Moonbath
24 March 2025
Acrylic on hardboard
23 x 28 in (58.4 x 71.1 cm)
I planned on painting something abstract - and I should stop right there. I'm sure 'planning' abstract works for many people, and probably works well. I tend to have better luck (i.e., be happier with my results) when I don't plan an abstract. Rather they emerge from tangents and/or accidents. Maybe someday I'll have the ability to start an abstract with the intent of making an abstract and actually like the result. Moonbath is a tale of the current situation. You can see what I started with below. I wanted to make the sky even darker to emphasize the bather but I made myself stop. First, the emphasis was there and second (and more importantly for me) to avoid over painting.
Here are some earlier stages. I was getting frustrated with the 'plan' (upper left) and the rather large swaths of gold reflect that frustration. I took a pause and looked at the image differently. I saw and entertained painting a person reclining. Kind of boring if there's nothing accompanying him.
Instead, I turned one of the 'eyes' into the moon/sun, and the
cliff' and bather were essentially already in place.
The hardboard for this painting (whatever it might have become) was destined for this frame.
It originally held a mirror and now it holds Moonbath. I think they match perfectly.
- mm -
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