3. A mural-sized painting, Blossoming Bush

To put things into perspective, the time between February and October 2023 was quite a blur. I had been receiving medical treatments that didn’t cause hair loss or an inability to eat, but did significantly impact my energy levels. Despite this, I made efforts to go for daily walks and work several hours a day in the studio.

My priority was to develop a body of professional-quality work that could be shown to potential art dealers or meet the requirements for an exhibition. I hoped this work would eventually be exhibited, and as part of this desire, I felt compelled to create at least one mural-sized piece that could truly stand out.

In hindsight, undertaking such a task, especially given my health status, was probably one or two years premature. However, this project required planning on a level I had never experienced before and undoubtedly contributed to my growth and development. For example, I had to figure out how to produce this massive work within the confines of a relatively small studio space. Detailed sketches and templates had to be created in advance, and quantities of paint had to be produced in sufficient amounts to last throughout the project. Remixing when changing to another section would have caused unacceptable variations in colour. Additionally, many of the painted areas consist of four or five layers of translucent pigment, and since the project had to be produced in sections, I needed a system to ensure colour consistency throughout the entire production phase.

The initial drawings and planning began in early August, and it wouldn’t be until early December that I could finally declare the project complete.

Title: Blossoming Bush

Medium: Acrylic and other water-based mediums on cut paper

Size (painted area): 1.00 m (tall) x 4.03 m (length)

Size (paper): 1.13 m x 4.5 m (approx,)

Date completed: December, 2023