Well, sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. In this case, they didn't but I will post my results anyway. I made a vow awhile back that I would share my failures as well as my successes.
I wound up using fluid acrylics for the entire painting. I had the brilliant idea that I would create texture for the center of the flower with white acrylic gesso, then lay in my foundation colors...the yellows, reds, etc. When those were dry I then planned to go over the same area with a very dark color and quickly wipe away this same dark color from the more raised areas of the texture leaving the deeper color in the crevices creating contrast and definition. It was a sound plan but could've been better executed. I didn't create enough texture for my idea to be successful. I've been using this painting to experiment on so it isn't going to waste.
There was a time if I produced a failed painting it used to throw me for a loop. I was only as good an artist as my last painting. Today I see it as nothing more than a learning experience. Happily I can say that now and really mean it. Rather than questioning my abilities, berating myself and quickly tossing the painting in the bin to hide the evidence I study the problem and figure out what went wrong and how I can do things differently next time. No failure is a waste. There's something to be learned every time I put brush and paint to paper, no matter what the outcome.
10 comments:
I still think it looks pretty cool...great attitude you have over pieces that don't go the way you had hoped.....my family still has to talk me down off the roof.
Interesting trial Billie. I am glad that you are able to move on, without this holding you back. I love your experimentation.
Billie, you are being too hard on yourself, this painting is simple, but really not that bad. Could you may be 'over' planning, and 'over' thinking your piece rather than letting it flow, maybe?
What a wonderful experiment ...I could not agree with you more about your assessment of working and failure, etc...you are absolutely right. I can´t stand it when someone in class belittles themselves cause something didn´t turn out the way they "think" it should have...heck it is just paper/canvas and paint....we all learn from each piece we do and how can anyone get to the next piece without doing this piece!!!
Thanks for the inpsiration..have a great weekend.
Cynthia Schelzig
I don't see this as unsuccessful at all! In fact, I might take it in a different direction now and think of why little surprise you can put in that center that seems cradled by the middle parts. Think about it and see what comes together for you :)
I hear that, Maggie! I'd quit painting for awhile when I produced a dud so I could go off and lick my wounds. Now I know better. It just made me lose my momentum and certainly my perspective on things. It was the words of some honest & open established artists that helped me get past this. Even some of them admit they have failures.
Thanks, Robin.:) Like I told Maggie...even the best artists sometimes fail so that gives me loads of leeway. LOL
Vera, I'm calling this a failure because it didn't turn out like I envisioned it but it has it's merits. I don't believe I over thought it. I just didn't know how much texture I would need to pull off the effect I wanted and there was only one way to find out and I found out!
Cynnie, if more artists would come clean about having failures it would help other artists avoid putting so much pressure on themselves. I hope by posting my missteps I can be a small part of that relief and hopefully someone else can learn from my mistakes. It's also a bit cathartic for me to post these. Not sure why but it is.
Thanks, RH! I'm not done with this painting by a long shot. Thank God for acrylic gesso.
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