Limitations push my creativity. Essentially that is what #100daysofparingback is. If you haven't been following along on instagram, then 100 days of paring back is my chosen project for the next few months. #dothe100dayproject is an international project encouraging creativity and progress. At the start of this project I deliberately restricted my choices in order to have simplicity, a single focus and explore the many possibilities open to me with a single colour or material or process. You know me, I like to simplify often and this focus on paring back the process and materials as well as the composition, felt right. Ironically, I feel limiting choice almost brings unlimited potential. I mean I know that can't be true, but it does seem that I have explored far more so far with less, than if I had a bigger set of choices in front of me. Importantly, limitations helps. It’s like when the fridge is virtually empty, I am far more creative with my cooking when I have limited ingredients than if I have endless choice... anyone???
As I’ve said before I love working with materials that have had a past and this is starting to extend to the substrates for my work. Book jackets and old discarded sheets of paper, vintage fabrics and old wooden panels… it feels right and all adds to the layers of history and meaning. What came before? The marks we make in life and what we leave behind. These book jacket pieces have allowed me to move out of the sketchbook and into a larger format that is starting to emerge. I love the aged feel of these objects. The faded surfaces and tactile nature of the linen and what remains of the spine. Moving into larger paintings, as yet I have no idea what they will become but the importance of these particular stepping stones can’t be underestimated. That’s the point isn’t it? Without the stepping stones we wouldn’t be able to get from a to e. I’ve no idea how many there are now, whether they’ll eventually stop or will be forever ongoing, all I know is I am enjoying the process of working with a particular substrate that holds relevance and meaning, rather than loading one up or covering one over because it simply holds the paint. The substrate to me is as important as the surface. It’s integral. I guess it has a lot to do with my love of 3 dimensional work. But a lot of what I do is intuitive and I only do it if it feels right. This applies to pretty much everything in my life come to think of it. This may not make complete sense to you but at this moment it does to me so I hope it connects in some way. So… my current/ongoing body of work - The Limited Editions. Limited, not to be interpreted as a negative. Limitations are immensely helpful. The Limited Editions. I like it! ✨
Day63/100 days of paring back
Please go to www.amandaduggan.co.uk/paintings to view all available pieces in this current series.
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