Saturday, January 8, 2011

Untitled 30


Oil and cold wax on museum panel, 24" x 24".

Thrilled to report that I had a good painting night last night for the first time in soooo long.

Thank you all for your good wishes, inspirational thoughts, and wise words! I'm too experienced to think that I'm now officially "unstuck" just because yesterday was a good painting session, but I think all your collective wisdom floated my way at just the right time. And even though I know these frustrating periods happen regularly, it doesn't make it any more fun to be in one. Especially one that lasts a long time.


Also glad some of you discovered Stuart Shils' work for the first time. I'm almost jealous--that I don't get to experience it for the first time every time I see it.

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Miss Lemon: doing her part to keep kittens clean.


And keeping 'em warm, too.



Part of a vendor's stall, Hyderabad, India.



Sold.
More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

12 comments:

Ian Foster said...

A great painting, wonderful muted colours and absolutely minimal, it really rings my bell. I was also thrilled to discover the work of Stuart Shil which you mentioned in your last post.

Bonnie Luria said...

I've been reading everyone's comments from your last post. While it doesn't make us feel better to know that we've all been familiar with stagnation, it does help to know that we're in good company.
And that it subsides and gets replaced with a new spurt of creative growth.
I can see why you'd so love Stuart Shils work- it's stunning, eloquent in it's simplicity. It's work I could keep looking at and learning from. Thanks for introducing us to him.
Seems by your lament, you propped yourself back up again and broke the fever.
I especially thought the idea of using the time to look at others blogs, read, tidy, organize ( and I'll add to that: stare at kitty piles while reaching for camera ) is sometimes as much as you need to do.
The muse is never too far away in you Jala.
Wonderful post- this and the last one.

Casey Klahn said...

It is a good painting, and you are unstuck, if it will only stay unstuck. I am experiencing the after-holiday blahs in the studio.

Shelley Smart said...

I want to add my thanks for your link to Shils' work, too. So vibrant! So much inspiration for more abstract work I'd like to do. I am currently in a painting limbo, too, so your work and Shils' (and your wonderful cats) are a helpful push! Thanks!

Caroline Simmill said...

So pleased to hear you are painting again Jala! Interesting painting it is quite mysterious, I love it!

Nancy B. Hartley said...

Oh, Jala, I love this new piece! Congrats on the breakthrough! Thank you so much for the lead to Steven Shills. I love his work, especially his still life in acrylics!

Sonya Johnson said...

Jala, glad you are back in the saddle, so to speak. Like Bonnie said, it's not comforting to see anyone else in a creative lull, but it is an important reminder that it really does happen to us all. Hopefully, the funk has faded and you're on to some productive times in the studio.

I love the colors in this painting - very calming.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Jala -- this piece is lovely. Quiet. Lonely. Beautiful. I love it. Miss Lemon looks to have things under control over there.

Gwen Bell said...

This is such a beautiful piece, Jala! Would love to see it up close...it's one I could stare at for a very long time.

Love those kitties!

loriann signori said...

Hi Jala...I will venture to say you are unstuck! Beautiful painting! Feels like landscape, looks like air.

The Artist Within Us said...

Greetings dear Jala,

Ian simply took my words for I feel too that it is a wonderful minimalistic painting. It feels like something I might see in real life on the wall randomly at an industrial site. This I call Abstract REalism.

Wishing you all the best for 2011,
Egmont

Brian McGurgan said...

I like this painting alot, Jala - beautiful subtle tones.