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Laura Paulini, Black Beauty |
Sometimes artworks are executed quickly. We get to experience the sweet satisfaction of completion in short order. But what about those projects that that develop over months or even years? (I’m working on one myself right now.)
How do we keep going when the project takes longer than expected?
How do we keep working when the end is not clearly in sight?
Can we enjoy the process for its own sake?
I was particularly inspired by artist Laura Paulini’s shining example of perseverance recently and am eager to share it with you.
Laura builds her acrylic and egg tempera paintings by applying the paint in rows and patterns of dots, each dot of paint painstakingly applied with the end of a chopstick.
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Each 40 x 40″ panel takes months to complete, row by row, dot by dot.
Nine months ago, she decided to undertake a slightly larger piece. For this 60″ x 60″ panel she also chose to create a base layer of stripes over which she will add the dots.
It took her seven months, working about four days a week to paint all the stripes for the first layer. That’s approximately 8,150 stripes each month for a total of 57,000!
I asked Laura how she kept going during a process that takes such meticulous care, attention and time.
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When I started in July, I had hoped to be done by Thanksgiving. When that didn’t happen, I thought maybe by Christmas. After that, I stopped thinking too much about an expected end date and surrendered even more deeply to the process knowing I would, indeed, some day actually finish and that I just needed to keep going.
What were some of the hardest periods?
One hard period was around the holidays when time in the studio was getting compromised by outside responsibilities and distractions. I felt great concern about getting too far away from the piece and loosing momentum. Luckily, I was able to get to the studio often enough and keep the piece going.
What were some of the phases of your process that you went through during this time?
The period from October until January (the dreaded “middle”) was difficult because the density of the stripes hadn’t yet achieved that “critical mass” when the colors dance off one another and create a blend that moves the viewers eye across the piece. I felt like I could work for eight hours and then stand back and not really see any change. Once the density of the stripes was closer to final (near the end of January), each day in the studio felt very satisfying and I could make rather large “shifts” in the rhythm of the piece, getting it to work the way I had hoped. The last few weeks were really a pleasure and I found I had ambivalent feelings about finishing.
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How did you carry on when you didn’t feel like working on it?
I simply tried to honor my commitment to my studio practice and show up. Once there, I quickly changed in to my work clothes, started mixing my colors, and got to work. I tried to let negative thoughts and doubts dissipate as quickly as possible and respond to them with humor. In the evenings, I would try and look at books or films that inspire and guide me. My husband and my friends have also been incredibly supportive and their enthusiasm and excitement about the piece is also very encouraging to me.
Were you tempted to take a break and work on other things?
Not really. I feel privileged to have been able to focus solely on this piece and to give myself the space and time to do it. I really never saw myself as being able to give much to another piece while this one is in process – and didn’t really want to. I’m just now being able to actually think about what might come next.
Were you tempted to give up?
Sure. It’s very easy to think of all the reasons why, too! So far I haven’t given up on this piece – or on my desire to make a contribution to the discipline of painting. I hope I can say that a year from now, two years from now, five years from now. We’ll see…
Responses to “How to keep going over a long haul…”
Anne Gaal
Thank you for sharing Laura’s incredible piece and your interview with her. What a triumph!
Melissa Dinwiddie
I’ve never worked on anything *that* long-term — 200 or so hours is probably the most time I’ve put into a single work of art.
Even with that, it was sometimes hard to keep going when the work was tedious (but when a client is waiting on a commission with a hard deadline, it’s a pretty heavy motivator!)
I love the concept of surrendering to the process. When I’m able to do that, whether I’m working on a quick piece or something more substantial, everything goes better. 🙂
Michele Theberge
I couldn’t agree more. No matter how deeply I believe it and how many times I hear it, I still love the reminder to stay engaged in the process, rather than the goal. I like how you put it “surrender to the process”. As in art, so in life. Art making has so much to teach us about life in general, don’t you think?
Indigene
This was a wonderful interview! I think it’s so important to learn from other artists, how their day-to-day processes are inspiring, as much as the final product. It gives one a total view of the artist and how they show up everyday to give their energy, heart and physical energy to their work. Wherever the art ends up, we know that there was a person, a process and tangible human energy and commitment inside the imagery! Thank you both for sharing in the process.
Michele Theberge
I love how you put this, Indigene! I can’t get enough of hearing about how other artists approach their work and their practice.
Jim
Thank you for sharing. I will remember this when the walls of my studio seem to tighten.
Beatrice Lacoste
It is like life really, living in the moment and keeping momentum. the journey is more important than the final destination. It looks like a beautiful work of art, evolved over the time…
Sue Sullivan
I love this interview, Michele. I’m so intrigued by what motivates people in the endeavors they choose, especially ones that they don’t “have” to do. Thanks for sharing it with us!
elizabeth hunter
This really helped me this morning, Michele. I am in the middle of writing a book and sometimes I lose faith that it will ever get done!
Richard Paulini
I am Laura’s Dad and we are very proud of her. Thank you for doing
a great blog. Laura’s Mom and her neice and I read the blog.
Aunt Laura, I really like your art. I would like to make one myself with you one day when I’m older.
Love,
Gwyn
Fran Johns
My husband and I are fans of Laura’s, and of her work (we have several wayyy less ambitious pieces which we love every bit as much as viewers will love this one I’m sure.) Thanks for such a good glimpse into her work and process.
jewel lentz
belief in one’s art is belief in oneself, belief is oneself is belief in one’s art.
Michele Theberge
The two are closely linked, aren’t they?
Marge Knyper
So nice to get your inspirational blog interview once again! I too suffered the holiday and cold weather aversion to getting to my studio work. But I have continued to experiment with brush strokes in front of the fire. So now that the sun is shining, my body told me also to go outside and do some qi gong and yoga. After that, and now reading your interview, I am re-motivated to think about my long project which I started last year. The studio calls!
Michele Theberge
Nice to hear that reading what Laura said about her practice motivated you! Sending good thoughts!