The Maps are out

Had a look at the Rhino trail map to see where my Rhino was. Fantastic - it is in the town hall.  Truly relieved about it being indoors, as the day I was due to deliver the Rhino to Chester, I saw a lump on the paintwork...possibly a grain of dust or even an insect : /   ....so I picked at it, consequently peeling off a huge section of paint on the ear.  Hastily re painted and varnished it, and then hid.  Couldn't believe what I'd done!

So... if you think the yellow ear looks a bit patchy, you know why.

Although the Rhino is finished, I'm now waiting to deliver it to Chester. If all goes well, this should happen on Monday.  I sent images of it off to the organisers the other day, took a deep breath and waited for the response.  Last thing I wanted, was for them to turn round and say 'Well - actually, can you change that bit?'.  What a nightmare!  All is well though.

Made the decision to 'stop' work at the weekend. I was going over and over the same areas trying to make it look neater, but it was going on forever.  Got the varnish out and gave it a coat, so that painting any more wouldn't be an option.
The next morning, it had flies and other strange objects stuck to it. Will go back to it on my next day off , but for now...it's done!

ARRGGHHHHH !!!!!  When are people going to stop making comments about the Rhino not being finished yet?? I have a job and other exhibitions to work for .  I can't work on it every day : (
For the next commission, I will take a week off and just work on it relentlessly.

I have to take back everything I said about working outside. The weather has improved and to feel the sun on my back while painting is truly wonderful.

There are pros and cons to working outside... you have to work with the weather, be prepared to brush off strange insects from the painted areas and avoid being bitten yourself ( which is why I am now covered in insect repellent) It was also a little uncomfortable lying flat on my back painting the under belly. 'Uncomfortable' as in.... knowing there was something crawling up my leg but not being able to do anything about it.
The pros... paint dries quicker ( when its not raining!) , the light is better, you can step way back from it to view. You can also paint small areas, and then go off to do some of your 'normal daily chores' and then go back to it.

I admire people who can paint daily for long periods. I tried doing two full days on the Rhino, but I found that my concentration wavered and I started to make mistakes. It is difficult to paint... there's something about the surface that means that you have to paint the same area over and over again until you get a good cover. How can other artists do that daily and stay sane?

I have several projects on the go now. I delivered two of my wall hangings on Monday, ready for a recycling exhibition, and stayed around for a couple of hours to help out.

It limits my painting time, but that's the way it is.

Painted a large area this morning, so I'm having a break while it dries. Back to it then.............

Heavy rain all day yesterday, and although I did manage to make a few alterations to the Rhino, the paint yet again took ages to dry in the damp air.
My brother had called round to see the progress and take some photos. Despite being a non art lover, and visiting few galleries....he instantly recognised the image on the Rhino head. I was really happy with that, as he is a good sounding board for the general public.

Spent the rest of the day indoors, working on the second of my 'Wings' for the Biennial.  Got tons done.
A good day.

Another week... and with having visitors at the weekend, it was difficult again to get any work done. What it has given me though, is thinking time. You don't realise how important that is, until you actually get it. Being able to just look at the design without actually working on it, helped me to think through some of the problems that had been bugging me . i.e.  that doesn't work...  that area would look better in a different tone....that feature would work if x was taken out.
The design is growing on me now. My initial thoughts about taking up and following through someone else's ideas, have turned into a learning process.