I have become painfully aware that for these pieces, and all my work really, to be nearer to what I want them to be I need to treat every part of it like it was the only part of it so that it can become strong enough to stand on it's own and I'm not there yet, but I'm trying.
Month 5, Day 21
Filling things in.
Month 5, Day 20
A little bit at a time on purpose. Taking my time on these pieces helps me not feel too overwhelmed by them. Plus I really want to have the principal that doing a little at a time adds up to a lot.
Month 5 Day 19
Pencil work.
Month 5, Day 18
One day I'll figure out why I'm always drawing and painting fire. If it's a phase I fully plan on riding it out.
Month 5, Day 17
Some days feel more productive than others but I don't think it really matters though. Just show up and do the work, the rest will sort itself out.
Month 5, Day 16
Another day done.
Month 5, Day 15
I almost feel like I have my bearings again. The last month felt a bit, perhaps more than a bit, like just flailing about trying to catch my breath. Hoping to press in more with studio time. I feel like I really need to dig my heels in. Everything else has always been an extension of that kind of focused introspection and exploration.
Month 5, Day 14
Line work.
Month 5, Day 13
Working.
Month 5, Day 12
Cutting with white.
Month 5, Day 11
Making progress.
Month 5, Day 10
Working.
Month 5, Day 9
Every piece in this series is based on my real events. I've only had a new bike twice in my life. The first one I got when I was a kid. I only had it for a week or so when it was stolen from me at fist point. I got corned in an alley and two bigger older dudes jumped me and snagged it and I found myself walking home. The second one I bought as an adult and I still have it. Anyway, time to go from this to that. Moving along.
Month 5, Day 8
Working. Another pass on this study.
Month 5, Day 7
I feel like I've missed a lot of opportunities to do quick value studies in this series. You can learn a lot about a composition, what might work and what might not, happy accidents that can lead to new discoveries all on a small scale both in time and scale. It's weird how you forget things you know only to relearn them again. I wonder how many time you do that until it sticks? Or if it ever sticks?
Month 5, Day 6
Putting things together.
Month 5, Day 5
Prime time.
Month 5, Day 4
I actually drew this a few years ago but now find it very relevant to the piece of work I am sorting out now. This is one of the many reasons I draw all the time. My studio practice over the last few years has become particularly focused on the disciplined extraction and development of ideas and getting them into the world where they can be seen. I don't know what the end result will be long term, as in a lifetime, but I am terribly curious to find out.
Month 5, Day 3
I've settled on a direction for August. Starting on the fifth month of this and it still feels like something totally new. I know from the outside looking in it's not nearly as interesting on a day to day basis as doing a small drawing a day or a mid sized piece a week. From my perspective it's not as immediately gratifying either but for me but I've accepted that as part of the challenge of it all.