Douglas Witmer
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Friday, May 13, 2005
in the studio : late may
I rarely start with a composition in mind. When I start paintings I'm always wanting to be a monochrome painter. Only a brushed color covering the entire surface. So I make that field, and then inevitably I find myself wanting just a little something more. Not something too much, just something that will be enough. And then there's a huge dilemma about what that something needs to be and the pieces sit there for months. (And lately a lot get abandoned.)I'm not a natural colorist. Color is difficult and hard to control. White is my favorite color. A close tie for second place is all the other colors, except purple.
My color is going in the direction of "plain." That is, a simple color with white or with black or with itself, more or less. This allows me to be less distracted by having to struggle so much with it. I am using acrylic & gouaches at the thin consistency of watercolor. White inflects everything that happens. Another thing I am doing lately, while I have a color mixed, is to paint several panels with it. I find this a little distasteful because I'm allergic to the idea of "serialism." Nevertheless, it allows me a few chances to find a successful combination.
Here's an image with a few recent "hits."
13.5.05 