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| Frank / oil on linen panel / 12 x 12 |
I have had enough of this slump and all the negative effects it was having on me. Determined to rid myself of these evil demons, I have practically locked myself in my studio for the last three days and painted nonstop. As Frank was such a great model in our life sessions, I attempted a portrait of him - this is my third attempt and I am finally pleased. Its not about liking the outcome - its more about the feeling of the paintbrush on the canvas and the movement of the paint. It began to feel familiar again. I don't know if I am out of my slump or not - only time will tell but I am feeling better today than I have in weeks.
Being part of this online artist community is such a wonderful experience - I received so much support, understanding and sugggestions and all of it helped me get through this. A special thanks to
Suzanne Berry for her very caring personal concern and to
Sandra Busby for her suggestion to read
Art Bytes about the slumps other artists have had and their suggestions for getting through. I am so touched by all of your comments and the fact that so many wonderful artists have persisted in following my blog even though I have been lagging in postings lately. A warm heartfelt thanks to you all!
Susan! Now that is what I'm talking about! You are one rocking artist and fantastic person! Love this one! Be true to yourself! :Paint on and on! :Paint what you like and how you like! Great! Great to see your wonderful, off the chart great work again! I am so very happy. Now you have put a smile on my face!
ReplyDeleteRock on my art buddy!
Your buddy!
Michael!
Oh, Yippee!!!!
You are truly a great art buddy, Michael. Your words and energy inspire me - as well as your wonderfully vigorous and joyful paintings!
DeleteWe all go through it. sigh
ReplyDeleteAnd usually the result is renewed energy...and inspiration.
We ALL need a vacation, though, and if you think of it as THAT, then it's easier to keep the guilt at bay....
Frank is SO so...PERSONABLE!
Thanks, Debbie - and I am so done with this vacation! Glad you like Frank!
Deletej'adore ce portrait! Magnifique continuer! votre travail est superbement réalisé!
ReplyDeleteVery nice post! Thanks & Welcome for your comment and your visit to my blog.
Have a nice day! Cath
Merci, Cath! I really enjoyed your Parisian slide show! What a mignificent city!
DeleteI'm glad the slump is over, Susan. It is a beautiful portrait, he is a character! I'll have a look at Art Bytes, thank you Sandra, and thank you Susan, for passing on the tip!
ReplyDeleteArt Bytes has a wealth of information for the artistic community. I found it very helpful!
DeleteSusan, dare I say that even your slumps are inspirational? If you can paint portraits like this coming out of a slump, then we are all queuing up to enter one :0)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad this slump is ending - it used up too much of my energy and left me emotionally drained.
DeleteGood for you Susan, onwards and upwards!
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope so, Tina!
DeleteOver or not, this slump is integral part of the creativity process. Nobody can go all the way up, we need time to stop or to go back and reconsider ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are fighting your demons back and take the best possible medicine, art. Good luck.
I have to agree, Irina, although I am gritting my teeth as I do so. This slump stole much of my confidence which is something I am continually working on.
DeleteThroughout this slump, the quality of the work you've posted has been admirable as always. "Just paint" is the best way out of these annoying periods. You did just that. Also "forget about it" is another good piece of advice. I'm not so sure if just thinking "slump" is what brings one on?
ReplyDeleteYes, just paint turned out to be the right thing to do. Sigh. Maybe you are right - negative thoughts seem to beget negative thoughts and a downward spiral is inevitable. I read Van Gogh's letters a while ago and just adored his intensity. Degas' life was very different. I think I may follow your footsteps and go back to Van Gogh for my next inspirational boost.
DeleteBrilliant portrait - really fabulous. Be proud.
ReplyDeleteI just went through a mourning period and Couldnt paint and Suzzane was right there with caring and sensitive support. As were many others. Blew away. We artist bloggers are blessed.
Thanks, Julie - it felt good to actually feel pleasure while painting again. I am in awe of the encouragement and support we get from each other. Painting is such a solitary pursuit - just the artist, his own thoughts and that blank canvas. It helps so much to connect with so many others. I am so grateful.
DeleteOh you are so welcome Susan :0) And I am so glad you found the info useful!
ReplyDeleteThis portrait is just beautiful! All of those wonderful marks and textures... It is so YOU and as always - slump or no slump - I am in awe of your work :0)
It was a happy moment when I realized the brushwork was flowing and the decision making wasn't so exasperating. Thanks so much Sandra. I am eagerly waiting to see how your current portrait develops!
DeleteI was hoping you would paint the ever-so-paintable Frank! You have given him such wonderful coloration. Is he a redhead? And again, to my eye, your rendering of him looks like a character from early 20th c. France. LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are coming out of your slump!!! I go through the same darkness every winter. I can hardly wait for Dec. 21!!!
Be well and happy
Kathryn XX
Frank was so drawable, so paintable - a real inspiration and character! Sorry to hear that winter brings on a slump for you - I just love winter in all it's crystal cold brilliance and can't wait for some real snow! What happens on December 21? Do your winter blues lift in the countdown to Christmas?
DeleteSusan, you are most welcome. I so relate to how you feel and as is always the case what you view as a slump is another example of your incredible skill, but when we don't feel it, we don't feel it. this is, like everything you do, simply wonderful!! your approach is so vibrant, alive and spontaneous. Was listening to Eckhart Tolle while working last week and he spoke a the rise and fall of creative urges being very natural and only becoming a problem when we look at it that way. Still it doesn't feel good when what we want to be doing is painting and feeling that connection with brush and canvas. Just be patient and forgive yourself for needing to replenish and refuel. you are incredibly gifted and it's wonderful to see you back.
ReplyDeleteYou are so wonderful, Suzanne, and I truly think your email helped break me out of these doldrums. I thank you for caring so much. I will try to look upon this time as a learning experience and a chance to understand what it is to be in a slump and what it takes to get out of it. And now - back to the easel! :)
DeleteBonjour ma chère Susan,
ReplyDeleteWouhaou! Je suis très très heureuse de pouvoir admirer cette superbe oeuvre.
Elle vous ressemble avec cette fougue qui vous habite et qui donne tant de force, de puissance, de vibration à vos peintures.
Que ce soit, vos chevaux, vos danseuses, ce portrait, ce sont des peintures qui ne font qu'une. Votre coeur et votre âme tout entier se retrouvent là étalés sur la toile avec des couleurs qui sont le sang qui les relie... J'AIME...
Par moment dans la vie, il y a des choses qu'on laisse enfouie au fond de soi, mais lorsque ces belles choses germent, le résultat est très surprenant. Et vous me surprenez encore une fois aujourd'hui...
J'aurais pu commencer à commenter la dernière peinture que vous venez de publier, mais comme j'étais en retard ! il était plus juste que je commence par le faire avec ce généreux portrait.
Toutefois laissez-moi vous dire que votre cheval est extraordinaire. J'aime ses torsions, sa force qui est un pouvoir sur ma sensibilité. Pour moi les chevaux ont ce moyen de fascination, de séduction par leur apparence auguste.
Une très belle et haute peinture.
Gros gros bisous ma chère Susan... continuez à me séduire par vos oeuvres.
Martine, I thank you for your very kind, generous and thoughtful comments. On some unknown level, Frank entered my consciousness and I knew I had to paint him - the drawings were simply not enough. I felt I had to get the essence of him in paint. It was one of those times, when the portrait just flowed off the brush. I had tried to paint him twice before but had problems with the values. Once I solved that issue, my brush was free to create.
DeleteMartine, There are no words to tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts - many thanks for taking the time to write them out for me. And many kisses back to your, my dear friend.