This is a piece in progress in my studio right now. I think it’s a good example of what I’m talking about in this post. And it has to do with trusting my instincts. This piece, “An Unfathomable Amount of Small Secret Moments”, is very much a work in progress. © 2021 David Limrite

“It doesn’t make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.”
Jackson Pollock, Artist

I’m Going With My Gut On This One

As far as art making goes, my first love and my best talent has always been drawing. What can I say? I love line.

I can push paint around, layer it, blend it, splatter and drip it, but I just don’t consider myself that good a painter.

One of the many challenges I set out for myself with this new work was to try and include more painting. Why not? I could use the practice. And, I wanted to add a bit of color to this series.

I started this new series of “paintings” fully intending to create “paintings”.

So that’s how I started. By painting!

The other day I went down to the studio just to look at the paintings in progress. And although I thought the painting aspect of the pieces was coming along nicely, I realized that all this paint that I had been applying to the surface of these pieces, and the layering, and the textures, would make a great backdrop for some drawing.

At first I thought I was afraid at what I was seeing. That I thought the paintings weren’t working very well as paintings, and that I needed to fix them or save them with drawing.

But that wasn’t the case. I genuinely liked the paint quality of these pieces. However, I thought they could be more powerful and emotional if I drew back into and on top of the paint. I thought that the paint and drawing, the line and brushstrokes, would play very nicely together and feed off each other.

So, I decided to go with my gut on this one, and trust my instincts. The photo above shows a work in progress with this new mindset and approach. And some drawing on top of the paint.

Something else is happening. I’m still applying and layering paint, but I’m approaching the painting knowing that I’m going to be drawing on top of it. This is causing me, or allowing me, to apply the paint more freely and to loosen up. And, I actually think I’m painting better.

Who knew?

I’m excited about this turn of events and I’m feeling re-energized about this new work. And, I’m looking forward to seeing where this takes me and where it takes the paintings.

I guess the lesson here is to trust your instincts and go with your gut. Always. Or, as often as you can.

Best,

David