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Unfinished Pieces: A peek into my Art Cemetery

3/20/2019

3 Comments

 
Artists typically work alone and I think that makes the creative process seem a bit mysterious and daunting. But, creating art is like most things we do in life. Sometimes it turns out smashingly, and other times... well... not so much...!

I have been regularly creating art since 2013 and in that time, there are many piece that I have started and not finished. Sometimes I get stuck in the creation process and can't figure out how to get unstuck. Other times, I really, really dislike (HATE!) what I am creating. And still other times, I am just not longer inspired. Therefore, I have stashes of unfinished artwork in my art studio.

So, today I thought it would be fun-ish - and a wee bit embarrassing - to share my undone pieces of art.

Maybe you can help decide which ones should be resuscitated and which ones should be put out of their (and my) misery.
Picture
Unfinished Piece #1
Our family's road trip out west was the inspiration for this piece. This is suppose to be a highway running through mountains in Big Sky country.

I was determined to use the old topographic maps that I found in an antique store in Livingston, Montana.

Sigh...it just wasn't working.
Unfinished Piece #2
The background on this piece is what I really like - and the picture doesn't show it's pretty shimmery, aqua, glass-like texture. 

For a long time this piece was just a background - I couldn't decide what to create on top of it. Then, one day I decided that a contrasting sun would work...but when I finished the sun, the whole piece just felt flat and uninspired. And, I couldn't figure out what to do to to make it more "alive". So, I put it aside.
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Picture

​Unfinished Piece #3
This piece is supposed to be the antique clock that hangs on the old bank building in downtown Berea, Ohio - where I live.

The actual clock is made of beautiful copper with an ornate dark green face and is attached to the corner of an almost 100 year-old sandstone building. It is gorgeous!

My collaged clock, just wasn't doing it justice. Every time I tried to work on it, I got discouraged, until I finally decided to stash it, hidden away in the closet.
Picture
Picture
Picture

​Unfinished Pieces #4 - 3 Backgrounds
These 3 backgrounds I created and am a big fan of them. But, the problem is that every time I have tried to create something on top, I can not figure it out... (kind of like the sun piece above).

Every now and then, I pull out one of these backgrounds, and come up with ideas and start to work on it. But quickly I am not feeling good about what I am creating. Nothing seems to "fit" the background texture so I stop and put it away. I do this again, and again with all three.

Ugh. It's frustrating!
Unfinished Piece #5
A sketch is as far as this piece got. And, to be honest, I didn't even remember I had drawn this, until today, when I saw it stashed away with the others undone pieces.

The drawing is based on a picture of my boys that I took during a vacation to Madeline Island (in Wisconsin, and island in Lake Superior). It was such a great trip!

I don't really know why I didn't do more on this - I can only imagine that I was no longer inspired to create it.
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So there you have it. A peek into my Art Cemetery. There are more...but I'm going to stop here.

What do you think...is it worth resuscitating any of them? I'm not sure...

Make it a Happy Day!
Picture
3 Comments
Roksanna Stephens Anderson
3/22/2019 03:23:36 pm

Thank you for sharing your UFO's!
How nice to see your transparency on how us artists have our cemetary times. LoL...

Reply
Kim Dettmer
3/22/2019 03:39:21 pm

Thank you Roksanna! I like to try to be transparent...even when it's not pretty ;)

Reply
Lynn Meinders
3/22/2019 05:00:31 pm

I really love the concept of an art cemetery. I have one too. And other little cemeteries filled with unfinished/unread books, ideas that lingered a while and fizzled but aren't completely gone. I would love to see what happens with the Madeline Island piece. It's such a beautiful place and it would be great to see what you capture in collage.

Reply



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