My Self-Study plan and goals were firmly entrenched in pushing myself to find the time, strength, intellectual curiosity and courage to produce – in my initial post I bolded and all-capsed for emphasis – A LOT of work. The plan was to work fearlessly and without concern for quality. Not only would I produce a bunch of work, but I would also share the results. The work would be without a specific purpose other than “art for art’s sake”. Finally, I swore to experiment with oil paint – a medium all around me that I have barely ever used.
After finishing up with my responsibilities from the first trimester I launched into my project like a man possessed. I purchased my materials – a fantastic set of “Old Holland” oils – colors that are represented in my normal palette that I employ when working with acrylics or watercolors, mineral spirits and some new brushes. I prepared a range of grounds in a bunch of different sizes – stretched canvas, cradled hardwood panels and 300 lb. hot press arches watercolor paper suitable for oil painting. I visited several museums and galleries for inspiration. Manet was still my guy. Everything positive I felt about him was only reinforced by seeing his work in person. I was ready to go.
Then came the holidays. That magical time of the year with all of the free time – in our minds – and none of the free time in reality. I found myself doing work of obligation. This idea will come up more in the future during this discussion of my progress. This is work that is expected from you for one reason or another as an artist/creative person. Handcrafted holiday cards. Check. Throw in some travel and some stormy days and there just isn’t as much studio time as you would like. Before you know it it’s back to school. A piece of work for Minimester. Check. A painting for the LREI Art Auction.
Check. A handmade Valentine’s Day card for my boo. Check. “Now I’m ready to get down to it” I said to myself. I booked a train ticket and reserved a hotel room and I was getting ready to go to D.C. and the National Gallery to get up close and personal with several of my favorite Manet’s and…
***Record Scratch***
Covid-19. Suddenly I wouldn’t be going anywhere. This huge piece of my project that I was sure was integral to my process was impossible to do. Not only that there were the other limitations to overcome. My normal studio space was now impossible to access. I had to figure out how to teach Studio Art over Zoom. I did make art during this stretch however I continued in my familiar and comfortable ways. I did several scratchboard drawings of various End times/plague representations from famous works of art. Dark for sure but timely as well.
Over Spring break I painted. Every year I do a self-portrait on an 11”x14” panel in the mode of whatever I’m working on at that time. If you’ve ever been in the E.I. studio you’ve seen them. More work of obligation of a sort. Not having anything grand going on artistically I painted myself in full on plague mode. Monochromatic in red, inverted so it feels like a horror story and in my full respirator. And then it was back to work.
As school returned I came to understand and process the limitations of what my classes and own “artistic practice” would endure and need to overcome. My kids have limited resources and space. So do I. I was all in on oils in the beginning. None of my kids can paint with the exception of the one class that took home some watercolors. We are finding ways to be creative and expressive with less. We are indulging our creative whims. Less planning, but no less thoughtful. We are engaging in the practice, Covid be damned. I have been doing some painting. I’ve been playing it safe and working with acrylics in brief moments between other art of obligation – hand printing 70 book pockets for the graduating Seniors. I’m pushing the craft on those further than I ever have before. They deserve it.
My own work amounts to not much more than “fan art” of a scene from a favorite book. I’m comfortable with it because I’m making art I feel great about. My oils are at home with me. They’re right next to my acrylics, scratchboard and block-printing supplies. I’m still going to use them before the end of this self-study. The world is too scary a place right now to be afraid of oil paint.