Retrospect

I was told many years ago that the average visual artist produces about thirty paintings a year. And of those thirty paintings only a handful will really be strong pieces. I found that defeating at the time but knew that it was probably true.

In my studio process I work on many pieces at once. I go from piece to piece and when i reach the end of my rope on one, I put it in the "pile" and pick up a different one. When I near a deadline I go into overdrive, somewhat narrow my focus on less then 8 pieces and pour whatever I have left of my energy into them with my blood, sweat and prayers.

When the deadline comes and goes I am left with the wreckage of my studio, several best attempts at completion and a large pile of panels which are "in process". Sometimes for years. 

Recently I finished a painting and I believe I'm actually quite happy with it. "Retrospect" The panel itself was once a completed 24"x24" painting- it was even in a show and posted on my website. But after a couple of months I decided it wasn't very good and it became a puddle on my floor. From its remnants I kept trying to find "it". For almost a year I wrestled with it, got frustrated, put it in the pile and then picked it up again and again to no avail.

I bartered an advertising slot for the deduction of that cost off of a painting. That friend wanted me to do a commissioned piece for him based on a personal experience. 

That collector gave me the inspiration for it, I bought the materials to construct a new panel and was about to begin...

Then I realized that I wasn't able to get my work back from an exhibition in time for an open studio event and I was short on my inventory. I put his commission and two others on the back burner and focused on a few pieces to finish in a weeks time for the event. I happened to pick up that same 24"x24" panel and all of a sudden it came together. It just flowed out of me in a way that rarely happens. Something about it lead me to name it "Retrospect" and hung it gladly with the two others completed for the event.

The next day I was in the studio ready to start that barter commission and resume my work, but I couldn't keep my eye off "Retrospect". I realized that it was the same size as the barter commission and the title was very fitting. It occurred to me, amongst my other ongoing deadlines, it would be wise to make sure that it wasn't "his" painting. 

He came to see it and loved it. That poor panel finally found its place and I had the Godsend of the easiest commission ever. I inadvertently painted it for him. Had I started from scratch and focused on it,

it probably would have taken me months to complete.