Last month i invited you to ask me questions and you graciously responded with thoughtful questions. I broke them down into categories to better answer them. I am going to pull some from each category and sprinkle them in this & many other blog posts.
Do you ever get stuck? How do you get unstuck?
Of course i get stuck. i think everyone gets stuck. i was watching the Gerhard Richter Painting Documentary just a little while ago and there's a point in the film where he just stops painting. He said he was unsure of what to do next. He's not only being doing this for 5 decades but is one of the top selling artist alive today (one of his paintings just recently went for $37 million). My point is stuck doesn't mean anything and you have to push past it rather than give up on it. As far as getting unstuck, sometimes i walk away for just a bit. i will go and do something else (cooking, reading, or even another art project) but it doesn't mean i am not thinking about it. I call letting it stew a bit. i will sometimes do a creative exercise to loosen me up, something that is just rote and frees up my mind. Stuck may be because i am hungry or tired and need to eat or rest. But i try to always get back to the piece and finish it.
What do you do when an element of a page or a whole page isn’t working the way you envisioned?
Don't force it. If my gut is telling me it isn't working then maybe i need to shift gears. i have to trust that even though i am heading in a different direction than my vision, it's the right decision. Maybe it's meant for another piece. Trust yourself to let go and follow the new path.
Do you work on art journals (like A4 format) on large sheets of paper like in some of your videos?
I often work on a A4 sized papers like the one above. It is a Dylusion Journal and i love the size. I am looking for a larger size journal too and might just create a homemade journal to use. i have some current paintings i am working on that are quite a bit larger than A4. i completely love it even if it scares me a bit.
What are some of your paint brands and colors that you prefer using?
My two favorite acrylic paint brands are Golden & Liquitex. I really love Golden's rich buttery and pure pigment colors. Liquitex has some great colors too and a wide range of grades. Colors i tend to use are Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Crimson & Magenta, Hansa Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Prussian Blue, Turquois (Phthalo), Prism Violet, Mars Black, Titanium White.
What kinds of things or people encouraged you in your journey?
I feel extremely blessed in my journey. There have been many things and people who have encouraged me along the way. Somedays i felt unsure of myself and at just the right moment courage was found...in a kind word, in something i saw in myself, in a quote i heard, etc. i remember Ali Edwards saying to me in a wonderful encouraging tone when i was talking about developing a book idea: "Do it Ronda. You can so do it." i have been blessed with friends like Lisa Pace (and many others) who not only encourage me but also give me a slight kick in the heinie when i need it.
"If you are scared to lose the first two layers, you won't experience growth. You have to be able to lose yourself and the piece. It's not about going backwards. It's about going forwards." Michael Gadlin.
When i hear some amazing words i really try to hang onto them. i surround myself with them, post them around my space, repeat them over and over again, and share them with others. If i am inspired by them then others might be too.
When you're done with a piece, is it done forever? Do you sometimes pull out an old piece and add something new, try to recreate it, or do you always start with a fresh canvas?
If i call a piece done then it's done. i don't usually go back to it to and add anything new. i usually start with a fresh canvas. If it's a layout, i may start with a piece that already has leftover spray inks or acrylic paints on the background. If i am stuck, then i try to work through the piece (like i said above) but i don't usually recreate it.
