Start Small
studies of color + books
Thanks for tuning back in to my weekly-ish email.
Recently, I’m craving grounded-ness. Is that a word? Spell check is telling me no. Either way, perhaps this achey feeling is familiar to you.
At home, I’m trying to put my phone away from the time my kids get home from school until bedtime, and trying to leave it outside my room when I sleep. It helps me feel better! Shocker!
In the studio, I’ve also been searching for stability and new inspiration. I find it unsettling when I don’t know what I’m working on next. There is a tension in balancing that time + space for creative exploration, with the need to make a living after all!
I decided to start using up materials I already have (now neatly stored in a cute green flat file, inherited from my talented + generous studio mate) and just start painting from my ‘to paint’ iPhotos folder. I’m starting small, hoping some of these small studies help me sort through future large painting compositions.
Like most of my paintings, the photos in this folder are from scenes found in my life (often mundane but occasionally novel, for me at least, as seen in the Martha’s Vineyard lighthouse). They also are zoomed in compositions with strong value contrasts. I’ve been interested in painting such scenes as a new means of diving deeper into color theory.
Color, contrast and composition, the three Cs if you will! I just made that up!, are the three elements I’m constantly thinking about, and a goal of mine is to have the discipline to let those aspects of the paintings speak louder than the subjects themselves. Less is more. Edit, edit, edit.
Some great books I’ve been turning to and recommend if you’re also into color, or just a good escape:
Anni and Josef Albers: Equal and Unequal
Mark Rothko: Pictures as Drama
I made a ShopMy page I’ll be adding to regularly where I’ve organized my favorite books. As always, request through your local bookstore when able.
How are you starting small lately? Any good grounding techniques we should be trying? Favorite books you’re reading?! I forgot to mention, I recently received this book in the mail, and I think it would be a fantastic gift for any mom in your life who is also a business owner, even an aspiring one.
Ummm.... are any of those mini paintings (particularly the chair with the hose) going to be for sale?????? ASKING FOR A FRIEND OF COURSE
Hi! I love how you use color. Are you doing calendars for 2025 or did I miss them? 🥹 I love your art so much, it’s such a joy to have it at my desk in calendar form! Thanks!