Things have been bowling along recently, and during the past couple of months I’ve been very productive. As it happens I am going to have to stop over the week-end. We will be going down to Sheffield for a session looking after our grandson while his parents are away. On other occasions I might well have had to bury a certain amount of regret that the art will need to be parked for a few days. As it happens, however, things have worked out very well.
As I wrapped things up before dinner this evening I realised that what I need in relation to this painting is a few days without looking at it at all. I have a feeling that were I to press on I would do so without a very clear idea of exactly why I was doing what I was doing. There would be a dreadful sense that I ought to be doing something, but without having a considered understanding of why I was doing it. There would be a protracted period of fiddling about which I might well spoil it rather than advance it. It will be far better for me to clean the palette, wash the brushes, and go away for three days. After that it will be possible for me to look at it afresh. If previous experience is anything to go by I will see it in a different light, and with a much clearer idea of what the next step should be.
The week-end will not be devoid of art, however, because I plan a session of potato printing with our grandson. We always have fun doing art together. It is interesting the shift of perspective I have to make in working with a child. I’ve had to pack my wife’s gardening gloves in order to make sure that he doesn’t dig holes in his hand.