Friday, February 15, 2013

Bathers and My New(ish) Bamboo Pad

In my intuitive painting class we are are exploring our own personal imagery and beginning to experiment with using it (or not using it) in our paintings.  This causes some amount of trepidation as sometimes I think my paintings tell me to paint something I usually avoid painting - human figures and faces.  This painting that I posted a few weeks back is a good example.  You may remember I saw one of Edgar Degas' bathers on the right side of the canvas.


Since then I've been thinking a lot about those bathers, revisiting some of those gorgeous images and reading up on Degas' methods and intentions.  He painted literally hundreds of these beautiful images.  I thought I'd share a few here just for you to enjoy.

Edgar Degas.  Woman Combing Her Hair. 1885.

Edgar Degas.  Woman Drying Her Hair. 1889.

These were painted over a span of many years so it's interesting to see the progression of style and emphasis.  Degas' eyesight began to decline in his mid-thirties due to retinal disease and he painted many bathers after he had lost his central vision and much of his ability to see color.  (Read a fascinating account of the loss of eyesight by Degas and Claude Monet in this article by Tracie White)

Edgar Degas.  After the Bath, Woman with a Towel. 1893-97.

As for my painting, I'm putting it on hold for a while.  I don't really know where to go from here so I'll let it sit while I play on the other canvases in progress.  For now, though, I doodled a rough outline of the bather I originally saw since she may disappear the next time I work on this canvas.  (I finally learned to use the Bamboo Pad I got for Christmas!  Yay!)


The Bamboo Pad is a very noncommittal way to experiment a little with form and line without committing to marks on the canvas.  I know, I know...intuitive painting is not about being safe, but I love the direction of this painting and I have no idea how I want to proceed.  I think I'll experiment on some other canvases before I dive back into this one.

I've had a lot of fun playing with my new toy this week.  It was easy to learn and I am amazed at how much the stylus feels and works like a pencil in my hand.  The first thing I did was jot some quotes on top of detail images from some works-in-progress.  I post them here in honor of my creative, inspiring friends (that's you)!



Linking up today with:




25 comments:

  1. Oh fun....I have not done much experimentation with anything on iPad - it just seems like one more thing to add to my list - I guess I also just like the tactile nature of a pencil.....Your painting will speak to you when it ready to move on...they always do! xox (I asked my son about the web site thing and he says it may be your server access and he couldn't find anything wrong, don't know.....)

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    1. You know I believe I just like everything! I do like to get my hands on tools and in paint but the digital stuff is awfully fun as well. Mostly I think I just love to try + learn new things. No problems getting to your blog the last few tries...yay!

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  2. Wonderful mark-making and rhythm and colors!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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    1. Thanks, Mary. I've taken the day off and now am sooo ready to get back in my studio.

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  3. I love what you are doing with the bamboo pad... great idea to play with your work as you progress... and the figure will fit in quite beautifully ...xx

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    1. Thank you so much, Tracey. I love the different stages so much. It's nice to document and use them in some way.

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  4. I'm a fan of Edgar Degas and I like your tribute to this great painter. Your work is interesting. Saludos

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    1. Thank you so much. Degas is one of my favorite painters.

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  5. Degas is such an inspiration. I think your idea of adding a bather to your painting is wonderful. I look forward to seeing her complete.

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    1. I will definitely post it when I decide to move forward with this painting!

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  6. Oh Janice, this is such a beautiful post. I love your painted work behind the quotes. It is so rich with texture and color. Also, I have always loved the way Degas painted women. He did it with such tenderness and respect. I'm glad you are enjoying your tablet. I don't think I could survive without mine any more. Both it and the computer are powerful tools in the hands of an artist. I often experiment digitally before going to canvas. It is a wonderful way develop ideas and to keep a record of them. I'll be looking forward to seeing more of your work. Have a terrific weekend! Hugs, Terri

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    1. It's good to know someone else who experiments digitally before taking it to the canvas. I mostly just like to play with new tools in new ways...the tablet just seems to offer endless fun. Hope your weekend was wonderful as well!

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  7. Hello Janice, I'm in the same process as you, several canvases waiting to see where they go...I love the not knowing....how then suddenly something emerges, or doesn't and you keep on with a little paint, or collage....it's a wonderful process. I love your colors and that's great to play around digitally with it too, why not? Keep having fun and go with the flow!

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    1. Oh, Kat...it is quite a journey for me to learn to go with the flow. In fact, I catch myself tightening up all the time...wanting to commit too early to a certain direction or image. I'm loving the process, though, and intend to continue on this path!

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  8. Loving all the experiments and really look forward to seeing your degas style painting complete. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you, Netty. You are my inspiration when it comes to experimentation!

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  9. I got so distracted on this post a few days ago I forgot to comment....love it! Wanted to learn more about the bambo pad.... I need one of those!! Excellent work...love it!

    Hugs Giggles

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    1. Glad you came back! Did you click on the link? It will take you to the website.

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  10. Oh yes, now I can see her! Didn't find her in the first picture you showed... what a great idea to write those quotes on top of those images. I have a tablet but hardly ever use it. Might have to try this out though ... ;-)

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    1. I think the tablet is really fun. I remember my daughter playing very intuitively with a paint program a few years ago. She came up with some gorgeous stuff...very free and organic. I think of it as just another tool.

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  11. Very cool seeing what you did with the Bamboo, great post! HPPF!

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  12. Great insights and quotes to go with what you are experiencing!

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Your lovely comments make my day!

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