Thursday, November 29, 2007

My Next Painting in Progress



I got kind of sidetracked this last week with the holidays and all, but I have begun a new (somewhat) large painting. It's a great looking vintage mixer - also made by Hamilton Beach - I picked up on ebay. The dimensions are 18 x 24, which for me is pretty big. It's proving to be a bit of a bear to paint, so I'm not committing it to any particular gallery until it's finished. There's always a chance it will wind up under a new coat of gesso. I've only got three days into it so far, so I'm not going to start freaking out right away. I'll give it a few more days before I decide to finish it, or trash it, and start on something else.



My friend Robert Deyber has created something new. I know a lot of artists are video taping their painting sessions, then publishing them to YouTube. Bob has taken this a step further, and installed, what I refer to as the DeyberCam. It's a continous live remote view of him at work in his studio. A "fly on the wall" look at the artist in action. It's a little voyeristic, but a good way to kill a few minutes during the day. He's given me permission to post the URL here for anyone interested in having a peak. You can visit by clicking here.


12 comments:

Jelaine Faunce said...

You sound like me with the paintings. I don't know how many I've undone or stripped this year out of utter frustration. I blame it on returning to large works and not feeling quite in my skin with them just yet. LOL

Ambera said...

I LOVE seeing the progress of your painting. Don't give up on it, I think it's great! Keep us posted!

Anonymous said...

This one doesn't have the usual reflective properties that have become your trademark and juxtaposition of metallic and organic elements. I find the object framed a little too close by it's borders and at an angle that is more technical illustration than art.
Always fun to visit your blog
thanks

otto said...

I commend you on presenting work in various states of "undress". It shows the level of talent and craft that goes into a piece of artwork and the struggle ( or battle ) to complete it.
I'm a fairly straightforward person and I'll understand if you delete this comment, but:

I admire AND understand the "balls" it takes to share work in progress. I also understand that this opens you up to "anonymous" criticism which, in fact, comes from those with very small ones.

You're Awesome!

Oh, sorry to be so crass...I'm a little "blue-collar".

Jelaine Faunce said...

Yes, I forgot to mention in my last comment, the work you are doing is AWESOME. Keep it up and don't be afraid to push the boundaries and venture into new territory.

Chris said...

I've always squirmed when asked to show my own work in progress. I liken it to a roasting turkey. Let's face it, it in the beginning stages a raw turkey in a roaster just isn't very appealing. But as time passes that bird turns in to something mouth-watering and appetizing.

I rarely let people look at my turkeys before they're good and ready. I really admire how you've shared your work in progress. That takes guts.

James Neil Hollingsworth said...

Thanks for the postive input about revealing work in progress. I have to admit it's a little scary, but I decided that this blog was about my life as an artist, and the process is a significant part of that life. Another part of my process is if a painting is not working to my satisfaction it is destroyed. (Karen hates it when I do that.)

Jelaine Faunce said...

I've often found that the stripping or painting over of a piece that is not to my liking can be a very liberating, clarifying and inspiring process. As long as it serves a creative purpose, it's all good. As John Elway once said, "Losing is temporary. You can always come back and redeem yourself." Just substitute "A lost cause painting" for "Losing" and "begin a new one" with "redeem yourself".

The Painted Sky said...

Neil,
I agree with what the artist Chuck Close says somewhere in this long but good Youtube video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xyMdjqIshw

"You are only responsible for the work you go public with. If you didn't go public with it, it's nobody's business, but from the moment you put it out in the world you can't go back "

So, if it works? That's great!

If not, then it's no crime to destroy it.

The important thing is to be happy with the painting before it leaves the studio.

Jiddje said...

I also think it takes guts to post an unfinished painting. I'm a little scared to do so, because I feel I have to apologize and have to say: this has to be done and that needs a bit more coloring, before people can comment on it. But on the other hand I believe that your public knows you and realize that the painting when it is finished will look wonderful with lots of detail. And when you destroy one painting or put another coat of gesso on it means only one thing. That the real artist like yourself is not satisfied to easily. I'll bet you often pace up and down (?) your painting and think hard what it needs to get better. You are doing such great things, keep on painting!

Anonymous said...

By the way, I think it is gutsy to have your work shown so publicly. One can always make excuses for delays to one self but, when the you have an audience...just my 2 cents

Pablo VillicaƱa Lara said...

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If you don't already know how to play tag, check out my blog for details.

Pablo