Hitting a Painting Rut

This got a beautiful coat of white gesso!

Yesterday I was chatting with one of my students. He's a really good painter who hasn't been using pastels that long. He's having some really good successes, so he's pretty motivated. But, after having done quite a few piece that he considers to be pretty worthy of entering in some shows and pieces which he feels good about, he finds he's hit a tough spot. A rut, he called it. He's not getting the results he wants. He's frustrated and questioning whether he's good enough, ought to be pursuing this etc, etc. He asked me if I ever had this happen and felt this way. I cracked up, 'cause I feel like this practically every other day! I told him I'd spent the other day painting all day long and then the next morning, promptly painted over everything I'd done that previous day.

Painting is a series of plateaus that you hit. You get to one point and it feels effortless for a little bit. You might even do some pieces that feel like they painted themselves and just came through you. Then...you struggle...and it's hard 'cause you thought it you'd reached a point and it was going to be effortless from now on! It's scary and you might even feel a little like you got tricked into thinking you were a good painter and you're really not. The secret is finally out!

Well, like I told Jacob, I have made friends with these "plateaus". Like it or not, I now understand they are a necessary part of being a painter that is growing and progressing. If you want to grow, evolve, improve as a painter, you have to challenge yourself to do things differently. This can mean so many things from something simple like just trying a new brand of paper or changing up your work completely, (don't try this unless you're kinda crazy like me). If you always paint the same thing, in the same way, of course it will stay the same and likely be pretty good. I've noticed artists that paint exactly the same as they did 15 or 20 years ago. For some that may be satisfying, but it's not my thing, so I have to push myself forward and that leads to a series of plateaus.

Right now I'm scrambling up the rough patch before I reach the next one. It's hard, it's not very fun. It's tiring, both mentally and physically. Some days are unproductive and frustrating; painting over paintings, throwing things away or even just standing there staring at blank canvas. It feels like a waste of time and money. Sometimes unsavory, niggling thoughts creep in like,"oh maybe I shouldn't be painting these figures. I should just stick with the landscapes" or even "maybe I should look for a "real" job."

Even though I still have these thoughts sneak in, I can laugh them off more quickly and put them in their place because I know the next plateau is right up there. I'm very certain of it. When I reach it, it will be blissful to stand atop it and look back down at where I came from. I'll enjoy my time on it and linger there for a while, before I turn and start up the next hill. I'll hope the next one isn't too rocky or tricky, but a smooth, gradual slope! Ha, ha!!

Some other thoughts about paintings
Some paintings are meant for my flat files, as in "not ready to throw away, but I don't want to look at you."
Some paintings are meant for my walls,(something in there I want to look at, but not ready for prime time)
Some paintings just have to go into the round file as in,"I can't make it through the day looking at you for one more second!"
Some paintings go in frames and get sold.
All paintings are good.

Some more thoughts about the ugly paintings
No painting starts out beautiful or finished. They all go through an "ugly" stage. Your job is to find the kernel in there that you can build around to bring it to "finish"
The ugly ones are necessary too. They are good.
Some paintings are a little needy. They need more attention than others. 

If you figure on a 50% success rate, that's pretty good if you paint 100 paintings, not so satisfying if you paint two. Better paint a hundred just in case!


Thoughts about thoughts
They are overrated. Just paint. Don't over-think it. My husband always tells me in his very gentle way, "Marla, just paint". Best advice, I've ever gotten. Don't take too much responsibility for the good paintings or the bad ones. You can get too big a head, then be pretty bummed when the bad ones hit! They just are what they are. One of the most wonderful things about painting is that you have to be present and in the moment. You can't be thinking about the laundry or your taxes or what to make for dinner. You have to be looking, responding, creating. Don't start thinking about it too much after the fact and second guessing your skills, the market, etc. etc. Just paint. It's a path that has never led me astray.

Ahhh, Pastels!

Well, after resolving a little dust up with Pastel Journal, (pardon the pun), I was back at work in the studio today, rediscovering my pastel palette. Ahhh...home again!! How wonderful they are; beautiful, tactile and noisy!! I have to remember to paint without my music blaring occasionally to appreciate the sound they make. However much I'm drawn by other media, and finding satisfaction there, I'm happy to visit home for a bit and feel all the sensations that go along with that. Maybe I'll just stay at home for a while!

Pastel on Colorfix

Pastel on Colorfix

Today, I worked on some landscape compositions for two large commissions for a new hospital in Hillsboro, Oregon. I did the sketches in pastel to find my way. I'll typically work in pastel first because it is that "home" for me. I worked through several variations, considering many factors; size and proportion of the final piece, composition, color swatches that were provided and a forest theme. Hospitals don't want fall as the feel it reminds folks of the end of life, they don't want too much of a pathway, as this could suggest the end of life, they want uplifting colors and values. So, considering all this and still painting a painting that I really want to paint and will be excited about and proud of is a challenge.

Then soup. I've been really into making soup when I've been home and had a recipe for Roasted Eggplant soup that I really wanted to try. We've been making some absolutely great soups, but this one might be the best one so far. It's got a great flavor with just a hint of mint and pepper. I got this from a Williams-Sonoma Soup cookbook that I've had for ages. I used 1/2 & 1/2 instead of heavy cream. I used two garlic rather than one in the original recipe and I was pretty liberal with the pepper, tasting as I went. Enjoy!

