Strangely In-Between and WITHDRAWAL (another Double-Scoop!)

Strangely In-Between

"Strangely In-Between" - acrylic on cradled wood panel, 24 x 18 x 1.5.  Ready to hang.  Available here and at Artfinder.

After a couple of weeks with this watery goddess, I am nearly saddened to find her complete.  Her presence in the studio is strong and emotive.  She reminds me of all the words of Mark Nepo, who compares our trials and traumas to the wearing away of stone by water - softening, melting, smoothing until all that's left is what really matters.  

Here is a little peek at her journey:

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"Withdrawal" - oil  on cradled wood panel, 11 x 14 x .75.  Ready to hang.  Available here and at Artfinder.

We stick to the wrong thing quite often, not because it will come to fruition by further effort, but because we cannot let go of the way we have decided to tell the story and we become further enmeshed even by trying to make sense of what entraps us, when what is needed is a simple, clean breaking away. 
- DAVID WHYTE, Consolations

 Whyte has me contemplating inner storytelling and the freedom of changing the story, if only we dare tell it a different way.  Withdrawal, it seems, can open the door to a new story which just might include the right thing. :)

Withdrawal

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​About the art: Strangely In-Between is acrylic over gesso'd wood panel.  Many layers, some thin and some thick. Liberal use of water bottle with sprayer and squeegee.  The hair is "drawn" with a paintbrush taped to a long wooden stick, which facilitates lack of control and a looser stroke. In our family, there is something called the "Baleja Nose" (a strong, ethnic, somewhat bulbous appendage) which I love to put on my female portraits.  This one is clearly no exception. 

Withdrawal is oil over oil.  A painting underneath, meticulously over-controlled and without movement or abstraction.  Painting on top of the controlled piece allows scraping through to expose some under layers, along with a sense of composition to detour from, allowing the abstraction without losing the gist of it.  This technique was so satisfying that I may just purposely paint some controlled pieces just so I can vandalize them later!