I am known for having a 3 hour workshop and expecting that the students will finish and 16×20 painting. There is a reason for that. When I first started working professionally, my children were young and in school. If I got a commission I would say I can do it by this date unless one of the kids gets sick. I don’t have a lot of sympathy with people who say they can’t paint because they have small children; because I did a lot of work AFTER mine went to bed.
My work ethic became “if you get a chance to paint-GET AT IT!!!” That has stood me well over my career and when the need arises I can put out a lot of work. In recent years as things have slowed down we have actually had the luxury of taking longer on certain work. On any piece I paint or draw, when I’m finished, most of the fun is out of it. The actual DOING of it is the thing–even better than selling it. Many people say, “I don’t want to do that, it would take too long.” I love long, involved pieces. We read long books, don’t we? If it’s good, why wouldn’t we want it to last longer.
Several years ago, in Rhodes, Greece, I bought several ornate quilted pieces with the idea of using them in still lifes. After I came home I set up several and photographed them, but have not tackled this complex work until now. I’m on my third week and will probably finish next week. It’s colored pencil so I don’t work on it constantly, but I have enjoyed every minute. It’s what we do, it’s what we love, it’s who we are.
Watch this space for the unveiling of this new piece.