STAGES 1-5
I think I would add more to this blogsite if I could figure out why sometimes I can move the images and other times not. So this is the best arrangement of the paintings at the mo..
I love the colours and that's what keeps me at it even though quite early on I thought 'OMG what a lot of work, will it get finished?'
As usual I have started out thinning the paint with turps but today when I worked on the blue pot I made up a medium of pure balsam turps and linseed oil and it was such a pleasure applying the paint on the canvas. I've had a problem finding the right red for the bright pink, the nearest was my favourite, Permenant Alizarin Crimson so i've ordered a Quinocridone Magenta and have high hopes that it will produce the pink I'm looking for. I'm not using Ultramarine for my blues, I'm using Winsor Blue Green shade and/or Winsor Blue Red Shade (I actually can't tell the difference I will
have to look again!) and I'm making my blacks with blues and Burnt Umber.
I usually use Vandyke Brown which makes a blacker black but I'm seeing how it goes.There was a moment today when I felt I really connected but it's amazing what memories pop in the mind to interfere with the process. At one time I got really hot and bothered with resentful memories from the past but I felt that by focussing on the painting I diluted their strength so hopefully they've been re-filed carrying less emotive force. I was thinking of my old pal Biddy today too and felt a desire to reconnect with my Chichester friends.
So it's not just about painting.
There have been some inspirational programmes on tele about Hockney and Lucien Freud. My friend/student Eloner, reckons Freud was autistic and actually that would explain his extraordinary energy and ability to focus for such long periods. Hockney's ability to make such wonderful paintings from scenes I would would have difficulty with just illustrates how important looking is. As he said 'There are paintings everywhere'.
