A Work in Process
Kill your darlings, darling
Hello, Friend,
There’s a saying in writing and art, “Kill your darlings.” You have to be willing to carve away the excess to get to the core. This is one of the most difficult parts of creating. It’s why writers have editors. Sometimes what gets lost in the process feels precious, and perhaps it was, but in the final analysis letting it go was more often than not the right choice.
The piece above is the one I thought might be unsalvageable. I revisited it yesterday and managed to revive it. I’m digging the impressionistic floral aspects, but there’s still a lot of work to be done here. Some of what I like may get lost in the process, but something better might emerge.
It’s also quite possible it may all go to hell in a handbasket.
I have a plan, but I’m always willing to take the side road and see where it leads. Sometimes it leads to a wonderful discovery, sometimes it leads to a dead end, sometimes it leads to a cliff and you have to decide if you want to leap.
No matter where it leads, you learn something in the process.
Ask yourself, what can I take away and still convey the mood I’m reaching towards? Do I need that branch? Is it superfluous? Even if it’s a beautiful branch, does it distract or detract? (If you take it away, the energy it imparted is still running like an undercurrent through the art.) Then ask, what can I add that brings something to the party, something unexpected? Art-ing is a dance between the artist and the canvas.
I see a dog hair that needs removing. Free dog hair with purchase! Not sure that’s a selling point.
I ended the day adding the collaged ephemera elements. There will be more collage to tie this together with the She Was Very Tired, and a Woman piece. I plan to add some curved vertical elements to the vase and then repaint the flowers and foliage hidden beneath it. There will be some accents, scritches, and marks to infuse it with kinetic energy.
While I was pondering this piece I revisited an e-course from Lynn Whipple that I purchased a few years ago. It’s a great course if you need to loosen up a little (or a lot) and let go. Not knowing where you’ll end up is part of the fun. (Quick note: if you do take her classes, she’s moved on from using house paint in her art and uses archival paints now.)
I’m off to make more glorious messes! Kill your darlings, darling.
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Join The Lady Party. We have thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
Sometimes I make art.
Perhaps a cuppa for your fearless writer?
Your art is always fabulous ♥️😃🎉🎊🥳🍾🍾🐮🐇🐐🦋🥂🎆🎇💯✨️
I love this! Art is always an adventure! 🩷