The Train Was Late, but the Whistle Was on Time Painting

I enjoy working in a wide variety of mediums that include, painting, sculpture, photography, digital 3d artwork using Blender. Creating something can be an ongoing battle. Sometimes it is a short enjoyable experience, but more often than not, it a complete knock down drag out struggle. I may have to paint over parts and start again multiple times. Very rarely does the drawing I start with and the finished work look alike. A lot of times, it is best when I get out of the way and let what I am working on choose it's own path. I love chasing the magic and experiencing the happy accidents. It's about finding the unexpected when combining colors, shapes, playing with light in a camera whether it is with paintings, sculpture, or photography. An important suggestion I got from a friend, and I try to follow, is to not hurry up and worry about finishing the work before the journey is complete. There is a flow in the process and you have to find it and each new work has it's own flow to be discovered. My paintings are basically boxes. They are constructed of 1" x 1 1/2" wood frame with Masonite glued to the frame instead of canvas because I can be harder on it than I could with canvas. I start by adding paint to the surface. It doesn't really matter what color because this is just something to get started with. Then, I use acrylic markers to make marks with. I'm not trying to draw anything in particular. It is just freehand, stream of consciousness type mark making. This is to get the conversation going with the new work. I usually work on several pieces at a time, so that while the paint dries on one, I can continue the conversation with another. I enjoy creating tension by juxtaposing visual depth and flat space in a painting. By working with multiple layers, I am able to discover shapes and combinations that I wasn't expecting. I choose to work with acrylics because of the immediacy and ability to quickly create additional layers.