Monday, Week 28: San Francisco -"You're Not Supposed To": (RAW SURFACES) , Oil on Paper (27/07/2020)

New week, new theme! This week we're back to our traditional painting ways... or are we? It's traditionally expected, when developing a technically sound painting, to prime our surfaces. We almost always seal our surface by applying some type of hide or binder, so that it protects the substrate from the potential damage caused by the makeup of both our medium and paints. We then, again traditionally, apply a primer, which is a way of ensuring that our surface is, to put it in simple terms, "welcoming" to both our paint and mediums. All of this is done in the hope of giving our painting the best shot at being faithful to its original state and remaining unchanged with the passage of time. But what if we use the act of painting in order to reflect on detachment? Would it make sense then to work in a way in which the goal of the painting is to be a static constant in time? What if we accept that a painting can age with us, grow old alongside us? That not only our perception of it evolves through time, but that IT changes also. If we throw the art as investment argument out the window (thank you very much), why do we want paintings to be eternal? I struggle with this question constantly, because if Rembrandt would've thought the same way I do, then his paintings would be long gone and I wouldn't be the painter that I am. I just simply wouldn't be. How do we come to terms with this dilemma? Reflecting while we work, I say! This week, we acknowledge the finite life of a painting. We paint with oil on raw paper and see our painting rapidly fade and transform in front of our eyes! And it is absolutely beautiful! Thank you ALL for your incredible support. Dani and I could not be more grateful. If you like what we're doing, please consider donating :) If you're in a rough spot, no worries, we TOTALLY get it! Just know that our content will ALWAYS be here and our only sponsors are YOU, the wonderful generous people that choose to support us in some way or another. Thank you ALL!!! http://www.ourpaintedlives.com/donations