logjam

It's a real challenge to post work-in-progress paintings on here, but I'm going to start doing it, for several reasons:

(1) It's painful to do, and I don't want to, so I probably should.

(2) It allows me to be less precious about the work. Half-finished paintings are usually a poor representation of the final work, and I have a hard time even having them exposed in my studio room when people are around. But I don't have that problem with animation. I think I have to learn to be more open about it.

(3) I've always enjoyed watching artists' behind-the-scenes processes, so I think it's an interesting thing to share.

This painting is fucking complicated. I got the idea last summer while canoeing, when I saw a bunch of seals basking in the sun on a logjam. I have a lot of colours and shapes in there, and I have to bring it together. It's in watecolour, so theres no turning back. I find that most paintings work out eventually, so I have faith.

Highlights of the day, in ascending order:

(4) Watching the Banksy film "Exit Through the Gift Shop", and being horrified / thankful I'm not an art-wanker.

(3) Talking to a tugboat captain and learning about haulin' barges while driving him across the island to pick up a post-driver at his brother's place. Rain on the windshield and a dog in the back. Good times Island shit.

(2) Watching a sheep lick the afterbirth of a freshly spawned lamb.

(1) Harvesting fallen trees from the forest and using them to build a donkey corral.