Wednesday, January 04, 2012

New Year, New Projects

Happiest New Year wishes to you all! I am very much looking forward to the new year and new projects. I love this time of year actually. Its also my birthday today, so I start the new year with all kinds of new hope and determination and good feelings! I'm making plans for the year, coming up with new ideas, and setting goals. Some of those I will share here, naturally!

To start, I want to introduce a project idea that I began just before the holidays hit. I'm working on a series called "First Impressions." I hope to show the paintings as a group sometime this year.

Founder's Room
10x12 oil on panel

Having learned that I waste a lot of time looking for the best images or subject to work with, and getting overwhelmed sometimes, I've determined to stop shopping around and respond to my first impression. Usually what catches my eye is light and shadow, but sometimes just the way something seems framed naturally, happening upon a scene as I pass a doorway, things like that. Sort of like with fire, I need to "stop, drop and paint" (or sketch).


Tea For Three
10x12 oil on panel

I paint more instinctively, I think, when I paint rapidly. So I am relying on my trusty timer, and allowing that first half hour to be the pure energy of inspiration. What follows might be some focus on the main area of interest and some cleaning up, but for the most part, I want to leave these paintings loose and undefined. So its an exercise in freedom and restraint! All of the paintings are to be 10x12 and I have a lovely batch of Ampersand gessobord ready and waiting!

I feel more focused than I have in awhile. Last year, to be honest, didn't feel like the best year for me creatively. I hope that trusting my instincts and following my muse will allow me to
enjoy the process and create more beautiful work than ever. Cheers!!

13 comments:

Gina Brown said...

Happy Birthday Robin... lovely little paintings. I love this time of year too :)

Carol Flatt said...

A wonderful post. You sound up and ready for new challenges. Your ideas and enthusiasm have ME very motivated, and I will be anxious to follow your future posts and read about your progress and process. Also, A Happy Birthday to You!!

Maria Bennett Hock said...

Both of these are wonderfully loose..the timer is working for you! Happy New Year.

Roxanne Steed said...

Happy Birthday Robin! I really like your thoughts on the new series- (esp. the stop-drop & paint!). There's times I struggle with the same thing....really love the 'Tea for Three'! best wishes for a great creative 2012!

Karla said...

Wow! These are great! Can't wait to see more.

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

Both paintings and the way you spoke in your post are very motivating to me. As I read those words I can see how beneficial these ideas might be me and other artists.

Beautiful paintings ... as usual.

Happy Birthday ... and Happy New Year.

Ingrid Ormestad said...

Happy New Year and a Happy Birthday Robin! I too waste lots of time searching for the right subject, something I badly need to address.
Your artwork is inspirational, a joy to look at! :)

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

Happy Birthday and wish you a very happy new year. I love your work and look forward to your first impression series.
Best wishes

J Dowell-Irvine said...

Love your paintings! I Watched a TED video on "Nourishing Your Creativity" by Eliizabeth Gilbert - she's an author but it definitely applies to all disciplines. She talks about the concept of having a daemon, sort of like the muse idea but really good for prolific artists to watch. Have a great year!

Sherrie Russ Levine said...

Happy Belated Birthday Robin...Your resolutions are very motivating!!

shirley fachilla said...

"Tea for Three" is beautiful.
Thank you for the-painting-your-first-impression notion. I do that with plein air, but tend to dither when I have a big batch of photo references.
And happy birthday from another January birthday person... me!

suzanneberry said...

happy belated birthday robin! and these paintings are a just outstanding. great new series and concept. so looking forward to seeing more of these masterpieces!

Virginia Floyd said...

I love your "Tea for Three". The room is awash with light! Great job!

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