Shaken and Stirred

I was all set to start a painting of lemons today. In fact, last night I printed out a reference/inspiration photo to take to the studio today. I was ready! And I had just the right size canvas, a 36″x36″ square. Ooh it was going to be fun to play with all manner of yellow!

I was still thinking about it this morning when stepped out of the shower and my eyes landed on the cocktail shaker. Yep, I have a cocktail shaker in my master bathroom. I simply love it and view it as a sculptural piece.

Now I’m in the currently process of moving to a new home. This weekend, as I was cleaning out my closets, I discovered an old portrait of the very same cocktail shaker. It was not a great painting but for some reason I was not able to let it go. Hence it’s life in my closet…

Shaken and Stirred by Shannon Grissom

Ten years ago I painted a series of single objects against a stark white background. During that time I didn’t play much with color. For me these were all about space, light, shadow, and form. I was as much in to the shadows as I was the form itself. It was a popular series and most of those pieces are gone. But not this one.

So instead of painting a new subject over the piece, I thought it might be fun to impose a ton of color all over it. But when I approached the canvas it still wanted to be a quiet piece. So I adjusted the drawing and softened all the edges. It’s hard to tell but I reworked the entire piece. (It should be noted that this is the first time I’ve ever gone back in to a piece. Usually, when I’m done, I’m done, even if the painting isn’t!)

It’s funny how sometimes a piece has to lose it’s clarity before it can become back in focus. I need to remember that the next time I’m confused about something. Anyway, when it dries, I’ll go back in to it and see where it takes me.

Shaken and Stirred Again by Shannon Grissom

Maybe tomorrow I’ll start the lemons.

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