Thursday, January 07, 2010

"I'll Take Two" - SOLD


I'm having a rough time painting these last few days. For every one decent painting I do I also do about 2 or 3 wipers. This happens sometimes, and it is always extremely frustrating. I have to give myself little pep talks throughout the day: "Carol, this is part of the cycle - it's normal - you didn't forget how to paint - take a break - take a walk - don't hit the wall so hard you damage your painting hand" ... things like that.

22 comments:

Bobbi Heath said...

Carol, this one is beautiful, such translucence in the egg white, and the shells look so fragile. I'll bet the wipers weren't so bad either. Having high standards is who you are, don't try to change that!

Johnnie Sielbeck said...

Well, I don't know about the wipers, but that raw egg looks pretty fabulous. Nice job!

DSM said...

Yes! Totally liquid-licious.

Leslie Saeta said...

This is stunning! How you managed to paint egg whites is beyond me. I hope you are happy with this. It is very inspiring!

Amy Hillenbrand said...

I'm sorry to hear you had a frustating time in your painting lately, but believe it or not it is comforting to hear even an artist as good as you has a difficult time now and then. The eggs are incredible you are awesome.

Kelley Carey MacDonald said...

Well, I love this one, Carol, but I want to say THANK YOU for writing that! I've been having a terrible time this past week, wiping and wiping - and it looks like I'm not painting! Which probably makes me more tense when I try again! Keep repeating "Part of the process...."

Eugene Veszely said...

I've been told that when you go through phases like this it means you are growing and are reaching a new plateau.

Ride it out and later look back to see if the quality of your work hasnt improved.

Pamela Clarkson said...

Boy do I know the feeling--I will do quite a few paintings that I really feel I'm making progress and then POW--a really bad one where nothing works! Usually it is because my source is bad. My process is to take lots of photos and then work up value sketches but photos have many limitations and sometimes they are just impossible to recreate what you remember with the data the photo provides--wish I had total visual recall but no such luck!

JanettMarie said...

Carol!

Elizabeth McCrindle said...

I love this one a reward for the hair tearing and wall bashing. It's comforting to know that all artists have an off day :)

CHRIS DIAS PAINTINGS said...

Carol, I have been meaning to comment on your paintings - Can't hold any more. You are one hell of a painter. I just love your work - the way you take what
can be termed an 'ordinary subject' and make it a masterpiece. You are an inspiration. Don't Stop.
Chris Dias UK

Amber L. Bailey said...

This is a great painting, I always look forward to checking your blog every morning when I get to work. And I'm still laughing about you "punching the wall" ...we've all felt that frustration. Great work as usual :)

Mary Rountree Moore said...

Geez..me too...slow painting! Must be these cold January days? ! This one IS lovely, though! Keep the faith!

Princess Rashid said...

Yes, please don't damage your painting hand! I had a close call recently and it's sobering. Again, great execution and composition! Your paintings and work ethic inspire!

Cynthia said...

Omg..next your husband will be writing us that your arm is in a cast or something!!!! But I know all too well what you are talking about...I think that goes for anything and everything....we have to have peaks and vallies in order to progress...your work is so inspiring and wonderful I don´t EVEN want to see what it looks like when you come out of this spell.....holy marollllly how can it get BETTER....but it will...omg.

Unknown said...

Would you ever consider posting one you plan to wipe and tell us why you think the painting isn't working? Just a thought! Love your style..

I need orange said...

From listening to people who work in media from words to paint to fabric to pixels, it's clear that everyone has times when the work flows forth effortlessly, and times when it doesn't.

I am 100% convinced that the right thing to do is keep working, nevermind if the work sucks......

My mantra is "What I lack in talent, I make up in volume."

:-)

That said, this looks like a "work flowing" piece to me.

I love the way you work so loosely, and yet indicate all the details. The membrane in the shell, the way the white has different thickness in different places, the difference between reflections on wet things and not-wet thing, the way the edge of a shadow is different from the rest............

Nice.

mary maxam said...

I have followed your site for quite a while and love your work. I am looking forward to your April workshop.Thank you for talking about those times when you think you've forgotten how to paint!!It's a relief to hear it from someone so accomplished...and helps me to work through "those days" :)

Carolina said...

Hi Carol,
I hope you feel better soon, it's probably the start of the new year, it's always a little troublesome, but I'm sure you'll be fine pretty soon!
Best regards,
Carolina

Julie Kirkland said...

I don't mean to "gain from your pain", but putting this down in writing is so encouraging to me...we always feel like it only happens to us!

C.S. Lewis has a great quote:
A friendship is born the moment that one person says to another, "Oh, you too?"

Try to go easy on yourself! (As if I ever take my own advice!)

Dean Grey said...

I love this, Carol!

Unique, fun, and fabulously glossy eggs!

-Dean

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I forgot to say how beautiful this is!!