Donation continued/Phase 9
Tape -- tape -- tape!
I altered the direction and sizes of the "cutouts" hoping that would give more visual interest. I realized after I was done taping that I had laid the cutouts closer than I had with the orange version. The "grid" would be thinner, but since I was painting it blue I thought it might work. Fingers crossed. I decided to keep some of the original painting peaking out at the top of each diptych. With the first diptych -- partially out of choice and partially out of necessity (there were some stray sponge marks that still needed to be obscured) -- I decided to do some "floating" blue lattice. As the four panels together it looks like a lot, but as two diptychs I thought I would achieve my goal -- strong orange lattice cutting through a "sea" of blue.
Paint -- paint -- paint!
I made a decision to glaze two layers of white paint first and then glaze with cobalt blue. The finish should be matte so as not to take away from the glossy orange. Commit! I felt good about it until I started with the blue. Had I gone too light? How would I know? Once the tape came off it would be impossible to get the same pattern. My mind was way ahead of where I was -- planning for how to fix the "mistake" that hadn't happened yet. Second blue layer of glaze and I'm doubt my abilities as an artist. My judging mind was in full force -- "a true artist, an experienced artist would know exactly what to do." Really? I knew this wasn't true, but it was part of the conversation suddenly. An abstract piece plucked only from my mind does not come with a "how to" booklet. I'd proven that I could solve problems when I chose. This new application of paint would be no different. I would likely like it and likely see areas for improvement. The whole process of painting is that discovery process. Knowing that I still had difficulty embracing that. Self doubt is a terrible -- but ever present -- thing.
I took a photo of the piece with blue tape and blue paint so that I could see what the piece looked like with just plain big blue shapes. If I disliked the blue lattice when I took off the tape, I would move in this direction.
I'm almost late for an organ recital at Symphony Hall. The reveal will have to wait for later.