OK ...where to begin..?. well I am back in Bristol and have many days, painting adventures, and paintings to sift through from my Monhegan residency... hopefully I will get a few of those stories on here and some more pics of the work to go with them.. I came back from just about 4 weeks there with 73 paintings, some are closer to sketches and some have more of a "finish" but all have a story... The top one of the Lighthouse and the bell was my last piece on the Island its a 22"x28" and the bottom one from Fish Beach is an 11x14" .
I feel that my main goal of growth during this residency was accomplished. No I don't mean from the food on the Island,,,which was delicious, I must say.. But as far as really developing "my" filter and what I want to see on the canvas... The growth/self belief that comes when a group of people like M.A.R.C. (Monhegan Artist Residency Corp) believes in the artistic direction you are heading and puts their funds and name with your name to prove it.. It really helps me see what I'm doing in a new light.. not compromising my painting for current trends or giving up.
I am not saying I'm there yet and that I am not influenced by other artists, because I am but I have discovered that I am mostly interested in and inspired by Color, Paint(the physical look), and the story that is told through an Image....(not in that order..?.) These may seem mundane or the norm to some but these simple (hard to find) absolute truths are like digits in a lottery drawing. Only by finding out what your numbers are and then playing them repeatedly will you have a chance to win. (figuratively speaking of course) To find out these digits or truths I find that really looking at and into works of mine and others and asking "why do I hate this one?" "Why am I compelled to stare at this one?" "why is this one making me happy?" " why am I rambling?" :) OK I slipped that in to see if you were awake still.. long story short I am (finally) learning to truly value what I see... Thank you to M.A.R.C.! , John Blamey, Colin Page, My lovely Wife Raquele (sorry your 4th honey), my parents and family, last but not least Arthur and Isabella Corwin. I know I have thanked you all before and it might seem redundant but now I know what I'm thanking you all for..
"Are you painting here for the Summer? or just the season?" ....................a random visitor talking to me while painting on Monhegan
" You can't win if you don't play" lottery commission.
15 comments:
"Gotta be in it to win it" also some lottery commission slogan.
Real happy to start to see what you brought home with you. Sounds like a great experience and I can't wait to hear more about it.
Like that Fish Beach piece.
Another post please.
Great work. Still looks the same as when i was there. Was that girl still swimming in the water every day? She must be part penguin. Can't wait for more posts.
Beautiful fresh colors, Dan. Wonderful!
Kind regards
Dan, Welcome back and can't wait to see what else you done over there. Love the ones you posted.
dan- beautiful, insightful, simple. welcome back.
I dig your words. The direction you are going in is a honest and worthwhile one. Glad you are back and had a good time,and wow, 73 works!
Kyle
The logistics of getting 73 paintings back to the mainland boggles my mind. Good for you for working so hard - and glad to hear the residency helped you solidify your own vision of your painting.
Look forward to those stories and more great paintings, too. Amazing what is possible when you don't have the distractions of everyday life. Sounds like an awesome trip.
Is my doppelganger still out there by the pier?
Fabulous start to our sharing your experience. Great pictures and insightful words. I envy the fact that you are seeing more clearly what it is YOU are as a communicator of your vision. I fear that I am in the early stage of that journey. Welcome back, missed your posts.
Hey Frank, I would say there is a handfull that I'm proud of and hopefully I can get them photographed soon.. I will post another as soon I do. one with less rambling and more pics..thanks
Hi Mark, Thank you, hahaha there is always a girl swimming there...not sure if the same..?.
Thank you Galina.
Hey Shawn, thank you. I bought a small jar of Fluff to dress up my PBJ sandwiches while on the Island. Thought of your work and how you pull every ounce of beauty out of such objects, always inspiring! Those fluff jars are really beautiful,, a cool blue even in the sun..
Hey Kyle, Thanks alot, rambling just comes natural to me.. a babbling genius..?.(sarcastic) Thank you, I am glad to be back..I'll email ya.
Hi Sarah, getting them home was the easy part.. I had mounted linen on very rigid but light weight foam board for the trip so weight was not an issue at all.. I stored them vertically with wax paper inbetween them in a rigid walled storage bin.
Hey Eric, my fellow residentialanarianistologist....yeah I made that word up... yeah it was a great residency.. I don't know what a doppleganger is... but I be its still there. You can even leave your easel set up outside overnight there if you wanted to.
Thank you Mick, your work is growing and has grown quite a bit since I first talked with you. As my wife reminds me, enjoy the road, you will be there soon enough. hopefully I will get to more pics soon.. but for now I'm enjoying being home and getting back in the grove around here.. (the 3:00 am grove is not enjoyable)
Beautiful work Dan, can't wait to see more.
Thank you JP
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