The Canvas Chronicles: Week 27

Creating art from something found

Welcome to week 27 of the Canvas Chronicles, where I create art from something thrifted or found.

My Canvas

This week, I did something I’ve never done before. Painted over one of my finished pieces.

I’d equate my feelings toward this painting to that of an old t-shirt. There was a time I used to love it, but now it’s collecting dust in my closet.

I asked myself, do I keep it? Do I sell it? For the purpose of this series, I created something completely new out of it.

Even though I was ready to let it go, standing there with my white paint in hand felt a betrayal.

Parts of the painting I like, but overall it feels rushed. I remember when I was making it, I was trying to paint as fast as possible to make an approaching art show deadline.

The whole part of the series is to embrace the joy in the process of creating, so it seems like a perfect canvas to repurpose.

I was also worried people might like the previous version more than whatever I would create. Which, saying now, feels silly.

As an artist, I often catch myself shifting focus to what will please people generally, and have to make an effort to create what truthfully resonates with me.

My Inspiration

I went to The Art Institute of Chicago this past weekend, and decided to walk around Lurie Garden beforehand.

It’s amazing to be able to visit to the same garden throughout all four seasons. I didn’t expect much as it’s approaching mid-November in Chicago, but I was wrong. I think it was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen it.

While I was walking through, I noticed that all of the flowers from the summer had died and what was left was a sort of skeleton. Just as beautiful, in a completely new way.

There is a certain beauty in death. I thought of my loved ones that I’ve lost, and was thankful that I had decided to go through this stroll for an unexpected reminder of how precious life really is.

Summer

Fall

My Process

With some pieces, I have an idea of what they will look like. Others, I follow intuition and discover the piece along the way. This was one of those works that revealed itself over time.

I started by pouring a mix of India Ink and water on my newly primed canvas.

From there, I experimented with pouring different colors, and blocking out sections of plants.

Slowly, I built more layers.

And added in the final silhouettes of the flowers.

I love how the ink reacts, I really don’t know exactly what it’s going to look like until it dries.

The Final Piece

Thanks for reading! Until next week.