The new studio is working well. The painting corner is a compact space (the carpet remnant that defines the area is 6x10 feet) but it is part of a spacious, airy room, and I made sure to site it by the large sliding glass doors that open to the courtyard.
After not painting for almost two years, it is hard to figure out "where to go." It seemed like the best way to start would be to pick up where I last was: landscape paintings based on my reference photos. The pictures here show my working method: a color print, a black and white print (for gridding and tonality), and my first pass at underpainting. I have had three more sessions since taking this photograph; the sky and distant mountains are done and the rest is beginning to get definition.
The process is interesting in many ways. For one thing, I'm rediscovering what works/doesn't work for me in terms of paint handling. For another, I'm not sure landscape is what I'll stay with once I get back into the groove. Finally, I now have a studio that accommodates having painting and sewing projects going simultaneously....and last week I got a powerful yen to make some skirts! Jo and I were running around downtown Petaluma Sunday, and there was one of those clothing stores where (if money was no object) I could outfit my entire closet. I ended up intensely studying the cut and construction of one skirt. I've shopped locally for the fabrics and trims I want, and drafted a flat pattern. So...tomorrow I have a few hours...shall I paint or shall I cut fabric?
Things are so much more straightforward in aikido: class is at a certain time, I show up and train....
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