Water paintings in final production

I have six acrylic water paintings on the studio wall. They are in the final production stage, which is where they come off easel and move to the wall so I can study them as I work on photographs or other paintings. This is the pass or fail stage, where I determine whether touch ups will complete them or they need to go back to the easel/floor and be re-worked.

Already, I can see some edges that need to be softened, I can see spots that require a bit of balance. Yet, I will not touch them just yet. It is too soon. I am too close to the work right now in an emotional sense. I need to put on my critical eyes, study and run through the checklist of elements and principles that make a painting interesting. I need to determine whether they do what I intend in changing light.

If I intend for viewers to take away anything from my paintings, especially the landscapes and flowers, it is for them to see what my layerist work does as light changes in a room. I want these to appear alive, which is why I “build” them to change.

By the way, speaking of change, one of the reasons I share this post of unfinished work is to lead fellow artists to feeling secure with sharing the various stages through which artists and their work go as they move toward completion of their products.

Too many of my friends have been told not to share photography of the work in progress and I think this cheats the artists and the viewers of good dialogue and great learning experiences for both.

But, you probably did not stop by to hear Christine’s theory on BS Theories postulated by folks with whom she does not agree. So, if you want to chat about this, email me or begin discussion below.

As always, comments are welcome on the work in progress. Questions, too, of course; but, if you ask me when they will be finished, the answer will be a firm “when they are done.”