Knot Intimidated...

1991 - WINE KNOT
11x30, watercolor

There's a tangled tie-in here somewhere... I've received my legendary Moleskine sketch book; luscious, scrumptious and must not drool upon. I have doubts that I'll ever get past the adoration of this artful icon to actually make meaningful marks within.

So... considering I have reams of unused printmaking paper (quality stuff) and having stumbled across a website giving explicit tutorage on making your own sketchbook, I set out to do just that. And I did, but it's of my own design after noting the general idea and not being one to follow directions. So my sketchbook has lots more knots (there's the tie-in!) and will never gain the respect of the original... but I bet I won't have a problem with intimidation!

The painting above was the first of a series, taking my longstanding grass subject and tying the strands in knots... the others have pun-like titles using Knot for Not... you can get an idea on this old, incomplete web page.

Trouble

I'm in trouble... don't know if I'll make my goal or anywhere close to it. I'm realizing that whatever it is that I'm doing is mediocre at best and not likely to get any better. I could make excuses all day long, my eyes are going, my hands are unsteady, it's been too long since I worked in this manner... but it remains crap, every one of them... to the point of not even being able to bring them to a photo state so I can put them up. Embarassing, is what!

So... I took a break and tried my hand at a couple of landscapes... same junk, worse than mediocre. So what do I do? I've got this big investment in oil paints... I need to take another path, I need to bring in some of my own, earned, creative expertise. Stop planning and just let it happen. Allow the use of multi media and work larger... these tiny little cards are for the birds!

Okay... stay tuned... KJ