Paintings in Process: A Series of ShortS

When you see a painting hanging in a gallery it can be hard to remember that the painting was once a blank canvas. In my latest video series “Paintings in Process”, you get to see a painting at various stages, from start to finish.

Check out the videos here.

The paintings in this blog and the videos will be featured in a solo show at Lynn Hanson Gallery. Find out more on my Exhibits Page.

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The Process of Creating a Painting

Sometimes when I’m painting, I take pictures of a single piece at different stages. Having these photos is a great way for me to improve my technique and to look at how I make decisions about where to go next. I also use the photos when I teach to show students how to move paintings from start to finish and to wade through the muck of the middle stage. Also, it’s just fun to see a painting emerge!

Sometimes you’ll see that I tape colored paper over an area to see if I want to remove something or change a color. It can be very hard to decide to let go of something I really like but ultimately doesn’t fit in the piece. Sadly, painting doesn’t come with a “Save As” button. If you watch the process video for Me and You, You and Me, you’ll see that I had to let go of a very friendly golden lab. That was hard, and he will be missed.

Some of these paintings are complete re-starts, i.e. paintings I started overtop of a completed piece that just wasn’t working for me. A couple of examples of this are By the Bay and Before Sunset.

People often ask me how long it took me to create a painting. This is an impossible question to answer for many reasons. One is that some of these paintings took years to complete because there were things I needed to learn before I could finish them. By the Bay, for example, lived in my studio for quite a while as another painting (check out the video to see more). Then, when I realized I wanted to drastically change it, it took me many, many months to finish the new one. Sometimes I just need to live with a painting for long periods between starting and finishing. I may work on it for a while and then let it lie fallow before taking it up again.

So don’t let these short videos fool you. The process of creating a painting can be a long and complicated one.

Don’t forget to check out my YouTube Channel for many more videos about painting techniques and the creative process

"Night Cats" - Underpainting

I often create a colorful ground, see what inspires me, and go from there

Process #1

Process #2

Process #3

Process #4

Process #5

"Night Cats" - final piece

"Me & You, You & Me" - underpainting

This is the colorful ground I often start with. You can see the chalk outlines where I was beginning to find form

Process #1

Process #2

Here I used painted paper to block out the dog and see if the painting worked better without it.

Process #3

Although I loved the dog, the painting didn’t need it so I had to kill my darlings.

"Me & You, You & Me" - final piece

Studio Tour Video

My new Studio Tour video is here! If you haven’t had the chance to see it yet, you can watch it here. The supply list for the video is also available, which takes you through the tools and materials I use daily in my studio. My other art videos can be found on my YouTube channel.

An Abstract Conversation: Going Deeper with Our Art

In my never-ending quest to discover more and more about the creative process— especially about painting—I am taking another look at the concept of abstracting. I’m very excited about my upcoming class Stretching Toward Abstraction (July 13-14), as well as my free presentation (June 18th), both at ArtEAST, (more info below).

Both the class and presentation focus on finding ways to personally express ourselves, using studio strategies that match who we are as people and artists. Because we’re all unique, there isn’t one solution to this problem.

In my upcoming presentation I’ll be showing slides of a variety of artists’ work in the context of where this work lies on the continuum between completely representational and completely non-objective.

I’ll talk about the painting process of several of these artists, with a focus on enlivening our own art and our artistic process. To me, it is not about picking sides—abstract vs. realistic—it is about digging deeper in order to find our own most natural form of self-expression.

This expression, of course, can be influenced by other artists, and will not stay stagnate. But in order to find that place, we have to be willing to mess around and play. This kind of play is not frivolous, but deep and wild and challenging. It can also be enjoyable, and it often is…but not always.

I paint best when I’m willing to let go of control, stay present in myself, and keep an attitude of what I think of as the Dance. I come in and out of this state. Finding and being in this state is easiest for me when I’m beginning a painting. Why? I have less to lose. I haven’t invested as much at this stage. Moving on with the painting, into the stages of editing, changing and refining, I can tend to tighten up.

I’ve given a lot of thought to how I can rekindle the Dance state as the painting moves along. I have a lot of ideas about this that I’ll share during this presentation and in my July workshop.

I invite you to come to the Salon presentation and be part of this conversation! Bring your own thoughts and questions on the subject, as well as a notebook and a pen. I hope to see you there.

Upcoming Class: Creative Journaling

I’ll be teaching a new and wonderful workshop, Creative Journaling.

