for the last few months I have been volunteering as the 'pottery lady' at Goodwin retirement village in Monash. I do social visits and teach up to 3 pottery sessions for residents, including those with dementia and other needs. They are a gorgeous group of people, always up for a chat, singalong and playing with clay. The residents have been working with pinch, coil and slab methods of hand building using air dry clay. When the pieces are dry they are painted with acrylic paints. I find this time with the residents very special and it's wonderful to see their imagination and creativity blossom.
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While I am enjoying the process of painting I still feel lost, not really connecting with it yet, so I do some radical changes. I apply a wash of gesso and return to mark making and colour using the luscious Golden High Flow acrylics, they are a joy to use. The painting is starting to feel more familiar and energetic. At this stage I've defined native seeds, pods and leaves and am feeling more hopeful about its progress. Stay tuned for next instalment
This painting has had many layers. Depending on how confident I feel, certain layers stay, well they last till the next day when insecurity takes over and angst and frustration...
This is fairly typical of my progress with paintings, I think it's the investment in something big, doubts about being good enough... I love art journaling and teaching others to paint, but I wonder can self belief be taught? Where does it come from? Where does it go? Working intuitively is hard, as there is no predetermined end. By completing many processes and layers the painting reveals itself. I love being an artist, and I love learning and experimentation. And I love it when it all comes together finally. And if it doesn't, well I just start another layer 😁 Stay tuned for the next reveal. |
About me
I am an artist and teacher and I love to share what I know and what I learn. I was previously a high school art teacher, now I enjoy art journaling, mixed media, pottery, painting and teaching adults from my home studio. Archives
June 2018
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