Brainstorm was just that. An idea, a quick sketch, and painted in many layers on canvas in an impasto style using the grisaille palette. After slow drying, I painted a yellow glaze, a red glaze, and finally, a blue glaze. Weeks went by between each glaze - but the result is a faint, fascinating tinge of color that brings life to a basic gray palette.
My intention was to show the moment that inspiration hits ... that wonderful intersection between problem and solution, doodle and art, or question and answer. And to further emphasize the sizzle of the moment, I added small bits of gold foil to the finished painting.
So, I wonder if everyone else gets the thrill of the idea when it suddenly hits. That aha! when all the pieces fall into place and a picture forms. That's the feeling I was trying to capture in this painting, Brainstorm.
Grisaille
I began painting only in gray oil paints. Grisaille, French for gray, is always begun in black and white and gray allowing full focus on value, not color.
Adding the Midtones
Adding midtowns of medium grays, lighter blacks and some whites, the face and the abstract background begins to take shape.
Finishing
The portrait floats on gray background with all of the visual emphasis on the face. Here, I've intensified the darkest darks and whitest whites. When completely dry, the color glazes are painted onto the skin of the arm and face. At the end, I added bits of gold foil to emphasize the disquieting impact of a sudden brainstorm.