Creative Journaling is all about exploration and expression, without the pressure of trying to produce artwork for exhibition or publication. It’s a private place to create, fool around, delight in, explore, and develop ideas.

Who is this class for? Everyone.

You don’t need to be a practicing painter, writer, sculptor, or musician. . You may be a breadmaker or forestwalker. Whatever you choose to do, you can find ways to enhance your ways of being in the world.

This workshop will include a wide variety of expressive techniques, using words and various art methods. Some of the exercises will be:  Art Journaling, Freewriting, using a Sketchbook, Book Altering, Poetry, and Creativity Coaching. It will be an experimental journey with many ideas you can take with you.

The great thing about journaling is you NEVER have to show anyone. It’s just for you. This isn’t about making something “good.” It isn’t about pleasing anyone, including your inner critics. It’s messy, mistakes are allowed — and even encouraged — as is a friendly attitude toward our imperfection. 

Journaling can act as:

• A way of kindling and engaging the creative process and developing ideas

• A way to explore our stuck places and our fears about ourselves as people and artists

• A quiet and meditative way of spending time with ourselves

• A way of expressing ourselves with words, and beyond words

I invite you to join me for this Creative Journaling workshop on September 9th and 10th at Artist & Craftsman Supply in Seattle -- more info and to register:  Workshop Description — Jacqui Beck

Such Is Life

Who I Listen To, 19x24

The painting series, Such Is Life, I’ll be showing at Columbia City Gallery this April comes from musings that have been with me for quite a while. Unlike my Personal Prayer Flag or Palimpsest series, though, the concept is more complex.

I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a human being on this planet, specifically when it comes to relating to others. As I was painting I kept in mind the fact that we tend to connect with people similar to ourselves, and far too often implicitly fear those who are different.

This past year or so I’ve been thinking more about race. A friend of mine had a horrible experience which, I believe, was a result of the color of her skin. I began thinking, talking, and reading more about race, as well as considering my own white privilege. I’m not going to create a meaningful relationship with someone of a different race if I’m in denial of how my racial privilege affects my life and theirs.

When I did my Gender Personal project (www.genderpersonal.org), I spent over a year exploring the concept of gender identity, and an important way for me to process these new ideas has been through my art. I believe that the personal expression of art allows us to tinker with, delve into, and form connections with new concepts.

Getting Along with Strangers, 30”x30”

Another influence on this latest series has been the book Lost Connections by Johann Hari. Johann writes about the huge number of people worldwide, who suffer from anxiety and depression.

After years of research and traveling the globe, he has come to believe that this is related to our disconnection from each other, from ourselves, from meaningful work, and from the natural world. His work is all about rediscovering and rekindling those connections. No matter who we are or what our life experiences have been, we crave and need these connections to find meaning in our lives.

I’m also reading The Book of Joy by Douglas Abrams, which is a presentation of discussions between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. These wise men also maintain that it is connection with others that underlies a deep feeling of joy in our lives, especially when this includes compassion and support.

Such Is Life will be at Columbia City Gallery from April 3rd through May 12th, and I invite you to come by and see it. The opening reception is Saturday April 6th, 5:00 – 7:00.

Time Enough , 24x30

Here’s a list of books which inspired me as I was creating this series:

• Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – And the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari

• The Book of Joy, a presentation of discussions between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, written by Douglas Abrams

• Things that Make White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett

• What Does it Mean to Be White: Developing White Racial Literacy by Robin DiAngelo

Different Ways of Seeing It All, 30x30

Not the Same, 24”x24”

For more info about the Such Is Life exhibit and Columbia City Gallery visit Jacqui’s exhibits page.

To view the Such Is Life series as a whole, click here.

“If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk with others.”

— African proverb

We always teach what we need to learn

I’ll be giving a presentation, Improving and Enjoying Your Art Process, for Artists Connect in Edmonds on Saturday January 26th. Members and Nonmembers are welcome. For information on where and when, click here.

I was talking with a friend of mine over the weekend, and he asked how things are going for me. I told him that I hadn’t been getting to the studio much and that I feel like I’ve lost my spark (or at least enough of it that I don’t feel very sparky these days). Then I told him that I had been journaling about my sparklessness, and had found myself writing that it might be good to pay attention to the ideas I’m planning to share in my upcoming presentation. We laughed about this, and he said, “Yes, we always teach what we need to learn.”

