Destroying paintings and sobbing: The journey of the ‘bare’ painting series

This is the story of how my ‘bare’ series were brought (perhaps dragged) into existence during my final year fine art degree.

‘bare’ is a series of 8 oil paintings on cradled 60x60cm panels.

Phew… did these paintings go on an absolute journey!! Here’s the bullet-pointed version (aka 3 months of work/chaos in 9 steps):

Step 1.

build eight 60cm x 60cm cradled mdf panels from scratch.

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Step 2.

spend two weeks priming and sanding, and priming and sanding your 8 panels to baby-butt-smoothness

Step 3.

become paralysed by your 8 x perfectly smooth, baby-butt pristine panels (a bit like when you get a sticker and can’t commit to putting it anywhere) – maybe going back to the sketchbook will help?

Step 4.

procrastinate further by working on other paintings, staring longingly at your 8 x beautifully smooth white panels until you finally get brave and…. paint them orange?

(I’m not sure why either.)

Step 5.

Get really brave and start putting some shapes down (inspired by the sketchbook stuff)

Step 6.

decide that your 8 panels are now too stiff and considered, and that you need a bit more ‘chaos’ – add liquid gestures

Step 7.

Have your work absolutely obliterated by a lecturer for the first time (with a few weeks until final hand-in) – learn that your paintings are ‘maybe overworked, maybe not worked enough’ – panic, massively

[p.s. no shade intended, my lecturer was absolutely right and I knew it in my gut myself too]

@kayldoesart

note to self ✌️ #arttok #artschool #painter #inthestudio

♬ nimbasa core – 🚮

Step 8.

sand your paintings off completely in a snotty-nosed rage, with the intent to start again

… but wait …

…they look….

…really cool??!

Step 9.

roll with it.

…and that’s how the ‘bare’ series was born! They now live as part of Grampian Hospitals Art Trust’s permanent collection, where they can be seen in various NHS departments, wards and offices across the Grampian region!