A 45 Minute Painting: Challenge Accepted!
One last thing I had an idea, a small one that has grown in to something I really enjoy doing, it is a little step away from my usual work. In 45 minutes I attempt to paint a subject on mount board at 7 x 5 inches in size. I have hundreds of these off cuts of mount board from mounting prints I sell and being a "stickler" for not wasting things or throwing them away this idea popped in to my head. Many people had told me painting on mount board is really nice as it is a smooth surface, my favourite kind of surface!
So last year around the end of April 2018, I decided to set a 45 minute count down on my phone and try and paint a French Bulldog I had already painted larger as a test. I used Acrylics, knowing that they dry quick and I had the most experience of acrylics from the media I use. I really loved the half done look it gave as you can imagine, in my first attempt, I struggled to paint quick enough to finish the piece. That unfinished look actually made me think, I like the idea because it gives the viewer something to do, when they look at it. Imagine beyond what I have painted what should be there, adding to my mentality of creating impressionist work that encourages the viewer think beyond, "oh, that's a nice picture."
As I have done more paintings, I have speeded up and got more detail with still some unfinished areas. Some paintings I found more difficult than others to finish due to colours, details and composition. I will display the paintings in chronological order below from the first painting to the latest as I finish them, left to right, top to bottom.
I suppose the challenge is, will I need to change the time from 45 minutes to less as I develop and speed up to keep the loose feel and unfinished look I have created... only time will tell.
One last thing... I have tried to place the paintings in chronological order so you can see the progression from one painting to the next. Hopefully there will be a noticeable change in marks, amount filled in and increased details as the paintings develop on from one another
So last year around the end of April 2018, I decided to set a 45 minute count down on my phone and try and paint a French Bulldog I had already painted larger as a test. I used Acrylics, knowing that they dry quick and I had the most experience of acrylics from the media I use. I really loved the half done look it gave as you can imagine, in my first attempt, I struggled to paint quick enough to finish the piece. That unfinished look actually made me think, I like the idea because it gives the viewer something to do, when they look at it. Imagine beyond what I have painted what should be there, adding to my mentality of creating impressionist work that encourages the viewer think beyond, "oh, that's a nice picture."
As I have done more paintings, I have speeded up and got more detail with still some unfinished areas. Some paintings I found more difficult than others to finish due to colours, details and composition. I will display the paintings in chronological order below from the first painting to the latest as I finish them, left to right, top to bottom.
I suppose the challenge is, will I need to change the time from 45 minutes to less as I develop and speed up to keep the loose feel and unfinished look I have created... only time will tell.
One last thing... I have tried to place the paintings in chronological order so you can see the progression from one painting to the next. Hopefully there will be a noticeable change in marks, amount filled in and increased details as the paintings develop on from one another
Update!!!
Having done a few recent paintings from the Giraffe two rows up, I have noticed I have 5 mins or so to spare. As predicted I am speeding up and being more purposeful with the marks I make. I will now try to reduce the time from 45 mins to 35 mins and see what the outcome is. Again at 35 minutes, I will stop and leave the painting at that point, no matter, if it is finished or not.
