Reworking

What happens when you let a painting sit around the studio? Sometimes you decide to take another shot at it. Wednesday was one of those days. There were things I liked about the original take, but overall, it felt flat or cutout or something. I think the visual flow is improved and I really like the red in the trees. I'm still trying to figure out "how" I like painting acrylics. I like the staining watercolor look as well as the impasto "oil-like" look. I'm trying to develop "my style."

Below, are my favorite acrylics of 2013. What do you think they have in common? Comments desired!

“Never, never, never give up.” ― Winston Churchill

It is so strange how alcohol ink paintings can go from one thing to another is barely more than the blink of an eye.

This "poor painting" started out as part of the Color Field experiment that I was doing for a call for entry. I had high hopes for the concept, but it just didn't end up looking like I had hoped.

Then, I reworked it and came up with this painting. Compositionally, the sun is too big and is competing with the grove of trees that actually looks pretty good. I decided to leave the trees and wipe the rest of the board clean and start over. On yupo paper this works well. On clayboard, the board doesn't release the ink as readily. As I wiped, I thought, "Wait a minute here. I like what is happening!" So, I stopped wiping, added a few drops of blender and paint and took a look.

It's one of my favorite alcohol ink paintings to date.

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas A. Edison