Studio transition paintings

To help make the transition to working in the new space easier, I purposefully left a few paintings in a 'mostly finished' state so that i could walk in and start right up. The overall forms and scheme had been established, leaving a few decisions to make, but mostly they needed some minor adjustments and surface refinements. And it did work. I was excited to get into the studio and work on them.


Changing the workspace has definitely affected the 'headspace' that i need for contemplating the final touches. This is the time that the painting looks pretty good and seems like it might be almost finished, but still needs something. That something can be dramatic (change all the colors, add elements) or subtle (shrinking sizes, adjusting angles etc). Often during this phase of painting i'll leave the work up and start another or do some prep work on new canvases. I like to see it out of the corner of my eye, and have it catch me by surprise in order to see it with fresh notions.
But this is a luxury that has been erased by the new studio. The limits of wall space leave me no alternative but to focus on the painting. The process feels more concentrated than contemplated.



So here are the transition paitings

Negociation, 2008-09 oil on canvas, 36 x 24 inches

Elusive Assessment, 2008-09 oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches

Pass, 2008-09 oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches