07/21/2008 01:15:15

P.S. I posted this (below) a while ago; I just redid it, so the lines wouldn't break so weirdly.

07/20/2008 21:10:21

Hey, Barbara!

I'm a new PAD painter (but not new enough for it to be a REALLY good excuse for why I've posted so few PAD's) - and still very sporadic. But aim to, intend to, and envision becoming more regular and consistent. Meanwhile: I discovered PAD painters when my daughter, concerned about my income, suggested I check 'em out. I was totally AWED by Duane Keiser's work - almost gave up on the spot; and very impressed with many of the other painters, but also encouraged by the range of quality (my self-esteem as a PAD artist was rather low, at the time). I did like the idea of doing a fast painting every day.

I do 5"x7"s, 6"x8"s, and 8"x10"s.

I paint mostly on gessoed masonite, but also on canvas boards. I'm also entertaining the idea of doing some even faster, abstract or abstract expressionist, pieces in tempera on illustration board.

For the masonite pieces, I gesso all sides. Canvas board and illustration board: no prep.

I work from photos, on the figurative pieces; for the Abstract Expressionist Dream Surreal pieces (if I manage to do any in a PAD process), no photos.

I sign my small pieces with the same signature as my big ones, and the date.

I aim for 1 1/2 hours per piece, and have gone a little over two hours each, so far.

I post right away, and include in my information section that pieces will need a month of drying time before shipping.

I think even starting to do PADs is making me a better painter, and starting to strengthen my discipline.

One thing that's helped me, in this, has been having a coach (a Somatic Coach) who has been pushing me to do 15 minute paintings and drawings. Like short poses in a life drawing class, this helps break up my rigidity and carefulness, and loosens up my whole style. I don't necessarily enjoy it, though, especially at first!!!

I set up a format for doing figurative PADs: first 15 minutes - roughing in, doing as much as I can, as fast as I can. The next hour is a more leisurely development; and the last 15 minutes is like a sprint to the finish. I find this format helpful, even though I've still gone over my allotted time.

Hope this helps, and I'd love to talk more about it, and see your PAD blog, once you get it started!
Eileen