18x36" oil on canvas in progress
Still going and lovin' every minute of it. I'm cautiously excited! But that's the rub isn't it? For the first time in the last eight years, since I began painting full time, I am happy with where I am creatively. The elusive muse has, it seems, favored me with more than just a drive by.
I've been waiting for some existential building to fall on my head enabling me to envision a concept deep in meaning and clever in execution, but I always felt my ideas were just too literal. But, I recently realized that again, I've been struggling to be someone I'm not. Clearly, if my mind worked that way, I'd be knee deep in cool, moody, clever paintings wouldn't I? What if I took what was right in front of me and used that?
That's where the concept for "Laura Contemplating the Container" came from. Yeah, I know. The title is quite literal, but that's the clever part you see. A series of shots from a photo session— where Laura picked up an plastic container with a red scoop inside and just began moving about the room with it —has been in my reference folder for months. And then one recent day, for some reason, I stepped out of my self-imposed "why can't I think of anything cool" box and came up with this composition.
I'm going to be patient. I'm not rushing to completion. I'm studying it and making adjustments when necessary. Again, I'm cautiously excited but, I think I have a real shot of getting my artistic license renewed!
We'll see.
Thanks so much for dropping by!
Suz, I'm so excited for you!!!! This painting is brilliant. Not only masterfully painted but so interesting. It peaks my curriosity, what is in that container? Why is she holding it? What is she thinking? going through? This is winning material here. I can sense the exitement you have for painting this through the piece, and it excites me!! Love it when inspiration hits us and makes us remember whey we love being an artist!!!!! Enter this in something--please:)))
ReplyDeleteYou've got another winner on your hands! I love the facial expressions and can read my own story into the changes across the four figures. Funny how things just happen when we least expect them isn't it? Fabulous work!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting painting. It makes me curious, "what is going on here???".
Sie
I didn't think this could get better, but I love everything about this. You have definitely hit on something special!!
ReplyDeletePretty overwhelming, I can see why you are excited. So much fun to see the progression. It has such a WOW factor!
ReplyDeleteHi Suz
ReplyDeleteI think that sometimes answers unexpectedly can fall right into your hands- and when you examine it, its like "the jack pot of ideas".
This painting tells a story. It shows mystery. There is more to it than meets the eye. This will be a blue ribbon winner.
We love all the espressions and we not want to know the rest of the story!
Let the ideas keep falling into your hands, and show us when you unfold them!
love
tweedles
This is an exciting painting and it flows right along in ideas concept and composition and most definitely execution! You always think of cool things!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting Suz - dynamic is your middle name!
ReplyDeleteYou'll never have an expired artistic license, despite what you might sometimes think and/or feel. Laura looks fabulous and her hair is to die for! Love this composition, Suz. It is as though we're walking the room with her!
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly I can see why you are pleased with this one. Everything about it is wonderful. Her expression. The carefree look of her hair, the complexion of her skin, those rosey red cheeks. Along with you....I love it also...
ReplyDeleteI like it Suzanne. She seems so indecisive! It gets me wondering what's so darn important about this container anyway? You catch me with curiosity.
ReplyDeleteArtistic license renewed? Oh gee, I must owe quite a lot there. Never did get it renewed... You should see the ancient photo still on it!
Suzanne- this is looking wonderful, and I LOVE the composition! Very interesting idea, and the color is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteSUz, I am SOOO happy the Muse has favored you! She is fickle. The painting is superb!!! It looks like she is communicating with herself. That area where you have her hands holding the container superimposed over her "other self" is brilliant. And her expressions are so very real and human. A very big BRAVO to you!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuze this is so AWESOME. I love her expression and the implied movement by all the poses of her put together. I am just so impressed with this. And HUZZAH for the muses lingering return! May she ever stay with you!! :D (Or he I suppose, I have a friend who swears that Daniel Craig is her muse ;)
ReplyDeleteReally loving this concept. And I personally have always thought your paintings and ideas were cool.
I'm not at all 'Cautiously' excited - I'm just plain 'excited'! It is clearly already a winner and I love the whole clever concept!
ReplyDeleteI've finally learned to stop trying to paint like other people and just paint what comes naturally to me. It is the ONLY way! :0D
'lil Suz and Victoria sure do put up stumbling blocks! Your post reminded me of how much fun I'm having with grasaille underpaintings right now. I've got 4 in various stages of finish so that one will be dry when I'm ready to do another session. AND, I'm enjoying it! Not worried about justifying the time I'm spending, or what I'll do with them...just enjoying the process.
ReplyDeleteWho knows, next month I might be working with a 1" brush for a few weeks on another tangent.
This is so incredible, Suzanne!! SO unique ...! Love it!
ReplyDeleteWOW!! I am very comforted at the fact that at your level that you aren't sure yourself even when coming up with this! Makes me feel a bit more hopeful when I am thinking the same things about myself. Stating all that, I of course, cannot understand you...cuz this is just wow!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning Suzanne. It is a brilliant concept perfectly executed. You have every right to be excited - this is a complete gem!!!
ReplyDeleteWow.this is some idea! Great work, Suzanne.Just great!
ReplyDeleteThis painting is going from great to incredible. It's great to hear you be so excited and positive, instead of letting those self doubts creep in to your thoughts and spoil your joy.
ReplyDeleteMore than a drive-by, indeed! And this piece moves, somewhat like driving by Laura's dance around the room. This is a wonderful piece, pure and simple, well-painted, unique and intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thought process about it all, too... I so love your honesty.
And that honesty is what this piece is about. As is all of your work, but you've set it out there so perfectly this time.
Really like how you've varied the ways you link the Laura's together to create a wonderful composition.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, you're one of the cleverest, coolest painters I know!
Wow!!!!! Love this painting and the words that go with it. Congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteFabulous painting but even better to hear you are pleased with the results. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteStunning, brilliant and incredible - I can feel your enthusiasm in the post! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI think there are two kinds of artists: those who start with an imagery and those who start with a concept. For most of the time, I think I belong to the former, but jumping out of the box and be the latter is exciting!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved your images, and I love this one for both its image and its concept -- the concept is very playful, and the images conveyed it perfectly.
Oh lucky you!!! This is wonderful--how you did her 4! times on the same canvas. Came out great. I'm wondering what's in that jar too?
ReplyDeleteI had to come back and look again-, because- well- it is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to know what the story is about.
My spelling in my last comment was terrible.
I guess that is what happens when I type with peanut butter on my toes!
love
tweedles
Quite Beautiful! Enjoy that feeling, I have had glimpses of it, but only glimpses. I totally relate to what you said, "existential building, clever execution", just wanting that something extra because I can't find my expression, or satisfied with it. (We all need a weekly counseling group to discuss our psychological issues with our art!) Looks like you are many steps ahead, that is such a part of art, I think a part that makes it so hard, otherwise as you said you would just be knee deep in cool. I am not making sense, but I truly understand what you are saying and think this painting speaks volumes and you should bask in it's success. (You are so good with words, and send some of that thru the air waves to me, I need it!)
ReplyDeleteSuz, You never have to worry about your creativity. You are amazing in everything you do. Your bugs, your funny faces and realism is as creative as it gets. You don't give yourself enough credit. I am so happy that you are back to painting full time and sharing your beautiful work with the world. You are so loved. Just look at all of the comments you always receive!! Says a lot!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Madison
great...with the jars added there is a lovely dialogue with the four figures...this one will generate so many other ideas and painting for you suzanne ..edna rushing off the page super !
ReplyDeleteSNAP! This is something awesome. Conceptually cool, painted like a master. You know what you're doing, now go have FUN!! : )
ReplyDelete