Passing Through

I've hesitated to post about my latest project because it feels like I am in a muddy trench, mucking about, but hey, this is my process. I am painting a central panel of black velvet. Posted here are images of the progress, from the latest to the earliest. My plan (ha ha - when do I ever stick to a plan?) is to install the side patchwork curtains just in front of the central panel somehow, and to shine light through the curtains. They do have a beautiful stained glass quality when illuminated. The central panel is becoming more loaded with imagery than I'd planned (there you go...) and I was in despair yesterday, thinking I'd really f___ed up an expensive piece of velvet, but after letting it sit for 24 hours, and after attending a crit of 2 other artists' work last night where the topic turned to how we sometimes have to really work a piece, almost to the breaking point, and that's ok, that's the necessary process, I felt more accepting of it. Brings to mind the line from an old song: "Tear it down, tear it down, Mr. Man, but don't ruin it..."

It is a painting in progress, and layers will get obscured. I'm using acrylics, pastels, and India ink. The central figure is climbing the stairs, passing through, so to speak...

Will write more about it later - I really need to get over to my studio and wrestle with it now...

This little video clip is from my walk home from the studio the night before last, and it echoes my current pallet.