So it seems I have started a new body of work without really intending to start a new body of work!
I am currently participating in The 100 Day Project and the idea is that you choose something you want to explore. It started on January 31st and in my constant search for simplicity I chose #100daysofsimplicty_ Keep it simple, right?!! So far I have been working in various sized sketchbooks, branching out onto canvas and wood and that little itch I had (wanting to work larger) has been scratched... so it's all good!
Only I hadn't intended for this to become a new body of work. But it's looking like it's developing that way. I was inspired by this study I had kept from a while back and wanted to explore various avenues using it as a stimulus. I thought I would end up with 100-200 pages in my sketchbook if I made it to the end of the challenge at all! Challenges like this can become a burden if you lose interest but I'm hoping that my theme is broad enough I can sustain momentum. My plan was to use photography to move into more subtle and soft compositions. To create simple line drawings that denote the necessary but bare minimum in a piece of work. And experimental compositions in paint in the sketchbook. However so far, I haven't been able to leave the paint alone. We're on day 21 as write this so there's time yet and so much I would still like to do.
You'll have noticed by now that in order to keep things really simple I have been using a black and white palette. I say that, however things have been changing ever so slightly this last week - as always I like to play with subtleties and with mars black I've been adding prussian blue, one of my absolute favourite blues to give an overall softness. And when you create washes with this deep black there's a beautiful blue/grey that blends into white areas which I love. It's the most fun I've had in a long time as let's face it... life can be a little 'groundhog' at the moment. Long may this happy experimentation continue...I'm excited to see where it all leads!
Work in progress
61x61cm
Cradled panel
If you're on instagram, then please do follow me and the hashtag #100daysofsimplicity_
if interested in following this particular journey more closely.
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