 He’s right, of course. I learn so much when I coach and teach. And it is never finished. There’s always more to learn.

 So, if you’re interest in a bit of igniting, I hope you’ll join me in Edmonds on the 26th.

 Improving and Enjoying Your Art Process

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”  Maya Angelou

Jacqui Beck will be giving a presentation on ways to ignite, nurture, and understand ourselves and our creative process. She’ll share ideas and strategies for spicing up our art practice, rekindling our curiosity, and finding our way around and through artist blocks.

 We cannot separate the artist from the artwork. Who we are is expressed in our art, and our life choices are our creative path.

 This talk is for everyone, no matter artistic medium or level of experience.

 We’ll explore:

• How to develop and nurture our creative selves

• The necessity of humor and messing around

• Getting comfortable with making mistakes, and learning how to recover

• Learning to enjoy the PROCESS, not only the product

• Developing your artistic voice

• Resources and tools to aid you in your creative quests

Bring a pen and your curiosity!

My Latest Art Video!

My latest video, Using Stamping in Acrylic Painting, is the third in a series of videos about making and using stamps in acrylic painting. This video covers techniques for applying and removing paint with hand-made stamps.

Be sure to watch the other two videos, Creating Carved Stamps, and Creating Adhesive Foam Stamps.

Check it out, and let me know what you think!

Presentation: Decision Making in the Painting Process

Thursday September 27 2018, 6:30 – 8:30

I’ll be giving a presentation called ‘Decision Making in the Painting Process’ at artEAST on September 27th.

The talk will focus on questions artists ask ourselves as we paint, for example:

How do I make decisions when I paint? How do I know what to keep and what to change? What do I base my decisions on? What can I do when I get stuck?

I will be discussing this topic using a slideshow of my paintings in process. You’ll have a chance to see paintings from start to finish as I describe how and why I made the choices I did. I’ll also bring finished and unfinished paintings to look at and consider as a group.

There will be time at the end of the program to look at some of your paintings. Bring one of your favorite stuck paintings for the group to consider and discuss. We’ll use a lottery to choose whose paintings we’ll look at.

**This Salon is open to Members and Non-Members of artEAST. Bring a friend!

**Bring a painting you’d like to look at with the group to get ideas for moving it forward.

**People who attend will receive a $25 off coupon for an initial 1 ½ hour Creativity Coaching session with Jacqui (regular price is $135) or $15 off a one hour Creativity Coaching session.

Date: Thursday September 27, 6:30 – 8:30
Location: artEAST (95 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA 98027)
Fee: artEAST members – free; Non-members $10
To Register: to register for the Salon, click here.

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Here is the painting Decorating the Ordinary, start to finish:

Decorating the Ordinary – Step 1: Getting Started

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Decorating the Ordinary – Completed Painting

Showing Up

“Chicken Connection”

I think it was Hemingway who said that the most important thing for a writer is the “pants seat in the chair seat.” You can’t write or paint if you don’t show up.

I was looking through a recent writer’s almanac, and found this: tell your subconscious you will meet her at the studio at 10. Then honor it. She may get some work done ahead of time (cognitive theorists call this Incubation). They suggest we ask her a question then forget about it with our conscious mind.

After a while, ideas, questions, answers or ways to play with this idea may come to you at odd moments (in the shower, as you nap in the afternoon, or on a walk). That’s why the Google Corporation headquarters has plenty of couches for people to lie around and muse on. I don’t know if they have showers, but maybe they should.

Do you take time to just wonder about things? Do you use a journal to scribble and muse? Do you carry notecards with you so that you can write down creative ideas or questions to yourself throughout the day?

Here are some muse-questions of mine:

• If a person had two heads, how would they decide what movie to go to?

• How would I paint something invisible, like a secret or a ghost or a memory, or the feeling of a garden in the morning?

• What do I really want to paint?

Have fun, keep at it, stay wacky, and show up!

Creating Adhesive Foam Stamps

With the help of my son Finnbar, I just made a video about how to make stamps using adhesive-backed foam on blocks of wood.

This is a part of a series of videos I’ll be doing on expressive art techniques. It’s the second stamping video I’ve done, and there are more to come. Be sure to watch for the bunny fangs.

You can order supplies for creating adhesive stamps from Michael’s Art & Craft Supply. You'll need Sticky-Back Foam Sheets and Small Wood Cubes.