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Artist R.L. Gibson

Category: art supplies

DAY 24: Slough

"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.

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?

DAY 23: Pulse

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

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″).

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?

DAY 22: Broadcast

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

I can’t believe I’ve made it all the way to Day 22 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Broadcast” (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.  This piece started as a technique study for a larger work.  I was testing my acrylic consistency for the alcohol disbursement, but I fell in love with the colors and forgot all about the bigger work, ha.  I am sort of in love with the pink, but it wasn’t intentional.  I got the pink when I was too impatient to let the cadmium red layer dry completely before adding the zinc white.  It is a beautiful accident.

Where should I go for day Twenty-Two?

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 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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