“Magician” - 44”H” x 23”W - Watercolor on #100 drawing paper.
My process is very intuitive. I avoid patterns, repetition, and predictability as soon as I suspect their presence.
I came to my studio today in a mood. Not the best approach for creativity. But, I figured this change in attitude foreshadowed an opportunity for breakthrough. It’s happened before. There are no bad days. There’s always another door to be opened. Opportunities to explore. Synchronicity plays the next card.These are not to be ignored.
During the morning’s frustration to find my “groove” I tried several approaches. All ended with a huge sigh and another “What now?” situation.
I decided to find a large piece of paper and cut loose. Paint wildly. Expunge my mood. Digging through my bin of rolled paper, I discovered two large watercolors painted years ago. One spoke loudly. It was a study I did 7 years ago for the very first sculpture of my current body of work.
This figure was one that I wasn’t ready to explore when first conceived. Upon rediscovery, I put it on my easel for examination. That was about 5 hours ago. I’ve been looking at it all day.
Another idea I had pursued earlier today has become a temporary dead end. I shelved it after a couple of hours and moved on to a crow sculpture which I have been considering for several months. I spent almost 4 hours and 45’ of wire to build the armature of a life-size bird. Some satisfaction achieved, finally.
I’m about to wrap up for the day. As I sit here looking at this large watercolor sketch on my easel, I realize I need to know this character more deeply. The way to accomplish that is to take it to 3D. That will be my task for tomorrow. It could be another sleepless night imagining the possibilities for refinements.