Yesterday was one of those particularly exhilarating days in the studio……a day to begin new paintings. I always work on more than one piece at a time (to allow for drying times, thinking time, using up left-over cups of paint, to be able to try out an inspiration that comes to me while working on one painting to another piece), and I am ready to add to the MINDSCAPE series and begin a new series of small river-related canvasses, title to be determined. 16 new beginnings, no rules (except for the size constraints), no specific plans other that to experiment and play with the textures and the colors. I crank up the music and do my best to keep my mind open to what is happening on the canvasses, confident that I will be able to move forward to a successful conclusion with each piece. I already know, based on past experience, that some will coalesce fairly quickly, and some will develop in a somewhat orderly manner, step by step, and that some will be real, frustrating struggles. Yes, I am interested in the destination, but to me the real joy is in the journey.
“You should have an idea of what you are going to do, but it should be a vague one. If you know exactly what you are going to do, what’s the good of doing it? Since you know, the exercise is pointless. It is better to do something else.” Pablo Picasso
Judith Bergerson / JackPine Studio 
April 28th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Love the Picasso quote! Is there a fourth group which, despite the frustrating struggle never actually gets there?
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April 28th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Nope. I have no expiration date on “in progress” pieces.
If one gets too irritating, I get it out of my sight for a while, take it out again later, and usually the solution presents itself. If not, out of sight it goes. Granted, I have a few pretty old canvasses lurking in the corners, but then, that is why God invented gesso.
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