Sometimes I am disappointed with the results. Or maybe my disappointment is surprise that the painting went in an unexpected direction when I was "happy" with an earlier version. The intention with this current series of paintings ("Crossing Lines") is to abstract the figure. Halfway through I felt I had more than abstracted the figure. I felt I had obscured it. The scraped paint and drips were satisfying on one level, but it wasn't my intention. It had no "life" it was just a colorful spots of paint. There wasn't something lurking underneath. The painting had become too concerned with the surface and the application of paint and the "narrative" had been obscured. It was too busy. I surprised myself thinking that because many of the other paintings in the series are "busy."
I limited my tools (one brush) and colors (black, white, yellow, red). I decided to find the figure again. The mark making turned to blending and the figure re-emerged. And a new kind of "abstraction" appeared. "A man with butterfly wings" a friend commented. The narrative was foremost. The mark making unfamiliar. The intention re-formed.
I can't like every painting I do, but I can learn from them. Maybe this painting doesn't belong in this series, but for now I'll put it there as the exception that makes the rule.
Whatever that rule is.