GOING , GOING, GONE!

It seems the figure I was working on evolved right off the canvas. Many times! It took two days of push and pull to get myself warmed up to letting go of calculations and pestering questions about right and wrong. This morning I walked in painted off the old efforts and simply put down the lines that do not carry a burden of pre conceived ideas. Tomorrow looks promising.

In her book "The Creative Habit", Twyla Tharp says; "There's an emotional lie to over planning; it creates a security blanket that lets you assume you have things under control, that you are further along than you really are, that you're home free when you haven't even walked out the door yet."

FROM THE SKETCH TO THE PAINT

I would be curious what other painters feel as they are about to take on the canvas with brush in hand. For me it's often like standing on a very high diving platform. Stalling by fussing about before taking that deep breath.

Today I dove. This figure will evolve over the next weeks or few days with the hope I do not take away the movement in the gesture and bind her up with paint. Instead, she needs to soar.

GAME DAY

What an exciting day for sketches!

First there was the morning practice where the team looked so clean and smooth. I discovered that that's when the notes come down easily.

Then, as it turns out, their very important game against Montana State was in the afternoon. I was witness to how different the playing field becomes with outside talent coming into play.

There was that tension and desire in the players to give it their best just as on the dance floor when the curtain goes up. players gave 150% effort in dynamic moves that sometimes resulted in situations requiring recovery from the unexpected and then to be restored as an outstanding performance by winning the applause of those who spectate and appreciate. Bravo on your win today ladies! On they go to the Playoff tournament and more sketching time for this artist:)

WAKING UP THIS BLOG

Since last fall I have been collecting notes for this series of large canvases that focus on similar movements found in dance and sport.

Sketches are still happening since the football, soccer and volleyball practices observed last fall. Lately my subjects have been PSU women's basketball and Oregon Ballet Theatre rehearsals.

This 48"x72" canvas has just been started. The posted gesture popped up in both my PSU sketches as well as those from the dance floor at OBT. My self imposed project is turning out to be fun and full of wonderful challenges. I am at the wonderful mercy of what happens in front of me whether it be at practices and rehearsals or on canvas.

ENTER THE SPORTS WORLD

After sending requests to sketch the Oregon State Uni. football practice I received a quick response and was able to witness two hours of outstanding athleticism.

My heart be still! As in dance, these beautiful body forms give 150% of what they are there to do. I was the only one in the stands for much of the time and sketched non-stop taking away notes I am proud to say are refreshing and seem like potential painting subject matter. No one cared that I was there and that provides an excellent climate for drawing to meet my needs. Drove home loaded with smiles and the sound of the band practice echoing in my head. A reminder Ohio State years.

Don't know where this is all going but

USEFUL SKETCHING NOTES

The update on my project for combining sports movement gestures and dance gestures is still in the stage of making use of the wonderful works at North West Dance Project and trying to get field time with University of Portland women's soccer and Oregon State University football. I have e-mails explaining the the project, my request for field time and some paintings as examples. Perhaps I need to go to the athletic departments with a brief portfolio. Their time and schedule must be quite precious right now.

Meanwhile I am prepping canvases in anticipation of what's ahead.

DANCE OR SPORT?

Seems like it has taken years for me to come to the exciting project of painting a series of canvases that have to do with the idea that dance and sport have similar gestures and come under the concept of movement as being composed of force, time, space and flow.

My first task at hand is to line up opportunities for getting on the playing fields of football,volleyball, soccer and tennis during practice to sketch as close as I do in the dance rehearsals I'm attending now. Eventually I would accumulate notes and experiences that will nurture this project for however it last.

It will be enjoyable to report into this blog as a journal for this endeavor.