Qiang promised me that my "personal style" is already deep inside of me, that layer by layer I will work to uncover it. With all due respect Qiang, this is a layer and I am certain it is not "me." He does the most beautiful still lifes in direct application of oil paint. I started this piece utilizing his method but I did not finish it that way. It took several more sessions and a lot of glazing before I got anywhere close to being satisfied with the end result. And while there is one more I shall share about his method later, I am closer to thinking that his style of painting is not my style. I am finding that I actually enjoy the "push and pull" of dragging out the methodology so that (as a former teacher preaches) one can "let the magic happen." Maybe someday I will be able to whip it out with the first application of the perfectly mixed color but until then I will continue to know that it won't be done right away. And, as this still life was a group project and I did not choose the contents of it, I find that I am less committed to the end result. When the objects have personal meaning I tend to get more excited about it. Excuses, I know, but far better than the age old "dog ate my homework."
Back to the easel.....
