painting them, rather than cleaning up. Alas, it does get tidied afterwards and the bed remade, only to take on new convolutions the next day. My kitten appears in quite a few, and not out of choice for the composition, but because she follows me wherever I go to paint and then seeks out a comfortable place to hang out, often looking up as if to ask, “is this pose okay?”
In a few short days, I am off to Italy to several different locations in Tuscany; a ten-day trip for work not related to my painting, I will not have time to do anything other than soak up the atmosphere of the stunning countryside. I will be buying myself a proper camera, however, so that I can produce better resolution photographs of my paintings at last.
Well I’m impressed. Everyday I go to work thinking I will paint when I get home then I think there is not enough light or time. You are skipping that excuse and getting on with it.
Thanks WR,
It was the only way for me to make sure I still fit in painting time and feel satisfied; I am finding that often it is actually more time than I thought it would be! Today I will be doing some final touches on those that really need it.
Rebecca
Isn’t that the truth, WR! I am excited to sit down and do my own painting tonight, and thought of you. I’m glad I stopped by!
Rebecca, just discovered your blog and was immediately pulled by your brushwork and colours. brilliant work!
Rahina – thank you for the compliments from the eyes of another painter. These paintings do represent my more natural use of perceived color and brushstroke, since they were done so immediately and impulsively.
I especially love these paintings of your bedroom (kitchen, too). I love the idea of painting as and when you can – what a way to stop making excuses! Thank you for your thoughts on painting. They give me hope.
Thanks Julie! I have found it much more meaningful to focus on the painting time I can find, rather than waste time in pessimistic thoughts about how there is never enough time. When I imagined the amount of time people spend on emotions like anger or worry, or need for attention from faces on facebook, it sure made me thankful for all the time there actually is available. I still don’t think days are long enough though!
Thank you, Rebecca – I’ve decided to do a similar type of attempt in my apt, using gouache in a very small format so that I can move around quickly with a small portable table. It’s so fun – and makes me open my eyes to those fleeting moments that we often pass over.