…. sometimes you’re the bug. Sometimes it all comes together ….” as Mark Knopfler used to sing. Well, I’m glad to say that today it has “all come together”. It is strange the way in which, on some occasions, it is possible to wrestle with a picture, feeling that you are getting nowhere. There have been times when I have given up altogether, reconciling myself to the fact that art can involve the occasional false start. On the other hand it is possible to find that everything just falls into place.
It is actually sometime ago that I last attempted a piece in pastels, although I still believe that this is my preferred medium. In fact, when I check in my log book I’m astonished to find that the last time I worked in pastel was October 2020 …. a year ago! Having hummed and harred over the choice of a suitable paper I have to admit that I launched into the project with a degree of trepidation. To my amazement, however, at the end of a day of pretty solid engagement with it I feel that it is pretty well near to completion. Of course it will sit on the easel for some time, until I feel entirely happy with it, but I will certainly not touch it again today.
The story behind it is interesting. I went out to Almscliff Crag because I had in mind to do a piece in egg tempera, based upon close studies of intimate rock forms.* As I approached the crag I had a sudden glimpse of it from an unfamiliar angle, pulled out my camera, and “shot from the hip”. I had a very clear, instant impression that there was a useable image there. It is only this week, however, that I have managed to find the opportunity to take another look at it. My first impression was confirmed, and having burrowed in my collection of frames to see if there was a suitable one to re-use (see yesterday’s blog) I threw myself into the task this morning, and have been working in a bit of a frenzy for most of the day. I am really pleased by the result.
*That is now finished, although I have not got round to uploading it to my “galleries” as yet.