Want To Paint On A Greek Island?

16 Comments

1. Susan Crave Rosen on October 30, 2016 at 6:54 am

   Covering up an old painting is a great way to start a new one. The old painting lurks underneath and can be revealed in small sections……..that causes something to happen that can’t be achieved in any other way. Great fun and usually results in a better work of art! As always, thanks for your generous and insightful comments in these videos!

   
   
   
2. Kai Harper on October 30, 2016 at 7:30 am

   Thanks Nicholas. Last summer I was working on a painting and it just wasn’t working. I painted out part of it and put something different in that space and it worked. I don’t generally paint out parts of my paintings. Doing this really made me feel more engaged with the painting. And recently I’ve been painting over old paintings on paper, it loosens me up and gives me new ideas.

   
   
   
   • Nicholas Wilton on November 2, 2016 at 12:14 pm

     I could never do it perfectly the first time! Ha–too much pressure…thx!

     
     
     
3. Emile Michel Aparicio on October 30, 2016 at 8:16 am

   Claire Merigeau posted this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWb-ZBZjBwo. It is commented by Robert Motherwell on the formation of the New York school. In this he provides an insight why we create, how we create and why making your go towards the minimum is essential. Beside that you get to see lots of super pieces of his and others, and a understanding of the American abstract expressionist movement. One of the best hours I have ever spent.

   
   
   
   • Marian Yap on October 30, 2016 at 5:27 pm

     Fabulous video. Thanks for posting.

     
     
     
     • Nicholas Wilton on November 2, 2016 at 12:17 pm

       Thanks for this!

       
       
       
4. Judy Knott on October 30, 2016 at 8:50 am

   Some of my most fun paintings and successful have been those where I have painted over collages that didn’t work. I would let some of the collage show through so that it had an illusion of depth. Now I’m starting to create collages that I’m intending to paint over. So much fun.

   
   
   
5. Libby Fife on October 30, 2016 at 9:54 am

   Thanks, Nicholas. That does help. I interpreted what you said as being willing to step off of a cliff…or at least a fairly steep curb. You know there is ground down there somewhere right? It’s the beauty of working in a reductive/additive kind of way. When you get down to it, there are multiple answers to many of the painting problems that can be encountered. Maybe it’s because I see my pieces as puzzles without box tops (no picture to guide me). Whatever it is, your post makes sense to me. Thanks again!
   Libby

   
   
   
6. Sheila Plaskon on October 30, 2016 at 12:41 pm

   I love this advice thanks Nicholas. My process is to niggle away at everything. Edges forms colors line. I simply love doing it so much I don’t want stop my brush. I then I get to a point where it’s all over the place and just seems like regurgitation and I get really really uncomfortable to the point of – yes you guessed it – covering large areas. It can sometimes take a frustrating while but it suddenly becomes unified and cohesive. Reduction is my friend.

   
   
   
7. Magdalena Bogart on October 30, 2016 at 1:37 pm

   Ohhhh, I feel sooo relieved now, Nicholas, based on what you just said here. I often have the feeling I waste a lot of time painting and covering things up, because I want to make it better. “I should go straight to the right thing to paint” the critical voice says in my head.
   Now I understand that by layering painted elements we create depth and richness, even if we cover it up or only show a hint of what’s underneath. Thank you, Nick!

   
   
   
   • Nicholas Wilton on November 2, 2016 at 12:13 pm

     You never are wasting your time…it is all helping build the richness..

     
     
     
8. Vicky Nystrom Kempf on October 30, 2016 at 2:15 pm

   At my best, I look at a work in progress and say ” what if I…” My rule then is that I have to do whatever came to mind. It’s intuitive painting, working without a plan. Lots of fun.

   
   
   
9. Candace Loheed on October 31, 2016 at 8:41 am

   Good advice… I’ll try this today… more marks… wild abandon… cover it over…(just hope I don’t end up covering the whole thing!!) At the least it will be liberating and fun… which is what I want to come through in the work.

   
   
   
   • Nicholas Wilton on November 2, 2016 at 12:14 pm

     OH good–I realize this is a different way for many people of working but trying this a little might shift things for you some…great.

     
     
     
10. Susana on October 31, 2016 at 10:49 am

    It is true, most of the times, when you cover something… something new appears.

    
    
    
11. Stephanie Dalton on November 30, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    I agree, there is so much history and nuances in the hidden, thanks for the reminder to go big with this move.