Had this idea a month ago. Flash of an image as I was lounging in bed reading Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor (which my flamenco partner claims is her Favorite Book Ever) before turning in for the night. Hopped out of bed over to my desk to snatch up my sketchpad and pencils and jumped back in before the warmth could leave my cozy little spot.Hurriedly scribbled down a thumbnail to get the essence of the piece. Scrawled notes on the sidelines to remind myself that the tree limbs would fade into the night sky like phantom branches. Little details like that which I would probably otherwise forget come morning with the sunlight to burn off the haze of sleep and Ideas-From-The-Night-Before (which from experience always seem a lot more brilliant at the moment then they do upon more sober and wakeful reflection afterwards).
Next day I tried a few sketches, but wasn't able to get the figure to work for me. It stubbornly refused to synch up with the image that had flashed in my head the night before. Ultimately set it aside for the time being. I've found over time that it's sometimes just better to quit banging my head against a piece that isn't working. Leave the sketches. Work on something else. Then when I'm flipping through my sketchbook for ideas and least expecting it, that sketch will suddenly find its place and work.Well it almost played out like that this time. I was flipping through my sketchbook silently bemoaning the fact that I was having trouble with motivation these days. An affliction that usually did not plague me. In fact I had a conversation with James Browne earlier in the day about just how fickle the muse was at times. She comes, she goes as she pleases.
I came across the thumbnail and the two initial attempts, and again was intrigued by the prospect, enough to try for a third sketch. And suddenly it was there. Like Athena, she sprang full fledged from my brain, complete with a title. It's funny how inspiration just strikes like that. I can agonize over some sketch and pose for an hour, give up on it and start anew only to have The One within 5 minutes. A fresh viewpoint is sometimes all that's needed to be injected into a piece.
So here she is, ready to be painted.
"Moonbathing" work in progress sketch
Wow, thank you very much for this WIP !!! I love it ! I'm impatient to see the result (and maybe a WIP with watercolor ? ^_^)
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting to see the process of other artists. I've always been so envious of how clean your pencil sketches are. Mine are always a hairy looking mess until I pluck the shape out with an eraser (even with thumbnails as a helper).
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that the moment right before I wake up fully or go to sleep are always my epiphany moments for an idea. Unfortunately, most times I given in to falling asleep and then forget by the time I'm awake the next day. Here's hoping a journal by my bedside will encourage me to stop the forgetful dreaming.
Mm and randomly I really adore all those hanging mask. It's as if they're baring witness to some sort of secret moonlit transformation.
Haha yeah, I know how you feel Angela. Sometimes I'm actually almost asleep when I have an idea and I really don't want to leave the warm comfort of the bed to get my pencils to scribble something down (especially in the wintertime). But at the same time I know I'll be really frustrated the next morning if I can't remember what it was I had thought of.
ReplyDeleteOh yes...it's funny I was just 2 minutes ago talking with a fellow artist about that fickle muse! lol I call them 'ebbs & flows'...If I try to create art in an ebb...forget it...LOL
ReplyDeleteMoonbathing definately looks inspired by the muse! It's making me feel excited to see it painted already:)
Magical!!
yep, that's the time for me ... just as i'm entering dreamland and i sooooo don't want to leave. i keep a notebook and pen tucked under my mattress for moments such as that :D
ReplyDeleteVery interesting progression. I love your muse!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your work. This is one of my favorite pieces, and I love the walkthrough. However, I wanted to point out one thing: Athena isn't the goddess of the moon. That was Artemis, or more specifically, Selene. This is kinda nitpicky and I apologize, but I felt the need to point it out as you are such a mythology buff.
ReplyDeleteOops, yes I know that. I think it was typing this up at midnight that messed it up in my brain!
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