Works in progress

After months away art production I'm slowly getting back into the habit. I've some small works I'm finding my way through at the moment. I generally don't do well with small works, I seem more at ease with a larger working area but I can occassionally produce something on a small scale. I've been learning not to overwhelm an area with too many ideas at once--larger works kind of give me the space to move & work out more ideas. Working in series helps too to spread ideas out over serveral works. If I've learned anything about art the key is knowing when to stop. It's lesson I've had to learn because I had a habit of working thing until they were overworked. It's something I still have to keep in mind. It's something especially important considering the kind of material I've been working with: delicate handmade paper (from Nepal.) I find the paper a bit of an interesting contrast with the subject matter in one of the works: the ceratopsian Styracosaurus. With a large spikey frill it seems hardly delicate. However, I've illustrated it from behind the frill to show a more delicate side of the dinosaur (neck.) I've also include flower imagery in the work. Flowers have a delicacy to them & flowering plants first made their appearance towards the end of the Cretaceous Period, the same time as the Styracosaurus. Not sure if this one is done: I think it's close. It's getting to the point now that I'm worried if I do any more it may be ruined. Or maybe it is already. Will have to spend time staring at it.

A part of me does worry about how far I can push the dinosaur thing. I think it's an interesting subject matter & I think I've plenty more ideas in mind to try. Just as long as it retains that freshness, that they don't start looking too contrived. I've been away from large scale works for almost a year so I'm looking forward to getting back into that and seeing what happens.