REVISITING AN UNRESOLVED PAINTING (PART 1)
Drawing Study, charcoal on paper, 30"x 22", Copyright David Limrite 2013
"It seems that I am considered a top artist and that doesn't surprise me. But that doesn't help me to make a new work. I go to work every time thinking, 'What on earth am I going to do? How will I make something that works?' "
~ Robert Rauschenberg
How many of you have ever started working on a painting that you were really excited about, only to become disappointed with the outcome? Let's see a show of hands. I see that many of you, no, almost all of you, have been in this situation. Me too.
How did you react? Did you throw the whole painting away? Paint over it? Burn it? (Just kidding on that last one)
When I am faced with a disappointing outcome to a painting that I have worked so hard on, I try to take my own advice, which is to never give up on a painting (if I can help it).
I have a "Left For Dead" stack of unresolved paintings in a corner of my studio. These are paintings that I either screwed up, or that I was unable to resolve at the time, or that I got bored or frustrated with, or, for some reason or another, I just never finished. From time to time I will pull out one of these paintings and give it another try.
In my attempt to rekindle my creativity momentum, I decided to get back in the studio, pull out one of these paintings and revisit it. This painting was started late last year (which tells you how long it has been sitting in my "Left For Dead" stack). It was intended to be included in my exhibition at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art earlier this year. I decided to take a look at the drawing study (seen in the above photo) that I had done for the painting in the hopes that it would rekindle my desire and remind me why I wanted to create the piece in the first place.
I have decided to take you all on my journey and my attempt to rebirth this painting. My hope is that we will all learn something in the process.
Next week, I will show you a picture of the unfinished painting as it looks right now. I will also continue my discussion of what goes into the process of revisiting unresolved work. And with any luck, I hope to be able to show you the revision soon after that. I have a hunch that it is going to take a dramatic turn. {Smile}
Stay tuned….
Best,
David
