I finished the volcano painting today, and already got started on the next piece.
Finishing paintings for me feels a bit bittersweet, like reaching the season finale of a favorite show, or ending a good book. It isn’t about the end result for me. I mean it is, in the sense that of course I want it to turn out well, but after it's done, I feel momentarily lost. I enjoy the journey more, the act of painting itself, the work.
This is why I tend to get started immediately on the next painting. I have a few ideas already planned, so I go through that to decide what to paint next, and go.
Which reminds me, I am expecting to receive my order from Cheap Joe's on Friday. I decided to try their Kilamanjaro paper, and stretch it on canvas stretchers. I was going back and forth between that and painting on 300lb paper that wouldn’t need to be stretched, but I decided that if I do that, I am going to put an order in directly through Khadi. I really want to try out their handmade papers, so I did get one of their handmade sketchbooks from cheap joe’s to play with. If I find that I enjoy working with it, I may decide to put an order in with them next month or the one following that.
I dont know why people hate stretching paper. Maybe it’s because they’re used to only using tape? When I was taught, I was told that tape isn’t reliable and to use staples. This was back when I was in high school, a while ago, so I know it isn’t new information. If that’s why you’re frustrated, because you find that the tape doesn’t hold, that’s your answer. Anyway. I opted for canvas stretcher straps because this way, it also ends up ready to hang (after a few coats of varnish). No matting or framing necessary. Actually I would much rather stretch paper than frame any day.