For me art is a ritual. I have to get myself mentally prepared. Before I start a major new piece there is a series of things I need to do. The idea is already there, well mostly, given that I know it won't turn out like the image in my mind, or dream, or imagination.
The practical tasks of buying materials and priming the surface are done deliberately. I am old-fashioned in that I make stuff to last, it's one of the tenets of traditional art. I have come around to thinking that this is no longer important, but old habits die hard, and preparation of the support prepares me mentally.
I remember when I began this painting over 5 years ago. I chose exterior quality ply so it wouldn't warp. I primed it and filled any imperfections, undercoated several times with a special shade of blue/grey/black good quality house acrylic. It took a while - there are 2 x 2.4 m x 1.2 m panels in each of the 4 paintings.
After working intermittently on this one for 5 years, during which time it has accumulated thick layers of paint as I struggled to make my vision real for others to see, lived in 2 different studios, both with stairs - one with incredibly difficult access, went to the framers to get a wooden support cradle on the back (the ply did warp) and finally moved to my home studio in the new house - it is getting its final spruce up - filling and painting the sides.
It is basically a 'resolved' work. Paintings are never really 'finished' - they say something about what I was trying to get across but I have long accepted that they never live up to my expectations. But it doesn't matter, it's the doing and the ritual that really matters. I am ready to say 'that's it - I can do no more' and move onto the next one, another mainly compositionally resolved piece of the same size that needs more layers and some tightening up. But I can't move on until this one is done. I don't want it taking up any headspace anymore. It has been an incredibly difficult image to live with, several others who have seen it in the studio have struggled with it themselves - it is quite confronting. I have worked hard both physically and psychologically and I am done with it, but grateful for the challenge it gave me.
This is almost the final act in the ritual for this painting - there may be a couple of final touches and then I will varnish it. I will put it up on my website when I am ready to submit all of the work for my thesis.
3 comments:
Joan said:
I enjoyed your description of the painting ritual, and can relate to a lot of it, allowing for differences of personality reflected in the process.
All the preparations are part of the initiation of the work: the ritual prelude for the ritual major of 'doing'.
I agree painting can be ritualistic. And I too paint with the understanding that my work will be long lasting.
I have a question? Have you painted at the site itself rather than in your studio?
Yes, I have done quite a few small studies on-site, mostly drawings/paintings in ink, gouache and pen. I tried doing an oil there once and it was interesting because there are so many tourists it's difficult to concentrate. Getting away from them is a mission because of the terrain, though I have moved to spots away from the main chasm. But it is the chasm itself I have been working on.
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