10December 2005
These photos were created over the span of five days.
This painting, Improvisation 33: “Loring Park Sky” (80×60), was one of my major works during my Improvisation series. It took me several days of constant work to complete this painting. I barely slept or ate. Being too into the moment of this work (and not wanting any of the paint to start to dry so I could continuously change it as needed), I just drank coffee and smoked cigarettes for four or five days until I completed the painting.
I used to just squeeze the paint out onto the canvas, then spread it around like frosting.
Philip Hoffman was painting with me durring a few of those days. As his apprentice, he guided my decision at times toward a good composition. Albeit, he always allowed me to make my own compositional choices.
That must have been exciting.
Almost complete.
The painting is finished. I love working on a large surface as it is truly liberating.
Here it is completed.