“Libra” was the first original of the new series of women I’ve been working on since August/September of 2010.
I was sitting in a small bar in Hollywood having a drink with a new friend. A musician. We talked about doing what we loved, life, etc and the picture came to mind. I told him about all the work I’d done and what I really wanted to do, and that’s when I got a new vision.
I could see myself creating these LARGE, colorfully vibrant, flat work sof women in gardens, jungles and forests. The idea was fresh and new. A compilation of my past ideas together into one thing. Illustrative and whimsical. Vibrant and flat. Much like the illustration works of storybooks and mythological novels.
I literally couldn’t wait to get home and start on the new piece, but I waited. I waited weeks. I wasn’t entirely sure I could execute it properly so that it would come out just as it appeared in my mind. I prepared, imagining every move and stroke. How I would layer it, mix the colors or approach the lining. I practiced painting the piece in my mind whenever I went to sleep and when I would awake. I wanted to prove to myself that I could truly paint it as literally as I could see it in my imagination. Many pieces over the course of my life, I’ve illustrated almost to perfection with what I could see, but the most important ideas, in my mind, never came out right. Either it was impatience that thwarted my ideas or it was execution. I needed to really hone in on my skills and try to focus on the work. Not on the feelings, as much of my present work is based on. I didn’t want to fail.
It wasn’t until a day of art and heavy helpings amounts of sugar that I felt inspired and prepared. I had spent that day perusing a showing at Gallery 1988 on Melrose and the LACMA, followed by an amazing slice of Blue Velvet Cake at The Milk Shop. For some reason the combination was the key and there it was. I knew I could paint her. Straight away, I entered the house, grabbed a glass of Pinot Grigot and headed upstairs to my LA studio, with music blasting in my headphones and painted for 4 hours. She came out absolutely perfect. I woke up the next morning, putting a few final touches on her, but I couldn’t stop staring at her. I wanted to create even larger pieces. Immaculate, rediculously sized ones.
That’s the plan in the summer. But for now, I must let “Libra” go and get ready to start on new pieces in the series. Bigger and grander ideas to come.
