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​"Nude on Blue Ground, With Hounds" - acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18".  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com

The second of two pieces skewing the masters - this one, a Diebenkorn.  This challenge is so much fun....I wonder if it could be a 30 in 30 prompt?  Hmmmmmm.

A breezy, coolish day (80 degrees).  Perfect weather to sit on the back porch, read Clear Seeing Place and watch the wildlife.  A couple of months ago we watched a dreaded snapping turtle lay eggs on the sandy bank of the lake across the water from us.  Today a pair of smart crows discovered the nest and made off with the eggs one by one.  I know two birds with full bellies who will sleep well tonight!  And a whole host of lake wildlife made safer without the future snappers.  Circle of life.

Back to the book, where I am finally into the meaty chapters, which include Rutenberg's painting methods.  I am intrigued by his ritualistic beginning to each piece: circles of paint made with hands on canvas, "skin on skin" as he calls it.  He works outward from the center, exploring every inch of the canvas with his hands.  Recently, I've begun painting more with my hands than with brushes.  I stop thinking about what I'm doing when the tool is my hand,  It feels more like working in the garden - connected, present.  Rutenberg says "self-awareness is the enemy", and then he presses this further with a quote from my favorite author, Ray Bradbury: "Don't think.  Thinking is the enemy of creativity.  It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy.  You can't try to do things.  You simply must do things."    

​Today in the studio, I vow to just do things.
6 Comments
Dotty Seiter - 9 years ago
I like how you do Just Do.

Yes, a great 30in30 theme idea!

Thank you for the way you read and the way you write about what you read.
jen - 9 years ago
Dotty! Thanks, sweet friend. It is my pleasure.
Patricia L. Brooks - 9 years ago
FABULOUS painting AND narrative, Jen๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿค—๐Ÿค—๐Ÿค—โ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธYou FULLY, and seamlessly, incorporate the writings that make sense to you๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿปโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธYour impressive body of work continues to grow exponentially with your reading listโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธL๐Ÿ’“VE IT๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿค—๐Ÿค—๐Ÿค—โ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธโ€ผ๏ธ
jen - 9 years ago
Pat! Thank you so very much! Reading is such an integral part of my creative process... I can't help but include it in writing about art!
Carol Edan - 9 years ago
Love all the distinct shapes in this piece! I sometimes paint with rag on the first layer. Love to really feel the canvas. Don't wear gloves so with oils haven't tried real hands on.
jen - 9 years ago
oooh Carol! I love using rags...it makes the canvas, paper, whatever leathery after much burnishing. And yeah, oils with hands might be a no-no, though the effect would be magnificent. :)

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