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A New Way to Paint
The title of this collection is relevant to me in many ways: it links the underlying intention of opening myself to new ways of painting to the creation of images that look like abstracted windows. Yet, as I explain below, this link was no more a preconceived idea than the actual painting of windows were. It couldn’t have been, because it all happened as a sort of “creative accident”.
Like most of my work, this collection wasn't planned. I had been experiencing a strong desire to paint, but nothing was coming through. It was one of those dry spells that had been lasting for some time. Finally, the shift came about when, I decided to completely let go of my expectations and accept the possibility of "ruining" an unfinished painting that had been well on its way already. I see now that this very moment of surrendering was the important breakthrough I had been looking for in my evolution as an artist.
In the works that followed this experience, my only compass became the immediate pleasure I derived from unbounded creative expression. I was no longer focused on the painting as a finished product. Instead, I dove into the pure sensuality of every step of my process.
In order to open myself to a more continuous stream of creation, I had to find a more continuous source of inspiration. That is when I started realizing that ALL the steps involved in the process of creating a painting had to bring me unmistakable joy and sensual pleasure. This criteria became much more important than any ideas and concepts about a future painting. By “sensual pleasure”, I simply mean the pleasure that I find in experiencing all my senses alive with stimulus and much juicy inspiration. This new approach has affected not only the pieces of this collection, but all of my work since.
Creating the support on which I will paint is, sometimes, also a part of my process. As many artists out there, I often get very intimidated by the blank page. A while back, I found out that I could remedy this block by looking for the support that would inspire me in the very moment. Size, colors, texture, even smell, are all an important part of this “feeling” approach.
At times, I keep switching supports and sizes with great expectancy, yet no inspiration comes to me and I can’t start to paint. In those times, none of the papers, boards, and canvases I already own seem to feel “right”. That’s when I know I need to create my own. Because very often, the process of creating my own support will open windows for the muse to come in.
Ever since my early days, I have found a kind of nourishing safety in the knowing of the first step involved in painting: with watercolors it was about soaking and stretching the paper on a board, which very much reminded me of my even earlier days with silk-painting. I also derive much pleasure in painting on a hard surface, and I absolutely love the raw texture of untreated canvas. Mixing all these preferences into one, I started stretching raw canvas by stapling it onto a board then applying a quick grey wash to give it a medium value tone - which has the advantage of bringing out both the lights and the darks, and sometimes, I even start painting before this first wash is even dry. The feeling was amazing, the pleasure very tactile, and I felt energized and freed by this new way of painting on canvas!
Anne.D
