Wax Paper and Ribbon: Session 6

12 x 12 inches, oil on panel
in progress: "ebauche" underpainting

See the previous post for this painting

I had a studio drama today. I tried to make a tiny adjustment to the wax paper in the setup, and accidentally knocked an entire loop of ribbon off of the silver platter. The loop then flopped over the rest of the ribbon pile, pretty much distorting every inch of the curls. AACK.

I held my breath and spent several tense minutes nursing all the loops back into their respective positions. For several horrible moments I didn't think I'd be able to salvage it, and imagined all the work involved to re-draw and repaint it - I've already invested 20 hours of work onto this little 12 x 12 scrap of board. But thanks goodness, the satin fabric had some "memory" of the curls they have been sitting in for a week now and eventually they settled back into a fairly close semblance of their original position.

Anyway, it sounds small but I was pretty shaken imagining 5 days of work nearly negated, and had to stop painting and watch an hour of TLC "What Not to Wear" to recuperate. Drama drama.

Once calm I resumed painting and managed to finish the second layer of underpainting. I even remembered what it's called, this opaque underpainting: "ebauche". I guess that's what I am doing.

I'm excited to have such a developed foundation to start the "real" painting on. With the earlier stages of contour drawing and underpainting there is no magical illusion, just preparation - all the work but little satisfaction. It will be fun to paint on this surface where I have already taken a stab at the drawing, value and color decisions.

Now the painting needs to dry before I can continue, which is good timing as I have a friend arriving from the East Coast tonight to visit and won't have time to paint for a few days.

I am continuing to film the time-lapse, but editing it and posting it take a lot of extra time so I won't be posting the videos very often.

Finally, thanks to those who have written me such encouraging emails and comments. I consider this my own personal art journal but it's always really nice to know other people are enjoying following along, and I think all artists need as much encouragement as we can get. So thank you, it means a lot to me.

Comments

[Judy]

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[Judy]

I know what you mean--I've knocked over flowers before and I'm always dogged by drawing errors when I paint. Just wanted to let you know I'm watching your progress and enjoying the blog. Judy

[Louise Rudy]

I am following your process and appreciate both the videos and the written comments. I am self-taught and soak up all information I find useful, which yours certainly is.

[JC]

I can't believe I'm not the only one who watches What Not To Wear to recuperate from painting disasters. I'm glad Stacy and Clinton help you, too. Your work is lovely; I got here through the RP link. --Joyce Cambron

[juan]

Nyce journal to follow your development, your process, your steps,by the way, everyone can learn here!! thanks and go on with your work!! We love it!!

[Spatula]

JC, you too? What Not To Wear is a fountain of healing. I come to it for succor and refreshment for a great variety of problems. Haven't used it as art problem salve yet, but now I definitely will.

Still lifes are such sweet torture sometimes. If it's not the cat knocking them down, it's fruit flies, or the temptation to eat the props.