Painting in Layers

I've been dabbling in paint. Literally.

I put too much paint on the disposable plate I use as a palette. I mix it messily with my brushes until they are goopy with the individual starting colors still visible. I have to scrape them off and try to mix in the paint better.

This is why I haven't bought any expensive paint. I buy the cheap stuff that ends up being frustrating to work with, and then I get discouraged.

I've painted crazy, unrealistic things in garish bright colors. For some reason painting an elephant in red and turquoise takes the pressure off. It doesn't have to be perfectly realistic -- because it's red and turquoise. Realism was never the goal.

I think that is why I have liked it better. It frees me from feeling as though I have to get things just so. I did one crazy landscape with insanely bright green background, purple and blue trees. I didn't like it at first. I still don't if I get too close to it. But from this vantage point on the couch, it looks pretty good.

Painting has taught me about layering. I sit at my table with my cheap paint, brushes, and canvas and a hair dryer cord stretching out across the room. Paint a layer. Hair dryer. Paint a shape. Dry. Block out shadows. Dry. Don't get impatient with the drying, or you start to muddy up your brushes and lose your colors. What color should a black shadow be when I don't want to use black? I stop and take pictures along the way so that I can see the progression. It helps me see where I go wrong too. I can wipe off some paint if I haven't already dried it.

I feel like there is some deep life lesson there. Infer what you will.

I'm looking for what to try to paint next. It's a nerve-wracking moment to begin. Like I said, I was so frustrated with my paint the last time I am almost afraid to tackle something I like for fear of not doing it justice. My background got a bit muddy on my last. Paint quality is obviously poor and doesn't have nice even coverage, and is far too matte. Even so, my giant purple hare against a copper sun is kind of wild and cool. I thought about Watership Down when I painted it. The rabbits' mythology imagines the sun as a god they call Frith. I love the face against the sun. the body could use work. It's a bit off kilter.

I guess that is my fate, to have a bunch of slightly off paintings all over my apartment until I get better at it.