What's Happening in the Studio?

What's going on in the studio? Goodness me, it just took me about half a minute to find that question mark for the last sentence! Obviously I don't use it very often.

There is a lot going on in the studio, especially since my partner dropped by my studio recently and pointed out that my most recent piece that I was stuck on looked like "a dog's breakfast" Maybe that's why I was stuck. No direction, no focus and no theme. I could title it "Dogs Breakfast"and leave it at that. It is pretty close to the title I did have in mind which was "Where am I?"

After this Greg looked around my studio and explained that he was really worried about the work I was creating lately and how it had lost the unique edge that it has had in the past. He said my process is just one fluke that leads to another fluke.

You could have knocked me down with a feather, but deep down I knew he was right because I had been battling with the same thoughts myself over the last few months. So instead of telling him kindly where to go and throwing myself under the next bus that came along, bringing a tragic end to a wanna be artist....I took a deep breathe and listened closely because I sensed God was speaking through Greg to my soul. You would think that happened all the time with Greg, especially as he is a Pastor, and that I have a direct line to God, no not really...but I knew there was something important for me to hear.

I have always respected Greg's touch of class and his taste in contemporary art, and though he can't create it, he knows what looks good. So I ate humble pie, which led me to transform the dogs breakfast into something quite different as you see below. It is not completed yet but I have a plan now.

City side-street Cafes in Melbourne    J Pfeiffer  2012

Thats not all... he also said my studio looked more like a lounge room and kitchen than a workshop. I must admit I had made it a cozy and welcoming space. So the first thing I did was shift a few things around in my studio.  Next all the paintings came down that are not very inspiring. I have a few of them, especially as the good ones have sold! I put up others that have a technique or style I want to incorporate or explore further. I have just finished of three small exploding flowers in coloured acrylic ink. Also I am working on a new technique with alcoholic inks on plastic. 

 I actually have way too many ideas and I think I try to put them all on one canvas like an excited child. Well it is time to grow up. I'll keep that child alive, but she is not in charge! I think a little bit of planning will go a long way and also to slow down and stand back often to view the work from a distance. I am so excited about getting into the studio now. Something in me has shifted gear and I'm ready to work differently to get the results I want.