This week, I feel like I could write one of those mournful Dylan songs — the kind that drifts just beyond understanding. Lately, it’s the art that’s shaping the artist, pulling memories from deep places and leaving behind that familiar, enigmatic smile.
I’d love to reach the point where I can paint without sketching first — to let the colour and blending guide the image into being. While I still enjoy my two-dimensional drawings of early memories, I find myself less interested in creating new visions of the world, and more drawn to revisiting the colours of the past — memories I’m not quite ready to let fade.
“I’ve painted again… didn’t wait for it to dry… wore the grit into my skin…” You get the picture. So here it is — once more, into the canvas.
I took my time sketching this one, letting the lines lead the way before diving in with paint. The background came together nicely — I’m especially fond of how the blue, red, and yellow play off each other. But I made the classic mistake of getting ahead of myself: I started painting the lady dancer while the background was still wet. The result… well, it didn’t quite go as planned.
Of course, I didn’t want her dancing alone, so I gave her a partner — sketched him in beside her. The background remains intriguing, but I’ll admit, using a felt pen to define the figures wasn’t my strongest decision. Still, it was a worthy attempt — every painting teaches something.
In a small but satisfying victory, I repainted the proud little Volkswagen I struggled with last week — and this time, I’m much happier with the result. I took a bit more time with it, and something about that made all the difference. It felt good to do justice to the memory of this fine little machine.
Speaking of memories, here’s a simple one-dimensional sketch of the old Moon Café in Golden, B.C. When we were young, my sister and I would go there and share a 19-cent hamburger and fries for supper while our parents worked late. Looking back, I wish I’d spent more time sketching even then — so many small moments worth keeping.
Once again, the blue, yellow, and red background brought me joy — there’s just something so lively in the way those colours meet. I borrowed an idea I saw on Facebook and simply played with it. No deep intention, just a bit of artistic license and a lot of fun. Lately, I’ve been learning so much about working with watercolour, and I’m finally starting to feel at ease with it.
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