Artist R.L. Gibson

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Artist R.L. Gibson

Category: Emerging Artists

DAY 24: Slough

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"Slough" (5"x5 watercolour) by R.L. Gibson•

A month of painting is winding down. Or is it?  It is Day 24 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Slough” (watercolour, 5″x5″).  This piece began as a study of complementary and split complementary color layering, and ended feeling like a sloughing off of previous days’ works.  I have struggled with this 30 days of painting while trying to build a larger series of works.   Allowing myself to produce bad work is necessary to break the need for perfectionism, but producing bad work doesn’t get easier.  I have produced some real stinkers this week that I haven’t shared.  With the challenge coming to a close, I realize that these daily paintings have been the bright spot in a frustrating struggle with my other larger work.  Maybe this is the beginning, not the end.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice. 

Should I end the 30 Days by sharing larger work?

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DAY 23: Pulse

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Pulse (5"x5" watercolor) by R.L. Gibson
Pulse (5″x5″ watercolour) by R.L. Gibson

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We only have a week to go. It is already Day 23 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Pulse” (watercolour, 5″x5″).

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  This image reminds me of an EKG readout, a record of the beating of a heart.  Nearly 3 years ago, I rushed my young(ish) husband to the hospital fearful that he might be having a heart attack.  We were relieved to find out is was a common arrhythmia.  Although scary, it isn’t really harmful.  I remember those brief moments when I thought I might lose him, my stomach in my throat.  It felt like this piece.

Maybe more watercolor for day twenty-four?

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DAY 18: Lateral

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"Lateral" (acrylic on paper 6"x6") by R.L. Gibson
“Lateral” (acrylic on paper 6″x6″) by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 18 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Lateral” (acrylic on paper, 6″x6″), my do-over of yesterday.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  Another day has passed, and I haven’t found any additional color.  This one feels more successful than yesterday, but it is still a lateral move.

I am ready for a big change… on day Nineteen.

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DAY 17: Rove

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"Rove" (acrylic on paper 6"x6") by R.L. Gibson
“Rove” (acrylic on paper 6″x6″) by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 17 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Rove” (acrylic on paper, 6″x6″).

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  I didn’t manage to find more color today. My intention keeps getting stuck in the unintentional.  Yesterday was a hard day artistically.  Everything turned out wrong.  I’m not sure how I feel about this beginning.  I am going to try another take on this same unintentional roving tomorrow.

I will try again… on day Eighteen.

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DAY 16: Spate

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"Spate" (acrylic on paper 6"x6") by R.L. Gibson
“Spate” (acrylic on paper 6″x6″) by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 16 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Spate” (acrylic on paper, 6″x6″).

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  I started painting today without intention or direction. After the initial layer of gesso, I unpinned the paper and didn’t even work from a specific orientation. It is very muted, a departure for me.  Tomorrow I need more color.  We’ll see.  I am concurrently working on a small body of work that experiments with representational versus abstract layers, and these daily works offer me an opportunity to experiment, like a skills lab, of sorts.  Join me.

Experiments will continue… on Day Seventeen.

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DAY 11: 89°

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"89°" (acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson
“89°” (acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 11 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My eleventh offering is “89º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Will be available in my Etsy Shop.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  This is turmoil but with exact direction. I can’t quite put my finger on it.  I working it out on canvas day after day.  I don’t really know where this series is headed.  Join me for the ride.

89º is eleventh of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Remember, this canvas is available for $50 in my Etsy Shop.

Next stop? Day Twelve.

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DAY 9: 167°

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"167°" (acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson
“167°” (acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 9 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My ninth offering is “167º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Will be available next week for $50 in my Etsy Shop.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  More angry yellow today surrounded by the rosy glow of the ease of submission to apathy just on the perimeter of my vision.  Round & round the I go on the traffic circle meeting road blocks at every turn.  I will find my way — in time.

167º is ninth of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Remember, this canvas is available for $50 in my Etsy Shop.

Next stop? Day Ten.

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DAY 6: 77°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
“77º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson
“77º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 6 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My sixth offering is “77º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Available for $50.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  I’ve had a few questions about the “degree” names.  The number comes from the approx. angle between the proverbial streets of gold (or silver) that intersect with our symbolic traffic circle. Today’s palette has changed dramatically, but I am planning on lightening it up more for day seven.

77º is sixth of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Next stop? Day Seven.

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DAY 3: 212°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
"212º" acrylic & gold leaf on 5"×7" unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson
“212º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 3 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My third offering is “212º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Available for $50.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  These small canvas pieces are studies for a larger body of work on wood that I am working on in conjunction with this challenge. I hope to have a few of those to reveal of those before month’s end.

212º is third of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Next stop? Day Four.

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A Good Egg.

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
"A Good Egg: Illustrations by R.L. Gibson" opens April 6th at Hale Springs Inn in Rogersville, TN.
“A Good Egg” illustration by Artist R.L. Gibson

“Back when we grew our own food, farming was, by its very nature, organic. Today, big agriculture has us convinced that organics are hipster privilege. Cashiers struggle to identify a turnip root. Children don’t know milk comes from cows. There are nineteen ingredients in McDonald’s french fries. We are more separated from our food than ever. Daily, we consume food about which we know nothing. By choice. We want food cheap & easy even if it kills us. We will pay $5 for drive-thru coffee but not for a dozen fresh eggs. “A Good Egg” asks the metaphorical question, can we recover our connection to food? What amount of ornament, decoration or spin does it take to make real food, food again?” – R.L. Gibson

“A Good Egg” is a developing series of 23 illustrations
by Artist R.L. Gibson.