Artist R.L. Gibson

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Artist R.L. Gibson

Category: Artist R.L. Gibson

DAY 28: Murmur

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

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It is Day 27 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; today’s painting is “Murmur” (watercolour, 5″x5″).  I am on the road from Virginia to Pennsylvania on my way to New York tomorrow for an art opening.  I am excited to have eight pieces in a show, and happier still to be able to attend the opening.  But, I have whispers of other work needling me.  I have all these paintings and that equivocal, nagging doubt about media that I don’t normally show to the world.  I have a new series of xerography work just budding, but I have to walk away for days to celebrate the work already here being shown. I’ve already been hyper-emotional mess this month; the last thing I need are these pulls at my artistic self that make me feel a little crazy –like voices murmuring.  But here I am anyway.  So, I’ll just make the art.  This is what murmuring feels like, fuzzy edges.  Happy with a shadow.

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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’m oversharing again.  I’ll try to reel it in on Day 28.

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DAY 27: Sodden

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
Sodden (6"x9" watercolour) by R.L. Gibson
Sodden (6″x9″ watercolour) by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 27 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; today’s painting is “Sodden” (watercolour, 6″x9″).  After having such a hard time yesterday, I feel sort of, well, emotionally hung over.  Artistically, I am a little all over the place.  While I am trying to build a new xerography show, the work I’ve spent a lifetime developing, I am also trying to prove to myself that I’m not a one-trick pony by returning to paint.  Because I am struggling to redefine and elevate my new xerography, I find that any and all failure at painting causes swelling volumes of torturous self doubt.  I get so tied up in expectation that I end up a bit sodden with possibility. 

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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. 

We’re headed in the right direction… on to Day Twenty-Eight.

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DAY 25: Tenebrific

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

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It is Day 25 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; today’s painting is “Tenebrific” (watercolour, 5″x5″).  I had a such a hard day; an icy blue ugly day.  Everyone has had one of those days.  A day when you would have been better off pulling the covers over your head and waiting out the next revolution of the earth.  This piece is that bottomless pool whose weight around your ankles keeps pulling you down while lulling your into complacency.  How do I find the surface?  Tomorrow is another day.

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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. 

Fingers Crossed Day 26 is better.

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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 21: Bosky

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

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It is Day 21 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge; my offering is “Bosky” (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.  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

Posted on by R.L. Gibson

 

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

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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.

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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. 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.

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DAY 19: Disperse

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

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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.

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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. 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

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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 15: 140°

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

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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.

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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.  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°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
"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

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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 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.  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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