I’ve been working on this painting since April 2019, almost two years. Not all the time. I face the canvas against the wall for long stretches in between painting sessions. I try to change the composition by turning the canvas sideways or upside down. The process is the only thing that remains constant.
Today I decided to turn it upside down and change the whole central area from these dark hues to a light blue. I see it as a powdery base, like the patina on an old wall that has been in the sun for years. I need it to be light enough to let the many layers underneath be visible. In a few days, I might put a thin-lined structure against that blue wall, but I’ll have to let it dry first. I’m still not sure what kind of structure I want to add. I often feel like a bystander when I am painting. The paintings know already what they want. I am only the guy holding the brush.
