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Artist R.L. Gibson

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DAY 21: Bosky

Bosky (5" x 5" watercolour) by Artist R.L. Gibson
Bosky (5″ x 5″ watercolour) by Artist R.L. Gibson

It is Day 21 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Bosky” (watercolour, 5″x5″). 

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.  Limiting my palette often ends up informing content and composition.  Maybe we’ll visit the other end of the spectrum in the days to come.

Let’s see where watercolour takes us… on day Twenty-Two.

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DAY 20: Meld

 

Meld (5"x5" watercolour) by Artist R.L. Gibson
Meld (5″x5″ watercolour) by Artist R.L. Gibson

It is Day 20 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Meld” (watercolour, 5″x5″). Will be available for $40 in my Etsy Shop.

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. Today’s painting is an exercise in controlled chaos. I didn’t make mud, so… success. 

Remember, this canvas is available for $40 in my Etsy Shop.

Let’s see where watercolour takes us… on day Twenty-One.

DAY 19: Disperse

Disperse (watercolour, 5"x5") by Artist R.L. Gibson for Day 19 of the
Disperse (watercolour, 5″x5″) by R.L. Gibson

It is Day 19 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Disperse” (watercolour, 5″x5″), yes watercolor. Will be available for $40 in my Etsy Shop.

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. By popular request, I ventured into watercolour for a change.  I has renewed my love of Prussian blue.  Watercolor is not for the control freak. While you can predict and plan for path of the color, your control is, ultimately, limited.  I find myself holding my breath often.

Remember, this canvas is available for $40 in my Etsy Shop.

Let’s see where watercolour takes us… on day Twenty.

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DAY 18: Lateral

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

DAY 16: Spate

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

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

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.

DAY 15: 140°

"140°" (acrylic on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson
“140°” (acrylic on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson

It is Day 15 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  My fifteenth offering is “140º” (acrylic on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas)Will be available in my Etsy Shop.

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.  It seems fitting that the end (at least temporarily) to the traffic circle paintings would unintentionally resemble a sunset.  Sometimes we unconsciously move with intent.  Tomorrow I will begin again. I’ve decided to move to square canvas for a while to force a different perspective.  I like painting inside a theme, but I don’t know that will happen.  Time will tell.

140º is the fifteenth AND FINAL 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.

A new adventure begins with… Day Sixteen.

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DAY 14: 35°

"35°" (acrylic & silver/gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson
“35°” (acrylic & silver/gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson

It is Day 14 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  My fourteenth offering is “35º” acrylic & silver/gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvasWill be available in my Etsy Shop.

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.  In my mother’s east Tennessee town they re-routed a street off one of the local traffic circles. And, instead of tearing up the old street or just blocking it off, they covered it with 6″ of top soil and planted grass.  so many of us do the same, re-route then cover up the past instead of fixing it or addressing it in any way. The traffic circle metaphor just never disappoints.

35º is fourteenth 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 Fifteen.

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DAY 13: 20°

"20°" (acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson
“20°” (acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson

It is Day 13 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  My thirteenth offering is “20º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvasWill be available in my Etsy Shop.

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.  Cadmium red seems to be sticking around.  Red is my happy place, but I started painting to find a voice for some anger. So, regardless of the success of a painting, I’m struggling with the ability to express anger.  I have always been, what my husband calls “nauseatingly optimistic”, and that isn’t a bad thing, to me.  But, it is sometimes unproductive. This painting feels unproductive. My paintings, like myself, are a work in progress.  Stick with me.

20º is thirteenth 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 Fourteen.

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DAY 12: 268°

"268°" (acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson
“268°” (acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas) by R.L. Gibson

It is Day 12 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  My twelfth offering is “268º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvasWill be available in my Etsy Shop.

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.  Cadmium red and carbon black are on my mind.  I am working on a pair of pieces for a Texas show, and the cadmium influence is leaking into my daily challenges. It was inevitable. Manganese blue can’t be far behind.

268º is twelfth 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 Thirteen.