I enjoy working in a small format, so when I heard about Artist Trading Cards, or ATC’s ten years ago, I jumped into the fun with a series of portraits. I painted Frida Kahlo several times, and used all four of my grandparents as models from vintage photos of their newlywed years. I had a blast painting an assortment of notable authors, poets and artists.
Some artists (ahem. cough. my hand is up) find working in-series to be very challenging. What flavor of series have you worked in? What got you motivated to start? And did you complete the series?
If a little of the pleasure I got from being near those willows in that beautiful spot and if a little of the exhilaration I felt on being out-of-doors on those early September days are conveyed to those who behold the print, I shall have accomplished something for them… It is the season of quiet, of serenity and repose. That time of stillness, of arrested animation, is what I would like the print to convey. Such days are dramatic in their restrain, but they live long in our memories.. The print will serve its purpose well if it conveys to those who see it something of the enthusiasm and pleasure that went into its making.
~ printmaker Stow Wengenroth (1906-1978)[courtesy of The Old Print Shop]
Love the Frida! When it comes to series I guess we are opposite. My problem is I have waaay too many series going at once. For some reason I can never do just one. Some series have only one or two works, with plans to get back to it (someday!), but then I get an idea and start another. Oh well, I guess some are more like sub-series!
I haven’t officially retired any one series yet, probably never will, so I can forget about completion!
Keep painting…