Working on Hail and Farewell. Been a day of contradictions, but isn't that what makes art interesting... and beautiful ... and disturbing ...
"They" have always said you can't use different painting styles in the same painting and still have the end product hold together. I have never listened to them, but so far in my work they have always been right. In working the vines and flowers I fell into the use of a very painterly style, plus outlining, which I love but seldom use. Although the contrast relative to the rest of the work thus far is subtle, any trained eye would spot the shift right away. I'm going to take this path further .... I want the two styles to keep moving forward, converge, and marry into one unified whole in the end.
So I have to report that this was one of those days in the studio when I know that all is well. That despite challenges on all levels, I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. These different painting styles will reconcile on some new level where there's nothing to explain. That is the magic of an artful life.
