Started in 1980, finished in 2012
I have a number of unfinished sketches that I made in 1980. They were composed in the manner of automatic writing, paying as little conscious attention to what I was making as I knew how to back then (I have since learned hypnosis).
"Maquette", 2012, oil pastel on acrylic on paper, 29 cm x 21 cm
Many years later, I add to them, asking the question “what does this painting need to complete it, that I would have been unlikely to add in 1980?”
I think of them as an integration of conscious and unconscious processes as well as an integration of past and present. They also get me thinking about the act of finishing something, how we know, for example, when a painting is finished, and then whether there could be a recommencement at a much later date.
For me, a painting is hardly ever finished. after short periods of time I keep seeing things I can do to improve it. I agree that one should paint unconsciously. You have to let it flow from another place than your brain.
gaylealstrom
February 12, 2012 at 11:30 am
Mmm, I know just what you mean. I have to hide finished work from myself so that I don’t paint over it. Someone was telling me a story recently about a piece of art in public ownership that the gallery had returned to the artist for renovation, only to find that when it was returned it had been significantly updated! They made a policy decision never to let work go back to an artist again!
I think of painting as a conversation between conscious and unconscious, somatic and cognitive minds. I do think that the conscious mind has an important part in the creative process.
Andy Parkinson
February 14, 2012 at 10:53 pm
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