Outside the Box

This box is my entry in the current exhibit at the Spanish Peaks Arts Center Gallery, "Outside the Box".
It will be on view there until April 9. (Thurs - Sat., 11 - 2) 
 
This started out as a painting on paper. I cut and laminated it onto the outside and inside of a wooden box using acrylic gel medium. This gave me the opportunity to edit and reconstruct the painting. In the end I needed to use the every scrap to cover the whole box. 

The idea behind the exhibit theme was to challenge artists to try something different.

This  exhibit title helped me realize that the big Doll Box where I have been stuck for some time is one I made for myself. I jumped right in and didn't come out. It is an interesting little world in here, and I often have a really great experience and create cool dolls. But, is there something outside this box that I should explore? Can I jump back out?
 
Yes, I can let myself out of my doll box part of the time.

My interest in painting was rekindled a few years ago after dismissing the idea for a long time. I figured there were plenty of mediocre painters and I didn't need to be one. Well, I am interested now and I aspire to at least reach the mediocre stage one day. I work at it almost every day and each painting session reveals something new - a composition, a color combination or texture, and refines my vision a bit more.
  
There is a lot more to the process of becoming a painter than just painting. I get that. But it would be impossible to become a painter without painting. It's a start! So, I guess you could say that I am creating a new box for myself. I want it to be big and deep, full of resources and skills - and paintings. 

These are some sketchbook pages I've worked on recently. Here I am exploring line, texture and a limited palette.