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The Stories I Tell Myself

7/6/2020

6 Comments

 
"The Stories I Tell Myself" - mixed media on wood panel (plywood, uncradled) 12" x x10"  Available here and at Artfinder.

​I couldn't resist sneaking a figure into the seascapes month.  But you knew this would happen, right?

The stories we tell ourselves are not only about the people we love and the relationships we have with them. We also tell ourselves stories that form a narrative of our lives — and the narrative is everything. - RENATA GOMEZ

An article on Medium reminded me this week of Brené Brown's story of, well, the stories we tell ourselves.  

We have some powerful narratives going on in our noggins.  Stories about the person sitting across from us.  Stories about that thing in the past when the bottom dropped out of life for a time.  Stories about people we see but don't know.  Stories about people we do know but into whose heads we cannot see (ie: everyone).  But I think the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves are perhaps the most powerful of all.  And they aren't always pleasant.

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The Stories I Tell Myself
I mean, really, how many of you have a narrator somewhere in there who whispers little untruths?  Like "you are not worthy of (insert your word here)" or, for artists "you are an imposter."  Some days I have to stop and ask myself "hey, who is telling this story, anyway?"  And then I decide  I want a new narrator.  Which I can have.  I wonder if Morgan Freeman is available?

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About the painting:  beginning with a thick layer of toned gesso over an old painting on plywood, I roughed in the form with paint pens and and a light coat of white gesso to identify the light spots.  Added colors in the standard 80 million layers (carefully selected at random, based entirely on my mood!) and then slowly reined in the color mayhem to create shadows and light.  The entire underpainting is acrylic, watercolor mixed with gesso and a bit of Art Graf.  A final layer of oil paint to add vibrancy in a few key spots.

Tools used include brush, rubber wedge, squeegee, paper towel, chopstick and hands.
6 Comments
Carl Stoveland
7/6/2020 09:48:35 am

Another strong fabulous painting. Powerful and vulnerable. That’s a tightrope to paint. Wonderfully done. Ugh the inner critic. They only have power f you let them. Mine is crafty and will sneak barbs I that melt into my defenses and linger. Luckily we have our dreams to counter this foe and our work. My two cents. Now I’m imaging Morgan Freeman narrating my inner dialog. Thanks for that! It’s a hoot.
Carl

Reply
jen
7/6/2020 07:21:00 pm

Carl! Thanks so much for your feedback. Those crafty barbs are pesky and sharp. But with Morgan Freeman replacing our inner critics, things are going to be EPIC! ha ha!

Reply
Dotty Seiter link
7/6/2020 10:35:22 am

The story I'm telling myself is that if I indulge in looking at what Jen has painted, and follow the link to the article on Medium, and go back and forth back and forth analyzing the rough draft painting vs the finished painting, and soak up every detail in the about-the-painting section, THEN I'll be ready to focus on writing lesson plans and communicating with parents of my students. Fairy tale? Stay tuned!

LOVE the choppity ragged blue hair, the palpable inner life moving out through the face.

Reply
jen
7/6/2020 07:22:14 pm

Dotty! ha! I hope you did get ready to focus....but glad I was able to provide a little distraction for the moment. And thank you. The portraits just won't leave me be!

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Carol Edan link
7/7/2020 12:57:15 am

Cheeky, inquisitive! Oh that BLUE hair, makes me want to dye my hair!

Reply
jen
7/8/2020 04:19:54 pm

Carol! Do it! I love my blue highlights...a spot of fun in a very not-fun world right now!

Reply



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Here's the blue wild, where
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  • Home
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