Sunday, September 25, 2016

The Painting Spectrum - Bold Streaks; Inspired By Oil Spills

I have found my freedom. I am no longer constrained to what is considered making "pretty pictures". The latest series of paintings I've been working on over the past two weeks are an exposure of my soul - the good, the bad, and the ugly... raw emotion. I run the gamut.

Happiness is bright or pastel colors for me. When I'm playing or after I've spent time with any of my grandchildren, I'm usually in a good mood for quite some time afterwards. However, some colors can speak the opposite. Black, for example. To me, this represents loss or grief. In a few of my paintings I either created or work on this week, it showed this as a good friend of mine moved to Louisiana. While it may sound pessimistic, I doubt I'll ever see her again as she is not in the best of health. I miss her already.

One of my works, a painting inspired by glass jars in the shape of an infinity design flopped. What I envisioned in my head, I wasn't able to produce on canvas. It was a learning experience! With another painting, I envisioned seed pods. That turned to including embryo's as symbols of new life. Just as a caterpillar spins its cocoon, so am I creating anew.

For years, a website utilizing my first and last name was not a reality; another user somewhere out in the great Internet void had that domain. It is now available and I grabbed it! Hopefully as early as next week (beginning of October), my new website, JillLangdon.com will be live. "Pretty pictures" are not on the menu. The real me is emerging and with and with that metamorphosis are my experiments with oil spills. Brave, bold, and courageous colors. They speak from the heart to the heart. The paintings evoke raw emotions in the viewing of them.

Not to get deeply spiritual, but there have been many times in my life when it was only God and I. Awe inspiring to say the least. I feel that God joins me while I'm painting and takes over with His small voice directing me what to do next. Maybe it's the same for you. Maybe there's some inner spirit that's greater than yourself that leads you as well. Maybe you think I'm nuts - that's okay.

Expressing myself is my greatest pursuit. The goal for me is to find the beauty within each painting - even the ones (works or subject matter) I consider ugly. However, what I might consider ugly, another person may consider it s bold streak of genius with a color combination.

I've been asking guests who visit my studio, as well as friends and family which paintings from my new series they like. At times, I've been astonished by their responses. I will admit, like many artists, I don't give myself enough credit. I can be overly critical of myself as well as my work.

Onward with my process: Two more large canvases were prepared this weekend ready to be explored upon over the coming week. What will become of them? I'll let you know next week...

I'll close this post with some quotes from Johann Wolfgang von Geothe;
 - "Whatever you can do or dream, you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
 -  "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."
 - "As soon as we trust ourselves, we will know how to live."

I'm working on that last one, as the jury seems out on that statement.
Until next time,
Jill




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