Hi Friends,
I was working in the studio last week under suboptimal conditions. The weather was hot and it was super low humidity, which can affect my paintings as they dry.
Sometimes the paint behaves, and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, the results can be either disastrous or spectacular.
I had an idea for something dark and mysterious using deep reds to depict the nurturing qualities of the Earth. I pulled in other earthy colors including olive green, bronze, golden yellow and salmon, and these two pieces are the result.
Click on the images for more information about these paintings and to see them larger in a browser.
“Mother Mater Matter,” triptych, 36 x 54 inches, repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas
“Alternate Universe,” 20 x 60 inches, repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas
Both pieces have a lot of texture from the unusual drying conditions, and the paint on the second piece shifted as it dried. At first I wasn’t sure about that, because it wasn’t what I was expecting, but now I love it! Check out how awesome it looks hanging over my bed.
It’s another lesson in letting go. I can wait for the conditions to be perfect before painting, or I can work with what is and see what happens. In this case the results were not what I had wanted, but possibly better because of it. Once again, serendipity at work!
When has adversity worked in your favor? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please share them with us in the comments section below.
With love and appreciation,
Cassandra