Hothouse flowers in anticipation of Spring. These always grab my attention. At the Danforth last month, I moderated some painting sessions. During these sessions, I share everything I can think of and paint alongside anyone who wants to participate.
I set up a still life, and we employed the principle of painting directly. I like to refer to painting in the manner I do as incorporating time. I am painting to communicate how I felt when I was looking at whatever it might be...Over a period of time.
In this case, the time was approximately three weeks. There were three different groupings of flowers. Variations of a theme. The painting itself became the composition determining factor of where I placed the succeeding flowers.
There is an element of rawness which I did not want to loose. The red ochre floor and the white/not white quality of the walls were the only unifying factor as the weeks went on.
If a time-lapse film of this existed it would have to be in slow motion. One student remarked as I stared at my painting, seeking a truthful edge, "Oh. I see. You do one stroke every two hours." Not my common M.O. but it did fit with my admonition that all I need is open ended time.