This is a painting over a painting. That's not unusual I'm told. Many, many artists have done so. Some to save on materials. This wasnt a green project though. I have an armory of canvas and back up of paint. The only thing I ever lack would be subjects since I'm not a huge fruit eater just a fruit painter.
I painted over part of this painting because it wasnt right. I had 2 pears. And the background was light. Bright. I couldnt live with it and actually had it in the burn pile. Generally, once a painting is dry, it's done. I dont like painting on a dry surface. But if I was going to make this painting 'right' I was going to have to get over it and work it. This was going to be a challenge for me and possibly take the fun out of it. Yet, for whatever reason, I went for it.
I repainted the background taking out a pear. I scraped off the new background leaving a mess. I repainted again. Nope. Again - this time darker. I stepped back. Really? Why so much effort for a 6x6? Why not? I like the darker. It works for me. I like the way some of the blueberries disappear in the dark. And I really like the pot bellied pear and the way it pops against the blues. More paint. Gotta see those brush strokes. Just a tad of light in the upper right. In order to do this right I had to remix blueberry and pear colors and repaint edges.
At the end of the day, I was happy with my new painting, re-signed and put it aside to dry.
I put more effort into things these days. Someone once told me, "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". I've given that a lot of thought, believe it or not. Folding clothes, loading the dishwasher, day to day whatevers and most definitely - painting. That saying creeps into my thoughts at the most inconvenient times it seems. No more eeking by. No more scurrying through. If I'm going to do it, I better do it right. And once again I ask, "why not?" What else am I going to do? What's the hurry?
I have the rest of my life to accomplish the rest of my life. But what if I didnt? What if the rest of my life was imprisoned in an uncooperative body unwilling and unable to accomplish - anything? What if I have the Alzheimer's gene and lose my mind - literally? Once the mind is gone, so is the body. And then what? I know what. I saw it. I saw it from the beginning and when I questioned it I was told I was "making mountains out of mole hills". But I had red flags. I didnt brush off the indications that something was wrong. After all, nobody asks the same question, word for word, with the same inflections, 3 times, only seconds apart when it's been answered each time. I saw and I knew but buried it because dad was taking care of it. He never mentioned it or asked for help so we could go about our selfish little lives none the wiser, even if we were.
So I repainted Bluepearry #2. Might as well get it right. And I'm glad I did. Who knows what tomorrow brings?
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