Friday, January 2, 2009

Journey

Journey
16x20

It's January 2, 2009 and I still haven't made a list of my goals for this year.  I'm so reluctant to commit my intentions to paper or blog and I can't understand why.  Hmmm.  Maybe this is a hidden personality trait that I need to come to terms with this year.

The only "goal" I've stated so far is that I want to paint using more translucent colors.  I have experimented with translucent colors in the past and was happily surprised with the results.  I used ultramarine blue for shadows on a path in one painting.  Another time I used hansa yellow for a sky color in a forest painting.  The sky had a certain luminosity shining through the forest trees.  So why haven't I gone more in this direction?  Well, I intend to.  For me, old habits die hard.  

After spending years of time and gallons of paint, it's not easy to step back and re-examine the technical aspects of painting, although I feel this is where I need to go in the future.   It's just all part of the journey.  

And my goals?  Well I plan on getting to those a little later.  I know that some morning I'll wake up, grab a pen and notebook, and they'll all come spilling out on paper.  Once I commit to something there is no stopping me.  I'm that stubborn.  (Another hidden personality trait I need to come to terms with). For right now, I have several ideas floating around in my head for 2009.  I guess my time clock must be different from everyone else's.  
 

9 comments:

Marian Fortunati said...

I love the way the value patterns lead the eye through the flowers toward the background.
Lovely...

Goals are only as good as you decide they should be... if posting them isn't your thing, so what? It's the scenery along the road that's important, right??

Happy 2009!

Anonymous said...

Janelle, I adore this painting! I haven’t written my goals down either….but have painted three watercolours of the same scene (2 from plein air) using a different palette than usual.
Sometimes (at least for me) I have to mull things around before my inner voice lets me know which direction I am supposed to be heading in.

Janelle Goodwin said...

Marian, Thanks for your kind comments. Happy 2009 to you and yours!

Maggie, Thanks so much. I guess that's what is going on - my inner voice hasn't spoken yet. By the way, my son just got back from Durham. Are you anywhere near there?

Karen said...

Well if/when the goals are ready to be committed to paper, I'd love to read them.
But as I was reading this post, I was thinking how even that one goal of working with more translucent colors is huge and could open up a world of possibilities and directions.
And, the painting is beautiful and serene.

Janelle Goodwin said...

Thanks, Karen. Working with translucent color will require stepping back with more thought and examination going into painting. Appreciate your comments!

Joan Breckwoldt said...

Hi Janelle,
Your paintings are lovely. I saw you commented on Diane H.'s blog so I came on over to check out YOUR blog. I have bookmarked your blog to check on you regularly, I enjoy your paintings and your writing. Thank you for sharing your work and your thoughts,
happy new year,
Joan

Diane Hoeptner said...

(Laughing) My! You have some bothersome hidden personality traits Janelle. Perhaps something you should work on first. ((kidding)) This landscape is beautiful, a gem with wonderful vibrant colors!! Blue shadows and yellow skies, yes please!!

Janelle Goodwin said...

Joan, Thanks so much for stopping by. I checked out your blog and was immediately impressed. So I'm following you too!

Diane, Maybe I'll get around to making my goals for 2009 in July. Thanks for your comments. Loved your portrait of mother and son!

Art with Liz said...

I've just come across your blog and what magnificent landscapes! I'll be back. That's my goal.