10 BROKEN PAINTINGS
Work in progress! Painting Hard. © 2021 David Limrite
“The most important tool the artist fashions through constant practice is faith in his ability to produce miracles when they are needed.”
Mark Rothko, Artist
10 Broken Paintings
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog called “Make Things and Break Things.” It was all about taking risks and trying new things with your work. And messing up. And being willing to create things that don’t work, that don’t measure up and that aren’t successful. This is what I call “Breaking Things”.
Well… Guess what? I went down to my studio earlier this week to take a look at all my new paintings in progress.What I saw was 10 broken paintings. I saw 10 paintings that are not looking at all what I thought they were going to look like.
At first I was a bit disappointed, distressed and frustrated by what I saw, and by the thoughts I was having. But then I realized that these 10 paintings are not broken at all. These 10 paintings do not need fixing. They are just unfinished. Which just means that I have more work to do. It’s all just work in progress.
So, actually, these 10 paintings are right where they should be. And so am I.
About a year ago I came up with a concept for a series of paintings that I was (and still am) very excited about. I started coming up with a list of titles for each of the pieces. I did very rough sketches of each painting just to get my thoughts out of my head and down on paper so I could start formalizing my ideas visually. Which got me excited to begin working on them.
I was so exuberant about these new paintings that, over the next few months, I got all 10 paintings started. I didn’t even care what they were looking like. I just wanted to start them and get going. I wanted to try out some new ideas and techniques.
I painted hard.
And now the dust has settled from that initial flurry of creating. I am where I am. And I have a lot more work to do on them.
But, I know way more about these paintings now. I know what is and what is not working. I know what I like and don’t like. I have a better idea of where I think I want to take these paintings. And where I hope THEY want to go.
I am a lot more educated.
So… in essence, I have made my first attempt and now it’s time to dive back in again and make my adjustments.
I call this “Guess and Correct.”
After the initial shock of thinking that I had 10 broken paintings sitting in my studio, I am once again energized to rework them with the goal being to attempt to bring my initial visions that I had for them to life. Stay tuned.
Best,
David