A New Painting Series Release
It’s finally here! My newest series of 17 mixed media paintings on canvas that are based on a water theme. The series is called “Submerged.” I’ve been working on this series since August 2024, almost 8 months. You can view the paintings on my website.
Waves Weave Memories Into The Sky, 36x48, Mixed Media on Canvas
I was recently asked why I work in a series and how I keep the motivation to continue creating paintings for a series. Good questions, so I thought I would take a minute and answer them.
First, what is a series of paintings?
A series uses a theme and other boundaries to create a collection of paintings that work together. Setting some limitations on the theme or materials is essential to keep the series cohesive. The series could be a few pieces or even a hundred.
Why would you create a series instead of one-off paintings?
I used to make paintings that I call “one-offs” which simply means something done, made, or happening only once, not as part of a regular sequence. They are standalone paintings that intentionally don’t relate to any other paintings. I still do occasionally, sometimes even when working on a series of paintings (Rising Energies is one I created while working on the water series). It’s a valid approach for any artist.
However, I discovered that working in a series allows me to dive deeper into a specific subject/theme, concept, or idea, giving me the chance to delve into nuances, experiment with techniques, and develop my style.
A series communicates a common thread that connects the paintings. Every painting can stand alone, but together, the visual impact is more significant. It creates a story where each painting builds on the next one, making a deeper connection between the artist, their work, and the viewer. Once a series starts, it can take on a life of its own with each additional painting. The original thought evolves, and my artistic visual voice gets stronger and clearer with each one.
What I consider when starting a series
Often, when I start a series, I first consider the theme. What do I want to focus on, what tugs at my soul, and what can I keep working on that won’t bore me to tears? (That last thought matters when you’re in the thick of things!).
The majority of my work is based on emotions, and I frequently use abstract landscapes to convey emotions, what I call emotional weather. As I’ve mentioned in past newsletters, water is a constant theme in my life. And blue is my favorite color. In my previous series, Grit and Beauty (coming soon to NoName Gallery in May!), I used a lot of organic shapes and swirls, along with layering techniques, all of which I wanted to explore further.
Unlike some other artists, I don’t feel I need to have a clear idea of the theme when I begin a series since I start my paintings intuitively, letting the painting dictate the direction and flow. I prefer to start with more of a general emotion/feeling that I want to convey, although that can change as I continue working on the series. It did with this particular water series. It started as “Ebb and Flow," and now has turned into “Submerged.”
Setting some boundaries for a series is vital as it keeps you from going too far off the rails. Below are examples of the boundaries I set when I started this series.
Basic color palette (certain blues and turquoises, black, white, orange, bright red, coral, and green gold)
Format and materials (I chose to use larger gallery-width canvases, the smallest being 20x24 and the largest 36x48, because I wanted the viewer to feel like they’re in the painting, to have more of a presence.)
Mixed Media materials (I love mixing materials and decided to add handmade paper collage as a base in the paintings to provide an aged, rocky texture; plus I used a Stablio Aquarelle pencil, wax crayons, charcoal, and India ink for mark-making.)
When deciding on my ideas for a series, I sometimes have to “try it on” for a few days before I settle on something. I started with one painting, “Rising Currents,” to get a feel for what I wanted to do and if I genuinely wanted to pursue this direction of water. I loved it so much that I felt compelled to keep going. You have to choose an idea that excites you but also challenges you.
The bigger question is, how do I stay on track and keep going?
I’m not going to lie…it can get tough, especially when you’re in the middle of the series. Six paintings in, you may start questioning if this is really what you want to do. Ten paintings in, and you may start questioning your life choices. Seventeen paintings in, and people think you’re crazy, but in a good way. ;)
It’s no secret that most creatives are easily distracted, myself included. There are so many ideas I want to try! So, how do I stay on track with a series that might take several weeks or even months to finish?
This is where an art journal, sketchbook, or even a simple lined notebook comes in handy. I use an art journal (a Leuchtturm bullet journal) and write down my idea for the theme, my limited color palette, and anything else I want to make note of as a self-imposed boundary and refer back to it often. As the series progresses, I add to the journal any impressions, thoughts, techniques, or research I do about the series and the paintings. I also use the journal to jot down any other ideas unrelated to the series so I can return to them later.
This is a great way to remind yourself what your boundaries are; however, don’t use it as a limitation. If you feel the paintings are progressing into a different realm, go with it! I’m all about letting the paintings tell the story and not imposing my will on them.
Another way I stay on track without getting bored is that I usually have five or six paintings in progress at once. While one is drying, I’ll work on another one. Or if I’m feeling stumped on where to go with a painting, I’ll tackle a different one where I have a clearer vision forward. The painting below gave me such a headache when working on it! I would work on it, then set it aside and work on a bunch of others because I couldn’t figure this one out. I was able to persist because it wasn’t my sole focus. Because I have several on the go at different stages, there’s always something to work on, whatever my mood or state.
Tides That Remember The Moon, 20x24, Mixed Media on canvas
Besides diving deep into the theme, a series's overall goal for me is to have a collection of paintings suitable for a gallery show or event. It creates a consistent body of work that, when viewed, leaves no doubt the same artist created them all. The theme running through the work is stated and restated in different yet interconnected ways, and the viewer can look at the collection and understand more easily what I’m trying to convey.
You will have the chance to see most of these paintings in person! I’m having an experiential solo show at Anno Artem Gallery, July 18 - 27, 2025. You can purchase them now if interested, however, they are required to be part of this show. To preview the work, visit my website!
