The last few days, I was working on the larger gouache painting of my brother—the one with all the eyes. Part of me thinks it’s done, but another part focuses on the areas I don’t like. My intention was to make it look a bit like a paint-by-numbers, but that didn’t exactly happen. Hannah says that the parts that scream out won’t feel the same to anyone else but me. Maybe that’s true, but I don’t know.
Here it is as it is right now:
See what I mean? Some of it is good, and some kinda sucks. But I get this way every time I finish anything. I’m never satisfied until the thing sits around a while. Then, it grows on me a bit, and sometimes a lot. It depends. I may change it/try to blend it more. Or maybe, once I frame it, I will really like it. Frames always improve artwork for whatever reason. Of course, I’d have to decide if I’m changing it before it gets stuck in a frame.
I also finished this smaller watercolor and renamed it, First Born, instead of Boy in a Stroller. I had some pretty insane titles for that one at first, but I can’t remember them off hand. It had something to do with my dad feeling ecstatic that he had a boy, like Thank Jesus it’s a Boy! And some other names were over-the-top. I just can’t remember them. They were funny to me, though. But what’s funny to me can be gruesome to others.
I built a little PR page for my upcoming show. I don’t know if the text is going to stay the same, but there it is for now.
I don’t have too many pieces left to do. It feels like a lot, but I can getter done. I have one more large watercolor and four more oil paintings, plus the framing of the paper pieces. The larger watercolor is of my mother on her wedding day, and the drawing is already on the paper. I did her blouse in ink (so far).
The little oil panel for the book cover show is done. Just waiting for it to dry completely so I can send it back in the mail to the curator, Mat Gleason.
I have decided not to let the crooked name at the bottom bother me too much. It’s not like AI made it. It was made by an imperfect human: me! Ha ha ha.
Oh I’m loving these!! “Judgy” especially is very evocative. Made me stop and think. And the book cover is beautiful, if it means anything the letters add to its charm. Doesn’t bother me personally. The piece has a precious, almost vintage look to it. I hear you though, I redid one of the corners of my Doris tiger moth piece a few days ago because one ribbon trim had too much space between the dots compared to the other ribbon trims. Even after redoing it, it’s still off lol so I’m just learning to accept it.
Thank you, Seph. Your words are so helpful. It makes me accept these little issues so much more. Sometimes we need that kind of confirmation from those whose opinions we can trust. So thank you very much. The piece you’re working on now is inspiring! I wish I could go to your show and see all of them hanging together. We don’t have any plans to visit MN anytime soon, though. Our family there hasn’t been supportive of us for a long time now.
Your work is inspiring me, too! I’ve enjoyed following your blog and seeing your work in its various stages. I especially love your use of color, that seems to be the thing that always grabs me first when looking at your work. Sorry to hear about unsupportive family. 🙁 Is this the side related to your brother?
Awww. That is so nice of you to say. Thank you! And thank you for the comment about how I use color. That means a lot to me. I obsess on making those decisions.
Our family in St. Paul is Hannah’s family. They are Trumpers, so they don’t support trans people. I guess they think we’re heathens. LOL.
Oh jeez, that’s horrible. Makes sense to keep your distance. I can imagine getting together could feel hurtful especially if they openly express those judgments. I’m sorry to hear that. I truly don’t understand the obsession with not wanting to support trans people. Seems steeped in ignorance and fear. Where I work, we have a lot of trans and nonbinary people on staff and they are kind, caring, and no different from any other person just trying to live their life.