19th September 2014

I’ve been busy working on a screenplay and a new painting. Both projects are essentially opportunities for experimentation.  As a writer, I have a tendency to fine edit as I go. As a result, the process can take a long time and I often end up carefully crafting sections that don’t serve the over-all story and end up cut.  So, this time, I decided to write fast and dirty in order to get a quick ‘vomit draft’ complete. I’m hoping that this way, I’ll keep my head in the story game and save my analytical fine point editing brain for later.

I’m also working on a new painting. This is a portrait where I’ve allowed myself to play around with unrealistic proportions. I’m continuing to experiment with Acrylic fine washes on water colour paper. By keeping the paint thin, I can build up depth through multiple layers. I’m still figuring this method out and I’m not sure the washes have been thin enough.  I’ve also become completely addicted to dry brush manipulation, where you put the paint on the paper and then use a dry brush to spread it around. I love the unpredictability of this technique and find it incredibly relaxing. I’ll post the finished piece soon.

The main take away for me is the importance of experimentation. Once you become skilled at something, this can often be one of the first things to go. But for me, experimentation is essentially play. It is a chance to approach a medium with childlike joy.  This is one of the loveliest things about creating work for my own pleasure, rather than for commercial purposes or crafted to order.