Train Bridge Study

By: Tanya M. Green
6” x 6“ Acrylic on Canvas Panel
Study #1 - 9.30.2020
SOLD

I decided to buy a bunch of small canvas panels so that way I could experiment with acrylics without committing to super large surface areas. Currently, I feel like my brushstrokes are pretty tight. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I’ve always wanted my brushstrokes to be more expressive and free. I’m curious to see where this small series will take me.

This is my first 6” x 6” panel with acrylics. I decided to paint off of a photo reference I took while out on the Rappahannock River one day. I tried to channel the lessons I learned from a painting class I took awhile back. To say this was a struggle...well let’s just say that I have a lot to learn.

My older son has been doing a lot of sketching and drawing lately. He’ll be all excited about something he drew well. But the moment he draws something that didn’t turn out (in his opinion) well, he spirals down into negative self talk and wants to give up.

Both my husband and I enforce “growth mindset” messages about practice, tenacity, and focusing on small positive successes. I tell you all this because even in my 42 year old growth mindset knowing, oh so mature self...I can still hear some of those fixed mindset messages creeping through.

Today, painting was not going smooth or easy. I struggled. But I kept working on it seeing what could happen. I feel like the more I worked, the more the image came together. However, strokes got tighter and tighter. I need to loosen up!