Things are a bit different around here these days. For the past couple of months I’ve been experimenting with liquid acrylics and raw canvas.
This wasn’t something I particularly wanted to try. It was a technique someone suggested because it lends itself to my interests—like movement, control vs accident, edges, transparency. I was negative about the idea, to put it mildly.
I love my oil paints. I like the way they smell and the rich colour. I like not having to wash my brushes (I dip them in walnut oil between sessions). I’ve worked hard to develop my skills in oil painting. I have a process—from the specific way I apply gesso to the way I approach colour. Grumble, grumble.
The lure of the new
But I also love to learn new things, so I bought some basic supplies and gave it a whirl. My first efforts were slightly appalling to me, but I enjoyed the unpredictability of the liquid paint and the way it bleeds into raw canvas.
Once I figured out a few technical issues I got really into it. Every day I asked myself, “what if I…” and then tried it out. My studio started cluttering up with test strips of canvas and I pinned the most intriguing ones up on my wall.
Soon I found myself looking at the oil paintings I’d recently begun and finding them lacking. They felt stiff, overly controlled, and rigid. These were not the Immersion paintings, which I’m still very pleased with. These were new pieces I started in late October 2024 and, with a couple of exceptions, never finished or shared.
Simpler
I don’t know where the idea of picking a word for the year comes from—but it’s a practice that’s stuck with me.
I get a lot of out of reviewing the previous year and seeing what I want to take forward into the new year—and what I want to ditch. Some of this review is very practical, like shows I don’t want to do again, or shows I’d like to try to get into.
But one thing became clear during my review—I overdo and overthink a lot of art-related things. It’s something I’d like to explore so I’ve chosen SIMPLER as my word for 2025.
Really what I want is less fuss, less worry, less futzing about. Just paint, just post, just apply for a show. Less should I, shouldn’t I, what if, is this the right thing, etc. I think I waste a lot of time and energy there.
Maybe working with liquid acrylics will bring something new to my oil paintings. Maybe this is just a break or a little holiday from the usual. And maybe this is leading to a new way forward—something new I haven’t even imagined!
I have no idea
All this change is very destabilizing and more than a little humbling. Every day I’m confronting something I don’t know how to do. It’s enlivening and I feel full to busting with ideas. Lots of them are bad ideas, some are interesting, one or two are really worthwhile. And the only way I know to sort them out is to paint.
I’m trying not to fixate on outcomes or making something good. I don’t want to shut down the experimenting prematurely in an effort to create a piece I’m pleased with. Often things go too far and an unsuccessful idea drags down a promising beginning, but you know, live and (sometimes) learn.
The great paradox
One of the trickiest aspects of painting, I find, is being fully engaged in the process for its own sake. To forget about the desire to create something good. It’s the paradox at the heart of art-making. Artists want to make something great, but if we think about the end result while making the art will not be great.
I think that’s why I’m enjoying these experiments so much. Because everything’s new I have no expectations—just questions. It’s back to the beginning in some ways. If nothing else, I think these experiments are good for my mindset.
Stay tuned to see where this goes…
Image top: an early soak stain experiment from December 2024
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Love this! I to had the idea to try working on raw canvas but haven’t done it yet. 😏 I look forward to seeing if and how your work changes in the coming months. Thanks for sharing!
Simpler is a good way to approach the year. I’m with you on that! I’ve put some things out of sight so that I can focus more easily and play with materials that are calling, rather than feeling obligated to those that are in sight. I am looking forward to seeing your discoveries this year!
My take on simpler is very related to your word of the year too. Less fuss more action. So far I’m doing well, but the trick will be to stick with it. Thanks for reading!