Answering the Call of a Painting

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In my studio while winter blows.

Did you ever give yourself a personal challenge and then 3 months later wonder why?Last fall I innocently challenged myself to paint a series involving people. I was inspired by my drawings that date back to my student days. I used to do a lot of people sketching then with charcoal and pencil.

Because I have a solo painting exhibition in September – November at Sissiboo Coffee Bar and Gallery in Bear River and in Annapolis Royal. I thought “Why not take a pause from painting flowers and landscape. After all, winter lasts a long time,” FLW.

But oh, it is so hard to do these people justice! Some days I feel way over my head. I haven’t painted people for years. I’ve had to repaint faces over and over and over….and over again. This is teaching me patience and sharpening my painting skills. There is no other way to learn to paint than to paint.

I’m out in the studio almost every day. I feel sometimes like I’m running a marathon on a conveyor belt that’s moving in the opposite direction. But I’m also pleased with myself that I am persisting. This is the only path I have. And I feel absolutely fortunate to have a deadline, to have 2 venues to show this work in and that I have the time and the space to paint and solve this puzzle.

Some of the many attempts at painting the male figure.

DSC02308I am influenced in these paintings by the style and the bold work of the German Expressionists and the French Fauvists, (early 20th century.) (Imagine! 100 years ago!)
They were into color big time which was a huge leap away from European realism.
It’s fitting because my most of my inspiration comes from my art student years in Berlin in the early 1970’s.

This painting is from a recent phenomena though. “Waiting for the Call” refers to waiting for an online face to face call from a dear loved one across the ocean.

But let me tell you about it in this video:

If you’d like to hear more about my painting progress as I persist through this series, please subscribe to my newsletter.

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“Waiting for the Call”  ©Flora Doehler, 2018. 30″ x 40″ Acrylic on Canvas. Painting in progress.

And just for a bit of nostalgia, I have some new, juicy tulips to work with tomorrow.

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6 thoughts on “Answering the Call of a Painting

  1. Oh Jerome, thank you! I value your opinion and appreciate your support. Also, you’re a wonderful son-in-law and I hope to see you soon…at the other end of skype or in person! <3 xo

  2. I’ve just discovered you through Nicholas Wilton, you left your website with your comment. I just have to say that I’m so moved by this post and more so the video. For some reason it touches me deeply and has brought with it tears for reasons I know not why.

    I’m so enjoying your work. I’m learning as well. Thank you.

    I believe there is no such thing as happenstance.

    1. Jaime, that you SO much for taking the time to comment. I’m so glad that this post resonated with you. Life is one decision after another and we often don’t or can’t listen to our inner instincts about what path to follow. I also believe that there are many life paths we can take that will be fulfilling even though we often think there’s only road to happiness. It’s all so clear after the fact! I know that we never stop growing.

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