Ghosts in my Paint

PAINTING PROCESS

My painting process? I have none. Only twice ever have I sat down with a sketch and said "I'm going to paint this!". It just never works out that way. My paintings are mostly all completely doodles. I just start freehand in paint. No pencils no plans.

I begin ramdomly with an ear, or a shoe and just travel on from there.

They usually turning out to be not at all what I thought they were going to be.

Kind of like children.

Quite often they will at one time or another have creatures and companions that disappear before it's finished. They are hiding in the canvas. I have ghosts in my paint.

A friend once told me I should try stopping once every hour, and take a picture. Then I could play all the shots together and see the evolution.

I'll have to try that on a big piece sometime.

Gray Flowered Wallpaper and Latex Masks

the Super Show

Here are a couple of my latest projects. (above) is a new piece I just finish for my upcoming Super Show. A show devoted to household portraits of Superchildren. From back in the day when gray flowered wallpaper and latex masks were just how they did it. Coming this Fall.

Also, (below) a little Marie Antoinette illustration I just finished for the lovely Erin Huber's upcoming Marie Antoinette party

Marie (bluehaired)

Anonymous Birth

One question I get asked a lot when people see the paintings I'm working on is "Who is she"?. When my darling (Larry) photographs my pieces he'll sit down at his computer to work on the files, and he'll ask "What's her name?"

I never know. My paintings are not my creations. They just Are. They are alive, somewhere inside of me but they are not mine.

They are anonymous births.

Their eyes have stories and histories, but I don't know them. I don't feel that I need to. They are my darling strangers.

I keep a list in my sketchbook of names that I love. Names I find beautiful, or funny or just names that capture me. When I get asked those questions, I'll look in my sketchbook and read down the list and pick a name. One that fits. I never name them till I have to. She's mine, and my soul knows her. I won't attach words to her until someone needs them.

I will spend days and weeks and months on her until she is finished, and then someone will ask me a question. "What is the story behind Camilla?".

I have no idea who they are talking about.