HIGH OCTANE: what happened next

So, the serious work began, in the studio, where I left off on the art therapy day. On the same paper, with the same painting, I began to experiment with a high, intense yellow on the red-green-black background that was already present. I applied thin layers of this yellow, followed by a red glaze, and then reapplied the yellow. When I reached the level of intensity on paper that truly reflected the tension I was feeling in my body, I stopped and allowed the painting and my intuitive-self to ‘rest’.

I find that the creative restlessness comes and goes in waves. Among other things, I notice a change in the use of colours. However, tension has a ‘sell-by date’ and begins to dissipate. As I am not finished, I have to find a way of keeping it alive. This time I used the music of Górecki, and found that the wave motion stopped and the tension settled in again.

 And then I noticed a change in colour:

And finally I was out of this phase: 

 And the body of work comes to an end.

To produce these works I spent two weeks painting solidly, almost night and day. 

The next period is spent ‘sitting’ with the paintings. This is a period of looking with a critical eye to discern whether or not each painting is finished. This is also the period where I have stepped back into myself. The intuitive-flow is no longer present so any changes made to the painting are from a personal ego and this has nothing to do with painting.

Between these periods of heightened tension and creative restlessness, I experience times when my creativity is subdued but I am waiting for the muses to return. I call these periods of ‘hunting and gathering’, as I am getting myself and my studio together so I am ready when I experience that ‘frisson’.

This period involves ‘clearing the decks’ and preparing materials; boards, paint and four or five sets of palette knives. I order my paint by intuition, studying the art material catalogue, going over and over colours from past experience or that are entirely new to me and hoping I have got it right.

This phase can last several months, but before this particular body of work – the ‘High Octane’ series – it was almost a year.