I was looking for a photo on my phone and came across a group of photos from Spain that stopped me in my tracks and made me say 'duh'. Time created some distance from some ideas I had out there and it was nice to see them again. They reminded me of a few projects I still want to try out. I had all day to play with materials and just have fun experimenting while working out there. I had not looked at these since I shot them and I think there's such interesting stuff happening in these photos (of course, maybe just interesting to me!). Since I've been back, I've been focusing on smaller paintings (with a focus on the 'product' not the process), moving the studio and a variety of other things. I had almost let some pretty cool ideas fade from my memory.
Paint test sheets, cut shapes, ink drawings and watercolor paintings.
I had a ton of ideas there. Too many. A month was definitely not enough time to carry out all of them, but there are at least elements of these ideas that I want to use in current and future projects since there isn't an expiration date.
Strips of cut watercolor paper placed in front of two different paintings.
The juxtaposition of certain pieces together was really interesting to me. I had painted strips of paper and layered them in front of two different paintings, which gave me all kinds of ideas for dioramas and other three-dimensional work.
A sort of watercolor landscape lit from behind.
A mock-up for a lightbox.
Using cheap roll paper, I drew and painted without a care since I didn't feel precious about this inexpensive material. I tested out lighting it from behind, thinking I would create an installation that used this idea. It is something I would still like to try. I have used a light before, but hanging rather than behind the art.
Experimenting with "gotas" or blobs piled along the wall.
One of the first things I played around with were cut watercolor shapes I called 'gotas' (or blobs in Spanish). Each day, I made anywhere from several to ten. This ended up being included in the final exhibition which you can see here.
Sketchbook brainstorming
Second fireplace sketch
An early version of the flooding room.
Stone and rug large ink drawings.
Playing around with color in the installation.
Here are some ideas I had for the fireplace installation I did. You can see the final installation here. The idea behind the piece evolved to be about states of static versus flow. How we can become stagnant or try to achieve a firm stance in life when it is constantly in flux and moving around us.
My work piled up.
Cut paper plants with window reflection.
Whether getting caught up in a routine or having too many deadlines or goals, we can forget about concepting, sketching, playing, experimenting, making mistakes, making a mess. By working with these materials in different ways, I explored light, shadow, scale, dimension, pushing the idea of a two-dimensional painting. I was so excited while working in Spain, being inspired by a different landscape and surroundings, and I'd like to keep that going here.
I am currently working on dioramas with cut watercolor paper for a new project. I'll keep ya posted on how that goes!