'08

one thing leads to another

for me
it begins
with making a sketch;
or maybe a watercolor

sometimes 'from life'
but most often out-of-my-head:
from memory

these first seeds are doors

that lead into and out of
another world

some of the images evolving
for years
before awakening one day as a painting

like dreams
they suggest feelings or meanings
that are not clear;
 

with oils, i paint only from
the ideas in my head
spontaneously
(not from studies)
often on the remains
of previous tries

my paintings are drawings

i try to get a feel for the picture, following its lead
pushing my way through accidents
and surprises
trying to complete it straight through
 
in the latter stages I just want
to make an image 'work'

after making a bunch
i look at them and keep some to the side

sometimes i turn a reject
upside-down
and it leads

somewhere else

DH