CAVERNS
What exactly “is” a Finger Painting?
Over the winter, I began a series of acrylic paintings, trying out various techniques. But once I started oil painting, I set the acrylic series to the side. A recent e-workshop I took with Flora Bowley got me rethinking about them and I was quite excited to adapt some of her ideas with what I had already been doing to complete them. I pulled the series out and began finger painting on them, along with using a foam brush, and a small half-inch flat brush. I added 4-5 new layers on top of what the paintings already had, and they look amazing! The depth of layers and colors is just striking.
But now my conscious is getting in my way. I am actually hesitant to show these to you. Why you ask? Because they aren’t 100% finger paintings. I used a foam brush and a small flat brush about 20% of the time, and finger painted about 80% of the time, so are these still finger paintings? Or do they even need to be pure finger paintings to legitimately be called that?
My motivation behind these is the same it has always been. I love experimenting with different styles of painting, and believe that is what art is all about…the process. With this series that included combining finger painting with tools, so what category do they fall in?
DWELLING
I can not even begin to tell you how stressed I am over this. With the redesign of the website coming, and going almost strictly to finger painting…where is the line to what I show you?
My dilemma:
- Do I only tell you about oil paintings I am working on, or do I also include my experiments in acrylic too?
- And if 80% of the painting is done by finger painting, but 20% is done with a brush. Is it still a finger painting? Or does my occasional use of a brush, or a palette knife prohibit them from being called a finger painting?
- If these are not considered finger paintings, then do I just put them on a different site?
I am really conflicted about this, and would love to hear what you think.
Please comment below and let me know your thoughts on this. ~ Cyd
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“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns
in order to look at things in a different way.” ~ Edward de Bono
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Hi Cyd, I think you did the majority in finger so it is a finger painting. Even palette knife artists will sketch out a painting (using whatever method), some will tone a canvas (using whatever method- brush, foam roller, crumpled paper towels?) and add details with brush rather than with the palette knife.
But since most of is with the palette knife – I’d call it palette knife paintings.
And yours, – are finger paintings :)
Thank You so much Judy. I really appreciate your input. I knew the Palette Knife painters had certain criteria. But as far as I know, there is no “Finger Painting Association” to ask. So your knowledge weighs heavily with me.♥
I think the quote you used says it all. There are no rules. :-) Love the way you express yourself in painting and in writing.
Thank You very much Denise, for the compliment and for opening my eyes. I hadn’t given the quote too much thought. Perhaps it was my subconscious mind already knowing the answer I wanted to hear to ease my conscience when I chose it. :) I am most definitely “breaking out of established patterns”.
Dear Dear Cyd,
As a fellow artist, that loves oil paint over any other,I sympathize with your dilemma.
Though you struggle with whether or not it is finger painting your worried about that 20%.
The easiest way to address that is to go by what juried art shows define categories as when considering whether art is watercolor, acrylic or oil. They require the majority of the medium be either watercolor, acrylic or oil.
Using that parameter, your 80% would be considered as finger painting if their were such a category.
Stop beating yourself up over that 20% and enjoy your art. Isn’t that the main thing anyway? If the enjoyment goes away the creativity stalls.
Looking forward to enjoying more of your creations in the future. =)
Thank you so much Tim for that well thought out comment. I have been in many juried art shows, I have even chaired one, but have never come across that definition. Probably because it was never an issue I had to deal with. Thank you so very much for pointing that out to me. You are right of course, it was that 20% causing the angst. When all I want to do is paint. =) That type of “official” ruling, albeit in a slightly different “category” as you say, does greatly ease my conscience. Thank You!
Hi Cyd, Your two paintings above are lovely. Finger painting is a blast using acrylics and you do a beautiful job of it! I like the apparent layers very much! Cherilyn
Thank you so very much Cherilyn. I appreciate the compliment. I do love how this series is turning out. I too really like the multiple layering of transparents and transclucents. Wish it wasn’t quite so difficult to capture it with photography. =)
Hi Cyd,
The interesting thing is that you’re challenging the idea of what painting is.
Beyond “finger painting”, do you ever take massive handfuls of paint to your canvases? Then what about rolling in the paint and other more adventurous applications? You might get far beyond the finger painting connotations, into body art, performance and documentary, who knows?
Go for it. Who cares what we think? You’ve begun to challenge the idea of what it means to paint…why not explode the notion?
On another question that you pose, why not post works in progress to your blog, then put them on the website when finished? This keeps your website as a portfolio/sales gallery of finished work.
Be encouraged, be strong. Do not be afraid–it’s only art.
All best wishes.
Thank You James for this post. You have really set my mind reeling with ideas. It is funny, I hit on something I got so excited about, and forgot art is ever evolving and changing and that is what makes “art” art. :) I also appreciate your comments about the site. Ironically the plans are very much what you are suggesting. I went to visit your website, and it is something like we are planning. Thank You again for your well thought out response. I needed to hear that. cyd
Stop worrying about categories, your work is lovely. Most shows only use the the medium to differentiate the different the entries. Just keep painting!
Thank You Gloria. I really appreciate the compliment on my work. You are of course right. The shows don’t care how it was painted. :)