1. When you began the studies what did you expect ? How did the experience differ from that expectation?
I am really happy about the results, or better said the possibilities of working on sketches first, and then on the studies. The sketches are a great form of throwing out many ideas, or if you are in a dry spell, at least you can try to work on ideas you had before in different ways. It was very nice for me to see the sketches together with many possible and different visual solutions/concepts and resolve one or several paintings. It is funny but after all these years I never tried to work on studies, I thought it was a waste of time. I was more than wrong. This works for me really well.
2. Describe any high points and any low points in the process: Did you struggle to complete 30? How did you overcome any impasses? What strategies did you use to keep the project interesting and useful?
Yes, it was harder than I thought, I spent more time than I was expecting, even though the studies are small, they are like little paintings, and in the way I resolved, using oil and canvas, just like a painting. I needed to wait for the paint to dry to finish it. The wonderful part of the process was the great opportunity of working with more freedom in an idea for a painting. I really enjoyed seeing different solutions for one painting, and despite the fact that the space will be different in a painting, it is really useful.
3. Did you consider any pieces failures? How do you define that failure? How can you use it positively as you begin your semester’s work?
All the time when you are working on a specific project, some parts of it don’t work, or we feel like we didn’t resolve them well. That happens with me. During the process of making the studies some of them didn’t work - for many reasons like composition, color, or repetition. I felt like I wasn’t resolving the studies well, I felt like I was repeating myself and needed to finish it. However during the process, I felt also that although many elements of the pieces had failed, it was really good to work with different ideas in other paintings.
4. What pieces did you consider successful? How do you define that success? What will you take forward into your semester’s work from it?
I consider many of the studies successful because I was able to resolve the composition, or the use of color or just develop a concept that was going to develop into a different idea.
5. Write the questions that have arisen as a result of making the studies that will form the guidelines for your practice this semester.
Repetition, I wonder if it is ok to stay with a concept or subject until you feel like is time to move forward or is it better to push for change?
