That's what I'm thinking now, every time at look at this unfinished painting. I started it weeks ago, with the idea of combining mythical images of the goat god Pan, and a witch named Baba Yaga, with ordinary figures -namely a goat and a girl -in an effort to create a sort of visual commentary, and give life to some really cool stuff I've been reading. The symbolism of Pan represents overt sexuality, lusty playfulness, but trouble. Baba Yaga is a folklore witch that assists children on their journey through the woods, but only if they satisfy her demands. If they don't, she eats them. The girl represents innocence and curiosity, all too willing to befriend the goat, who's alter ego is Pan. The perspective of the mountainous background, copied from a once favorite photo, was lost in this, and the Pan figure just didn't gel...so, the mountains wound up flat, and Pan got painted out. Baba never made it in, but her skull lanterns (that will guide our girlie on her journey) might. Currently, the story is much more interesting to me than the actual painting, and I'm hoping to find a way to overcome the fact that the whole spirit with which I began this - is gone.
Have you ever stopped a work because you weren't 'feeling' it anymore? Did you abandon it, or did you find a way to still get your initial intentions across?
Can you say gesso?
