When a painting isn't going right...
Megan Carty
Hi friends!
I while back I found a huge 4-foot x 4-foot canvas on a rare mega-sale and snagged it; excited to do a giant Maine nautical painting perfect for hanging over a couch. Time went by until I found the perfect image that inspired me (it had to have the right colors!) Now, I needed to create the perfect abstract background for my boat to float upon; but I just couldn't get it to look how I imagined. I used several kinds of blues and strokes; different compositions of paint, and I just couldn't get it. This is frustrating as it is, but it's also expensive when you go through so much paint! GAH!
I felt pretty dejected for a spell as I started to question my abilities and then realized that I was fighting the process. Clearly, my "plan" wasn't working out and I needed to let it go. I didn't really want to since I'd spent a few days of work and a ton of paint just to get where I was at (back to the beginning). But, like anything else in life, you cannot cling to a bad thing just because of the time you invested. I could have kept going and ended up with an ok painting I wasn't proud of. (THAT doesn't sound good!!!!) So, I got brave and simply painted over my work; but was able to let all my different layers show through. It started looking like a finished abstract painting right away; so I went in a new abstract direction. At this point I could have left it as it was, but it didn't look like my mission where I use happy bright colors to bring joy to a space. So, that's just what I did!
It's funny; but once I got started in the new direction it didn't take long to give birth to a happy finished piece! This version poured out of me in the most natural way and I couldn't be more thrilled with it!
What a journey! This finished piece titled "In the Fold" is now for sale in the "abstracts" section of the site. It's 48x48", acrylic and pastel on gallery-wrapped canvas that's 1.5" deep. The sides are painted in a deep Prussian Blue. I installed a hanging wire at the back so it's ready to go! Biggest lesson learned: it's ok to cut your losses and start again. It's never too late to start anew! Something good will come of it!