Roasted Eggplant Soup with Mint

1 large eggplant
2 TB butter
1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 TB finely chopped fresh mine
1 cup 1/2 & 1/2
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375
Put the eggplant in a baking dish and puncture the skin several times with a fork. Roast in the oven, turning occasionally, until the skins are evenly browned and deeply wrinkled, 1-11/2 hrs. Let stand at room tepm. until cool enough to handle, then peel.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over med. heart. Add the onion and the garlic and saute' until golden, 3-5 minutes. Add the eggplant, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and saute' 2-3 minutes more. Add the stock and the mint and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.

In small batches, puree' the soup in a food mill. Return to the pan and stir in the cream and gently heat through over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 4-6

Preserving Energy

I'd hoped to be a better blogger on this trip than I've been. In the end, I needed all my energy for the jobs at hand and choose to preserve what I had left for myself. I think it was a good choice. I'm tired on my return home, but not exhausted and fairly ready to take up where I'd left off. I don't even think I'll get sick, like I sometimes am apt to do after a period of intense work and travel.

Near our hotel in Leesburg

The workshop in Leesburg was terrific. A great group of engaged students, many of whom are super active in the Pastel Society of Central Florida,(the society that hosted the workshop). It was great fun to get to work with them. It was also the first time that Mike and I have worked together for a entire workshop. Besides being quite the expert in drawing, painting and color, he took care of us, even ordering lunches and bringing in pizza one day. He's a peach. I think I'll keep him!

From Leesburg, we were off to Tampa for the Gasparilla Arts Festival. Tampa is a beautiful city and the site of the show was right in town near their art museum. Only thing was, high winds came in after the first day and took out about 20 or so booths that were located nearest the street. These booths were all on pavement, so they couldn't stake in. Not ever having done this show and not knowing any better, we were at the other end of the show on grass. We knew high winds were forecast, so Mike had staked in and cross tied the booth. Thank you Carla and Dave Fox!! Carla and Dave carefully researched methods of securing your booth, so we knew what to do. I think it made a difference, since our booth was on a corner and could have been vulnerable. It was only a two day show and one day lost out to weather. Sunny, but blustery. Despite some horror stories about load in and load out, we made quick work of our one booth, were scheduled as the first group to load out and sure enough, I think we may have been the first or second booth out of there! Of course not counting the poor folks who left early due to damaged booths. We got off the site and drove to a super little pizza place, grabbed a couple slices to go and headed south. Next stop New Orleans.

 After an interim stop in Tallahasse, we pulled our BDV, (now our acronym for BIG DAMN VAN), right into another perfect parking space in front of our hotel in New Orleans. Just like in Key West! Couldn't have been more perfect! We quickly headed to the French Quarter which is just a couple blocks up from the hotel, knowing we only had the one night. We check out the vibe with the intent of finding oysters. We've been told to go to ACME but the line is just too much, so we find a great spot off Decatur and sit in a quaint oyster bar as the sun sets. Then off to explore Bourbon Street. So interesting from a people watching, architectural and historical point of view. We danced, we ate, we drank and then we slept! Morning brought the obligatory trek to taste cafe ole and beignets. Then we hit the road to make the long slog through Texas.

In front of our hotel in New Orleans

Well, we thought we were doing great by getting all the way through West Texas by 2:00pm. Then wouldn't ya know we hit a big wind storm in Las Cruses New Mexico. Zero visibility on Hwy 10; closed until further notice and no easy work-around. So, we get on the internet with our handy-dandy ipad and look at road closures, weather forecasts and finally resolved to looking at hotels on our corporate lodging account. We settle on a Holiday Inn Express that is a bit pricey, but has a pool and secure parking for the van. Good choice once again. We did laundry, relaxed in their nice indoor pool and jacuzzi and ordered take out. Better than driving in the brown-out!

We leave Las Cruses early and in plenty of time to easily make set-up in Scottsdale around 2pm. When we hit Scottsdale around 1:00 we have time to unload our personal stuff and luggage at the hotel. They had our room ready and in a spot that we could keep track of the van and unload easily. Yippee!! We were happy to feel the sun on our shoulders in Scottsdale. It was familiar. The most familiar place we'd been, so to us we were close to being home. Funny how that works! Scottsdale was good to us. Set-up went smoothly, familiar faces came out to support us and take down was ererily easy. We were super efficient, knowing exactly how to stack things as we took things apart and how things would then get loaded into the van. As we were pulling the van off the site we kinda looked at each other both thinking that we have this down a little too well now. The shows gods were shining on us. A last dinner of sushi and brussel sprouts tops off Scottsdale. Sounds weird, but it was good!

Life has a way of putting you in your place. I flew home to Portland on Monday morning. By Tuesday morning, a little surprise snow! Gotta love it! I'm putting together a slide show of the trip, so look out for that. Thanks to everyone that helped us prepare, helped along the way, watched out for the home-front, purchased art, workshop participants or just kept us in your thoughts. We really appreciate it. Now, back to painting!

Tuesday Morning at home!