Overcoming attachment

Deidre Adams-Organic CompoundOrganic Compound, 24 x 24 inches, acrylic on panel, ©2010 Deidre Adams

I’m finally calling this painting done. Not that I haven’t already done that – twice – but I kept thinking it needed something more. I went to a meeting of artist friends on Friday night, and the next day, while thinking about a conversation we had with the hostess while considering a painting in her studio, I was inspired to attack my own painting one more time.

My friend had made her painting over the course of a 15-week class in which the students worked on the same painting in each session of the class. I had seen my friend’s painting once before in a much earlier stage, and I was really surprised at how much it had changed by the end – I wouldn’t even have recognized it as the same painting. The final painting was fantastic, but I’d also thought the same thing about the earlier version. I asked her if it had been difficult to paint over parts of the painting that were really working. She talked about how it was part of the process to let go of attachments and learn to forge ahead without fear.

Deidre Adams - Organic Compound-detailOrganic Compound, detail

The notion of attachment really resonated with me, as I do have a tendency to fall in love with certain passages in a painting, and then the fear of messing with those keeps me from giving the painting what it needs. The image below shows the last documented state of Organic Compound before the above. I was really happy with the colors and textures, but the composition was just a little too “overall” for me and I felt it needed some punch. So my solution yesterday was to add the darker blue values in the upper right corner, plus the very detailed turquoise markings. In the process, I lost some really nice color and detail in that upper right area, but in my opinion the resulting composition is a lot stronger now.


Organic Compound in progress II

Prior to that, the painting had a very different look. Below you will see how it looked for several months. I was really indecisive about where to go with it, so I just decided to make a drastic change and see where that would lead. I flooded the whole thing with warm reds and oranges, which settled very nicely into the texture and made a more cohesive result. It also changed the balance, so I rotated it one turn. (Topic for future discussion: Those who say you must be decisive in choosing the orientation vs. those who say it’s subject to change.)

Some of you may not agree that what I did was an improvement. Of course it’s my work so I have final say, but I am curious to know what you think.

Organic Compound in progress I
January 30th, 2011|Painting, Process|11 Comments

Patchwork Professional article

My work is featured in this month’s issue of Patchwork Professional, a beautiful publication from Germany. The small image left center is mine, a detail of Reflections (full image below). I wonder if my high-school German will be adequate to the task of reading the articles? Hmm, probably not.

The gorgeous quilt on the right is Seaside Town by Alicia Merrett, part of her Mapping and Recording series in which she interprets landscape from a bird’s eye view. Alicia says, “I explore colour from a variety of sources – the urban and natural environment, mapping, literature, music, the world around us – and reflect it in the textiles that are my passion.” Visit her web site for more luscious color and line work.

Reflections, 38 x 92 (diptych), ©2008 Deidre Adams (click image for larger view)

America Celebrates opening reception

Last Friday, the Longmont Museum in Longmont, Colorado, hosted a lovely reception for America Celebrates. The exhibition was beautifully designed, and the space is first-class. A good number of the artists were in attendance, several traveling from out of town just for this event. I was surprised at how large the opening night crowd was. Judith Trager deserves high praise for her skill in curating and producing this exhibition. Many thanks to her for an outstanding show!


Opening reception at the Longmont Museum gets a strong turnout

Judith Trager with Cinco de Mayo

Patty and Wes Hawkins with Patty’s The Red Truck: Fiftieth Anniversary

Linda Faires with Vaishaka Day (Festival of the Buddha)

Terise Harrington with The Run for the Roses

Elizabeth Davison with America Celebrates our Communities

Jamie Bolane with All Saints’ Day

Carol Watkins with Celebrating the Vernal Equinox

Anne Theobald with America Celebrates Tennis

Carol Waugh with Celebrate Our Differences

Lea McComas with Wrapped In Tradition

Gay Lasher with Diwali: The Hindu Festival of Lights

Carol Waugh, Patty Hawkins, Deidre Adams, Vicki Carlson

The Longmont Museum is offering a catalog of the exhibition for $10. The exhibition runs through March 13, 2011.

January 16th, 2011|Exhibitions, Fiber / mixed media|Comments Off on America Celebrates opening reception