I spent a part of today reclaiming a canvas and preparing it for re-use. Some time ago I painted two versions of an idea. One of these I continue to like, but the other I consider to be weak and (frankly) unlikely ever to sell. (Let’s face it, if I wouldn’t buy one of my own pictures, who will?) Over the past few months this has become a real campaign on my part.
Recently I have been full of ideas for pictures, and at the same time aware of just how much I might be laying out if I buy new canvases for every image I produce. There is an additional consideration, which is perhaps even more pressing. Some of these old pictures I rather optimistically framed when I did them, and I am very unwilling indeed just to throw away expensive frames. These days I am much more self-critical of my work, and reluctant spend money on frames unless I really do have confidence in the image I have produced.
The jury is still out on my recent experiment of making my own frames. I learned a lot, but am not completely convinced that it is worth the effort. Nevertheless, I have become certain that it is worth my while to cast a severely critical eye over past work in the expectation that old canvases, or frames, can be re-purposed.
There is an additional benefit here, in that I have been on the receiving end for a long time of anxious comment from my wife about the steady growth in the amount of my work for which we have to find storage space. I have to admit that she does have a point!