A brief departure from my usual Tuesday sketchbook posts to announce my goal for 2010.100 paintings.
I know this a bold move, over ambitious perhaps, but this is my new project and starting point for the year.
It all started in October when I bought myself a set of water mixable oils. Now, you know that I am no stranger to painting in oil, even though it has been quite a long time since I put a brush to canvas. Over the past several years I have made a few attempts to paint with acrylic but just couldn't get the results I was after with that media. And not wanting the fumes and mess of oil paint I let the idea of painting go. But when I began reading about water mixable oils I was intrigued and wanted to give them a try.
I have been playing with these oil paints for a couple of months now and the process feels very comfortable and familiar. I wondered what would happen if I made 100 paintings. Where will this take me? I want to find out. I can't say whether I will actually complete 100 paintings in a year's time, but that is my goal. I will consider the goal achieved when I reach 100 paintings, even if it takes more than a year.
This past year I have been swimming in ideas, images that I wanted to explore but the drawing process slowed me down so I was becoming frustrated. But with paint the ideas flow much more quickly. I plan to keep these paintings fairly small, in a size that can be completed in one or maybe two sittings. From this body of work I hope to find inspiration for larger paintings later on.
In addition to making paintings I intend to continue with sketching and drawing. I am not placing any expectations on these activities however. I see drawing and sketching as a counterbalance to painting. For me, painting is active while drawing is meditative. Expand and contract. Like breathing in and out.
So watch this space! I will return to a Sketchbook Tuesday post next week as well as begin to post my paintings in the new year. Happy New Year everyone!
23 comments:
Yay, Ann! A goal we can work on together for moral support. I'm excited you are returning to oils and I can't wait to see some of your paintings.
I look forward to seeing where this project takes you. I have signed up for Project 52 which is trying to encourage people to produce more original work on the web. Many sites have just become reblogs and retreads. So each week in 2010 I'll be writing a piece for a blog called New 2 U that focuses on getting people to step out of their comfort zone and try new things large and small. Of course, I'll still be working on my photography and other projects. So I'm on the support bandwagon too.
Think ---- SMALL! That's pnly one every three days or so. Not an insurmountable obstacle...
How exciting! I'm looking forward to it!
I am very excited to see this! Especially since I received a set of water-mixable oils LAST Christmas and still haven't touched them! You do great work in every other medium; I'm sure I'll love these too!
It will be fun to watch this progress Ann! A nice simple goal, easy to measure...sounds perfect!
Good luck....I'm just no good at setting goals, or should I say...sticking to them. I am so looking forward to your new work.
I love my water mixable oils - though I'm still getting to know them. Good luck with this - I think it sounds an exciting, challenging way to develop
happy new year :D
this will be great to see and leaving the goal open ended so its finished when its finished. and working small should make it a lot easier to achieve the goal
Looking forward to see your new work!
Love your painting of snow and trees, so beautiful!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
My you are brave, I'd have proclaimed a lower figure just in case! Look forward to seeing these wonderful 100 paintings very soon.
I'm so thrilled you are going to do this! I'm halfway through my Challenge and, except for the occasional frustration, am really enjoying it. I'll look forward to following along.
Ann, Are you using only one brand of water mixable oils? I am going to purchase some soon and I am gathering opinions before I choose which ones.
This is a great goal. I look forward to seeing your paintings. Good luck!
Thanks all for the kind support!
Frankye - After doing some research, checking threads on WetCanvas,I purchased Winsor-Newton Artisan water mixable oils. I have been pleased with their performance so far.
You go girl! I started working with water mixable oils this year too, though I only completed a couple. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in this medium.
Happy New YEar!
I will be looking forward to seeing your work! Reminds me of the Julie/Julia project!
Happy New Year Ann. I wish you good luck for your exciting project, looking forward to seeing the paintings.
Hope you post your pictures so we can be with you more or less as you work towards your goal. It's a good goal too!
Wow! What an ambitious goal. Good for your. I know that I will enjoy watching your progress.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Love this idea. Regardless of when you complete your 100 paintings I'm sure the journey will be fun.
Hi Ann,
I followed a trail from Krista's blog to yours--so glad I did! I am trying to do 100 paintings this year as well. I was intrigued to see that your paintings thus far have been done with water mixable oils. I have been working in watercolor, which I love, but some subjects just seem to beg for something richer color wise. I think I will give the oils a try. Thanks for sharing~~your work really inspires me : ).
I really like this. What a great goal and good approach to it. Wonder if I could get myself in gear to set a specific number of paintings to do? Why do I shy away from that? Hmmmm.... I'll have to think on this one!
I'm catching up on my blog reading (woefully behind) and I see you've been very productive while I've been slacking off!
Post a Comment