Flower Jewels, Ocean Deep- Pushing against my painting edge
 |
| Flower Jewels, Ocean Deep, Galia Alena |
“I am still learning” Michelangelo
If a painting should stretch the painter, help them grow them in their artistic expressions, then this painting was a success. I just pulled it out from its hiding place tucked away behind a stack of canvases where I shoved it several months ago in frustration of not knowing how to finish it or what I think/feel about it. Forgotten, I moved onto other things like water colours, pottery and a lot of art journalling but decided to bring it back out into the light this week.
For quiet sometime I had struggled with this painting- a sense of freedom and joy and exploration danced across the canvas while my mind (you know the critical one) struggled with how to calm it down, tie it altogether, find some places for the eye to rest. I pushed against my painting edge.
For quiet sometime I had struggled with this painting- a sense of freedom and joy and exploration danced across the canvas while my mind (you know the critical one) struggled with how to calm it down, tie it altogether, find some places for the eye to rest. I pushed against my painting edge.
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to find it” Michelangelo
Sometimes my painting feel like the opposite of the Michelangelo story of how he chipped away at the marble block until he found the sculptures within. For me it feels like I add and add, layer upon layers of paint, obscuring hidden symbols and secret images, until eventually and hopefully a painting emerges. Its like I know its in there somewhere but I’m not sure where or how to coax it out. This is how I push against my painting edge- always looking for the magic, dancing between freedom, joy and intuitive abandon and that always critical, processing eye. What I learned from this piece is that sometime this is always going to be a fiery relationship and sometimes we just have to surrender to that dance rather than trying to resolve it.
Even now when I look at this piece, with all judgements aside, there is still this one little thing that niggles at me that I know is not finished, that I will always notice when I gaze on this painting- a reminder to just let it go...
Even now when I look at this piece, with all judgements aside, there is still this one little thing that niggles at me that I know is not finished, that I will always notice when I gaze on this painting- a reminder to just let it go...
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Michelangelo
Galia, your painting is beautiful and so are those quotes. Only you will know when it's finished. Thank you for sharing. Happy to find and follow you here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzi, I think what I learned from this piece is that it is more important to know when to release a painting rather than when a piece is finished. I think of Matisse and The Red Room, which was once a blue room and at one time a green room and how he even took it back from the purchaser to re-work it, changing it completely. Perhaps that piece is still not finished, just released.
DeleteGalia, it is beautiful and interesting. I am curious if you will change it. I think you are right, I am amazed how with every single painting, I learn...we never stop learning.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shelly, I'm curious too, for know its done, but I'm wanting to stay in that playful place of curiosity. I think it is a brilliant place to be in the creative process. And yes, never stop learning.
DeleteGxx
This is a truly spectacular piece. It really speaks to me with its playfulness and color -- and I also understand being in the position of feeling like something isn't finished...
ReplyDeletePracticing releasing the need to know if something is "finished", wondering even what "finished" means and if it is even a useful question. Hmmm, thanks Sheri, you've got me pondering another question.
DeleteGxx
I saw your painting a few days ago in FB and I thought it was beautiful then... and it looks fabulous here as well... and your post goes so well with the Michaelangelo quotes. The whole thing works really well together... congratulations Galia Alena! xx
ReplyDelete