I guess I'll continue my personal review of 2017. I know I need to take a good, detailed look at it. They say it's so important to take stock of where you succeeded, what you've accomplished before reviewing possible shortcomings. I fully agree. I've been doing this for years on a daily basis in my life as a mom of four kids born within five years.
Some days it felt like such a whirlwind, thick with failed attempts at cake and outings, never mind laundry and vacuuming, I had to develop the habit at telling myself the things I did accomplish, no matter how small, be it snuggling with kids and watching cartoons when they all had fevers, or working through a pile of laundry that Rapunzel could have swung from. Reminding myself of the little victories helped me manage expectations and maintain a sense of "accomplishment ", a can-do mindset that kept me on my feet.
So, applying this principle to my studio is important too. It's easy to lose sight of how far I've come on my journey, if I only look at the mountains ahead of me.
Thus, Review.
Last January (2017), I finally settled in to painting in my "front room": a living room not used for living but mostly for dumping stuff. A pretty space in a round room, the main floor of a "turret" styled structure on the north-west corner of the house with five narrow window. I got a sturdy standing easel for Christmas, that fit nicely in this space, given the room's sunken floor and coffered ceiling that allowed the easel's mast to rise beyond the regular 8' ceilings in most of the rest of the house.
I started working on a small series of horse paintings. I had a few goals: to explore oils, expressive colour and also a level of realism that would be consistent with portraiture.
I also started a couple of human figurative pieces, only one of which is complete at this time.
In September, I took part in an artist's retreat with two of my friends from the cooperative to which I belong. We stayed at a fishing camp on Charlton Lake, near Sudbury, to learn some techniques and approaches to painting en plein air. That's a story in itself.
Considering the number of positive responses to my new work over the course of the last year, it appears I achieved my goals. ;). Personally, I'm quite happy with how the various pieces turned out, particularly the ones with which I wrestled over the course of a couple of weeks to finish.
Looking back, I think there just aren't enough of them! I think I'm beginning to identify areas of weakness that interfere with steady studio time. That being said, I've painted far more consistently, more productively than in past years. But I do still get derailed too easily, either by new ideas, physical obstacles or family responsibilities. I need a bit more of a system to get me on track. A plan. Who'd have ever thought I'd be saying that? Ha!
~ Renée
Some days it felt like such a whirlwind, thick with failed attempts at cake and outings, never mind laundry and vacuuming, I had to develop the habit at telling myself the things I did accomplish, no matter how small, be it snuggling with kids and watching cartoons when they all had fevers, or working through a pile of laundry that Rapunzel could have swung from. Reminding myself of the little victories helped me manage expectations and maintain a sense of "accomplishment ", a can-do mindset that kept me on my feet.
So, applying this principle to my studio is important too. It's easy to lose sight of how far I've come on my journey, if I only look at the mountains ahead of me.
Thus, Review.
Last January (2017), I finally settled in to painting in my "front room": a living room not used for living but mostly for dumping stuff. A pretty space in a round room, the main floor of a "turret" styled structure on the north-west corner of the house with five narrow window. I got a sturdy standing easel for Christmas, that fit nicely in this space, given the room's sunken floor and coffered ceiling that allowed the easel's mast to rise beyond the regular 8' ceilings in most of the rest of the house.
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| "Hope Rising", oil on canvas, 24"x30". Fantastical equine art from the heart. |
I started working on a small series of horse paintings. I had a few goals: to explore oils, expressive colour and also a level of realism that would be consistent with portraiture.
 |
| "Golden Gift", oil on canvas, 20"x30". Palomino horse portrait. |
I also started a couple of human figurative pieces, only one of which is complete at this time.
 |
| "Summer Treasures", oil on panel, child on the beach, human figurative. |
In September, I took part in an artist's retreat with two of my friends from the cooperative to which I belong. We stayed at a fishing camp on Charlton Lake, near Sudbury, to learn some techniques and approaches to painting en plein air. That's a story in itself.
 |
| Landscapes. Acrylic, en plein air and studio work in a post impressionist style. |
Considering the number of positive responses to my new work over the course of the last year, it appears I achieved my goals. ;). Personally, I'm quite happy with how the various pieces turned out, particularly the ones with which I wrestled over the course of a couple of weeks to finish.
Looking back, I think there just aren't enough of them! I think I'm beginning to identify areas of weakness that interfere with steady studio time. That being said, I've painted far more consistently, more productively than in past years. But I do still get derailed too easily, either by new ideas, physical obstacles or family responsibilities. I need a bit more of a system to get me on track. A plan. Who'd have ever thought I'd be saying that? Ha!
~ Renée
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