Revisiting...

During today's class we got to have studio time again. I had planned on working on the painting I started because I keep having the feeling that I should be done with it already. Sometimes I feel I'm working at a snail's pace and should have more to show for the hours of work I have put into a piece. It's a bit frustrating at times, but I know that I am fully invested in the time that I am given to work.

Anyway, I did not end up working on the painting because when I would go to do something with it, I didn't feel as though I really knew what was supposed to be done to it. I thought it would be better then to leave it sit. As some of our readings have pointed out, a period of incubation can be necessary. So, instead I worked with the brown paper piece I had manipulated before. As I looked at it, I noticed cracks and crevices that I wanted to emphasize. It looked to me like a map that had numerous paths that could be explored. I used black ink to pull out those areas and create connections between one part and another. I found that if certain places weren't connected that I couldn't sit with the piece. I had to change it, form bridges or it wouldn't be quite right.
As I worked, I began to see other parts of the image that needed to be added, that begged to be brought forward. The result was three large swirls and ink splatters. The swirls weave in and out of the different colors of the piece creating a layered effect. This is something that I do in my work quite a bit. I love the look of depth and of there possibly being more if you could peel back one part. To me it makes me want to look further, to wonder what would be uncovered if I could be so small as to walk around on or in my pieces.

I wasn't sure upon leaving the class that what was there looked right. It didn't look balanced to me it seemed there should be something else. However, after hanging it up at home and sitting with it, it does feel complete.

I also liked how this piece photographed on our hardwood floors :)