WORKING IN SERIES

Windows # 17 acrylic 18x36"

I did my first “windows” painting almost 2 months ago, and yesterday completed number 17!
I joke that after the first painting it was like eating potato chips, I couldn’t stop. Not long ago I posted that I thought I had painted the last one: how wrong was that!

I guess I have always been attracted to the idea of “themes” or series. Almost all of my solo exhibits have been based on a theme or a specific subject (victorian architecture, corner stores, local landscape, barns, etc.), whether it was watercolor, clay, pastel, or acrylic. By working on a series, one gets the chance to grow with each painting, exploring a number of options, mood, contrasting colors or values, or composition, all within a consistent framework. You quickly learn that you cannot duplicate the previous work, just like you cannot repeat a sketch: they are each an individual effort of expression. But by adhering to a few basic guidelines, the artist can “stretch” and expand his or her vision, and because of the guidelines, see, or measure their growth.

The challenge is, to know when to stop and move on. At this time, I don’t think I am finished with this series.