Abstract Paintings and Musings on Art
It’s been a while since I did any new Organics paintings, but I cranked out a few new ones this past week. I started with an old one I hadn’t finished. Here it is completed:
I then did another painting per day for the next few days, continuing to explore similar themes as those that originally motivated this series from quite a few years ago. And here they are:
More posts of paintings to come in the near future. 🙂
I am happy to announce that I have just completed a redesign of my main art site. I am glad that it only took 3 days to redo the art site, while redesigning/revamping my blog (this one right here) took about 3 weeks! For the first time in my 20+ years of making and designing websites, I’ve used themes NOT designed by me (which was another challenge in itself), but the days of making my own pixel-perfect themes is over.
I am uncertain at this point whether I will keep (and try to redesign) my art shop, however. It is currently not working, and it could be easy or hard to get it back online. We shall see.
Anyway, I’m happy with the new designs of both my blog and art site. I hope you like them, too.
It has been quite a while since I last blogged here. At some point around five years ago, I came to realize that the whole cycle of painting and posting on social media had gotten out of hand — posting for a virtual reaction too soon to properly evaluate my paintings. I wanted to begin creating again without the pressure of responding to other people’s opinions, so I decided to quit posting my work online for a while. That while just happened to last a few years longer than I planned.
I’m back now! I have just redesigned and rebuilt my original blog which already contained 10 years’ worth of posts and pictures, plus I added quite a few new galleries of photos from various art exhibits from Austin, the US, and Europe (with more still to be added as I edit the files). I’m truly glad to have my blog back. There’s a lot of good stuff here! (YMMV). I do hope you find something of value.
Next, I must get my fine art site and my art shop working…bear with me; it could take a while!
I do love this painting, and I have enjoyed creating this series. After these first four, however, my interests took a turn, which you will see in the coming days (if you stay tuned).
Oil on panel
12″ x 10″
© 2015 Marilyn Fenn
I may—or may not—work on this one some more, but I haven’t yet (and it’s been about 3 months), so this may be done.
Oil on panel
12″ x 10″
© 2015 Marilyn Fenn
Oil on Canvas
12″ x 10″
© 2015 Marilyn Fenn
Here is one of my first paintings of this year. Doing a lot of experimenting–trying different things. Some are working out great; some not so much. I am happy with this painting, though I’ve since started heading in another direction (or 10). I’ve done about four paintings like this so far. More to come tomorrow.
A couple months ago, I found these great tips on making paintings which have helped me tremendously. I have found these to be immensely helpful in getting the critic off my shoulder while I try to create: a problem that’s been dogging me for years! Now I have a couple dozen new paintings that I will start sharing with you soon–warts and all–and more in the making. Yay!Â
Here’s the condensed version for the studio wall:
1. Quality through quantity.
2. Do NOT mix generating and editing.
3. When to judge: After you’ve completed a piece, look at it and decide what direction you want to go in next.
4. Don’t be afraid to re-use elements.
5. How to have “lots of ideas”: permute.
6. “Get through your first 50 failures as fast as you can.”
7. Don’t even bother “fixing” pieces.
8. Work fast. Creativity is exciting.
9. Let your level show.
10. Don’t hide your failures.
And here’s the link to the full version, from the Scarlet Letters blog: Notes on Making Art.
Oil on canvas
4″ x 4″
© 2014 Marilyn Fenn
I was never satisfied with the initial version of this painting, so I worked on it a bit last night.  I decided I very much liked the sense of stacked and possibly falling boxes on the right hand side of the painting (now turned 90° counterclockwise), so I worked to carry that theme throughout.  I’m pretty happy with it now.  It reminds me of the idea of pushing oneself off-balance, and then having to catch oneself—a falling and recovery, ala Merce Cunningham.
Here was the original version, which just didn’t quite make it:
Oil on canvas
4″ x 4″
© 2014 Marilyn Fenn
It is taking me a while to get back in the groove, though. Worked on 3 paintings Monday night, with no resolution on any of them. Did this one last night, though I am considering some color changes here and there. Temporarily then, here it is.