I number my paintings because otherwise it would be a bloody nightmare keeping track of the buggers. So I know for sure I'm 5 paintings away from completing my 1st thousand........better than a guess, which would surely be exaggerated or underestimated a bit. Tracking numbers and dates is a good thing. I didn't mind 3 numbers in my title but not excited about using 4; something about it feels unnaturally out of balance. I'm sure its just in my head, but I have been thinking about it because it's a lot of numbers in a title. Perhaps a number alone would be a simple solution, and everyone knows computers love numbers.....although sometimes the title is as important as the painting itself. My guess is I'll get use to using 4 numbers sooner than later.....perhaps a lower font to diminish it's importance.
In between all this thinking, number 995 emerged from my white canvas and I suppose one could say it was born with its own social security number. After all it will have the tax man too........think about it.:=)
A thousand paintings is a lot of paint and canvas to go through, not to mentions frames. If I count up the days, which I did out of curiosity, my number is 2,410 days working as an oil painter.....so about 2.4 days per painting. I guess all this numerical fluff is useful establishing bench marks or a glimpse into future possibilities - for me its a simple organizational necessity. I'm thankful organizational skills prevailed over leaving a scattered trail of work. It is also a valuable learning tool as a visible digital record of my progress as an artist--a record I can study at will.
Jitters stayed on the easel much longer than my average 2.4 days. In truth, a painting is done when it's done or when the energy field dissipates as it did with this one. What happens to it after is anyone's guess......no question they all have a future and over time develop a history. One of the side benefits of making art is a longer mortality than it's maker and occasionally I see some off to a good start.
I guess I've sorted my number problem out writing this post. It's clear to me the number and timeline is second only to the work of art itself when it comes to the history of a painting.
In between all this thinking, number 995 emerged from my white canvas and I suppose one could say it was born with its own social security number. After all it will have the tax man too........think about it.:=)
PAINTING 995 an exercise in yellow
JITTERS 40x44 oil on linen (10-27-15)
A thousand paintings is a lot of paint and canvas to go through, not to mentions frames. If I count up the days, which I did out of curiosity, my number is 2,410 days working as an oil painter.....so about 2.4 days per painting. I guess all this numerical fluff is useful establishing bench marks or a glimpse into future possibilities - for me its a simple organizational necessity. I'm thankful organizational skills prevailed over leaving a scattered trail of work. It is also a valuable learning tool as a visible digital record of my progress as an artist--a record I can study at will.
Jitters stayed on the easel much longer than my average 2.4 days. In truth, a painting is done when it's done or when the energy field dissipates as it did with this one. What happens to it after is anyone's guess......no question they all have a future and over time develop a history. One of the side benefits of making art is a longer mortality than it's maker and occasionally I see some off to a good start.
I guess I've sorted my number problem out writing this post. It's clear to me the number and timeline is second only to the work of art itself when it comes to the history of a painting.
