PATRICK JOHN MILLS GALLERY: March Painting Marathon

Monday, March 18, 2013

March Painting Marathon - Day 18

short video of painting on location

Finally a blue sky. I was very excited about painting this day.

I had mentally prepared myself a few days before... as I intended to paint a large 38 x 78 inche painting. I woke up early. 5:55 am. I was all pumped to work.

I loaded up my van with all the equipment. I arrived on location. Perfect.

So excited to start the day... I left the house with out having breakfast. So I unloaded the van. Put all the painting equipment on the bridge. I parked the van in the NAC underground parking. I then went to get my breakfast inside the Rideau Centre. I was in a perfect state of mind to paint.

I started painting... FUCK. The new gesso I had applied to the canvas... well it was brittle and was cracking. I was really upset. I could not paint this large work. The foundation for the painting would simply be incorrect. So I emotionally had a real down. It was pointless to even waste a second on painting on this surface.

It was still very early... before 7:50 am. I had a choice: fuck it and go home, wait for the Art Supply Store to open, or drive home and get another canvas. (short video at the bottom of page)

So I decided to drive home and get another canvas to work on.

I returned back on location by about 8:30 am. I really had to focus on the moment. Feel positive. Move forward.

I used the mixture of blue paint that I had prepared on the new canvas. I got down to work very fast and focused. I did not document the process of this work... Just really needed to lock my mind into a creative zone.

I had to work hard... as I had to collect Isabelle from school at 2:20 pm. But the painting was only 30 x 42 inches... so I had a lot of time to pay attention to details and not rush myself.

Patrick S. Greene showed up around 9 am. So it was nice to have company. I could not talk to him really much for the first 30 mins... I had to really concentrate on my mental focus. He understood. And we had a great time painting together.