Vision/Revision
The artist’s way is a continual journey of discovery. For the last six months or so I have been going back to pieces I thought were finished and revising them. One of the great things about working with encaustic is the ability to dig away layers and build up new ones. There is nothing more satisfying than excavating into surfaces put down months or years ago. It’s like looking back through a diary or photo album, seeing your younger self and remembering things you forgot about. It’s also a bit like unwrapping a gift because the revision is always a surprise and usually better than the original vision. Revision brings a satisfying element of second, third and fourth chances to my artistic practice. It’s always good to have another chance at something.
Here’s an example. “Evening's Embrace” (top) never really met my expectations. One cold January day I picked up my sharpest razor blade and began scraping. As I scraped most of the top layer away I noticed irregular patches of darker remained behind among larger areas of lighter, translucent wax. I ruthlessly fused the surface with a blowtorch, distorting the shapes even more. Now things were getting exciting. I emphasized the interplay between dark and light, solid and transparent by applying warm and cool color. I applied sliver leaf to the bottom portion and then mirrored the sky in it. A little more scraping to the silver leaf created texture in the foreground, emphasizing the watery surface. When I finally stepped back from the finished piece I could hardly believe my eyes. I have no idea where “Watch the Sky” (bottom) came from or how I was lucky enough to have it living on my cradled board. It remains my favorite piece of all time.
Evening's Embrace
(my old vision from 2015 about to get revised)
Watch The Sky
Encaustic, Oils & Metal Leaf
24" x 18"
2017
Below are a few more examples of pieces I have revised from my original vision.
Inner Space: Splendor
(another old vision, 2015)
Morning Speaks
Encaustic & Oils
12" x 12"
2017
Clouded Mesa
(old vision, 2015)
Odyssey
Encaustic, Oils & Metal Leaf
10" x 10"
2017
Distant Showers
(old vision, 2015)
Uncharted
Encaustic & Oils
12" x 24"
2017
Such painterly changes have taken place...bold and delicate at the same time. I wonder who or what I'm channeling to be able to create these worlds that are closer to the vision in my heart.
Revision seems to be in the air because a number of fellow artists have recently told me they are doing the same thing. How about you? Have you been revising your vision? What have you discovered?