pen and brush

September is turning up as a productive time. For my one-a-days, somewhat in imitation of Agnes Martin's grids, I started doing these close-spaced lines with some open spaces. 

each 4 inches x 6 inches (10cm x 15cm)
fountain pen, acrylic ink

I liked these, so I made one in a larger format. I think this may work up into something although the background needs to be more solid. It strobes in real life.  

Flood Plains
10 x 14 inches (25cm x 35.5cm)
acrylic ink, Tombow pen

I've been pushing on with ink paintings. I think this is a painting. 

Of course I like it better upside down. Maybe I should stand on my head when I paint.

This is almost a painting. I think it wants something more on the right side, or something not so vertical or --gasp!-- a bit of a color that isn't black or white. (It's still taped to the easel, ignore the particolored edges.)

Surprisingly, this is no better upside down.

I think I'm getting over my compulsion to fill the entire space. Some time away from the project has been a good thing.

scared myself

Back in May, in an exercise in Dorothy Caldwell's class, we each made a b-i-g painting. I liked mine so much that I had it framed. (There's a bit of glare on the glass.) I have, in general, fallen hard for ink painting.

approximately 48 x 48 inches (122cm) with frame

The framer's assistant liked it so much, he told me that he "didn't want to let it go." The framer liked it so much that on the strength of this one thing he offered to arrange a show for me at a local club.

Yikes.

So I was paralyzed for about a month. Could I really do this 'art thing'? Could I do something like this again? Could I do anything at all? I had the worst cold of my life when I made that painting, should I spend the rest of my life contracting viruses? Or, since I enjoy ink so much, should I just pull up my socks, gather supplies, and do some work?

Now there's an idea. Baby steps.

So today I made a painting. It's not an especially good painting, but it's one more than I had yesterday -- which brings my oeuvre to deux. I think I like it better horizontal (last shown, below). 

as painted (22 x 30 inches high / 56 x 76cm)

 

up side down



horizontal



upside down and horizontal