Sailor Girl Evolution

"Sailor Girl" 16"x20" Acrylic and Collage

Sometimes one of my paintings goes through an evolution.  Actually, I'm the one who goes through the evolution until I am satisfied with the painting. It really is painful to me.  "Sailor Girl" is one such painting.

In this case, I started with doodle #1.  I liked the idea.  Yes, another girl in a boat but this time she has  striped leggins.  The inspiration for this were the leggins.  Then I did doodle #2, again the leggins, but striped arms.  I couldn't quite go with the arms.  Although maybe one day I'll do some carnival rides.  I did like that idea.  Doodle #3, girl in the boat, no leggins.  What?  But I liked the idea of this doodle.

So I began painting. I wanted a soft feel to it, a misty feeling.

I had achieved the misty feeling.  The painting was propped on the table for several days. The longer I looked at it, the less I liked it.  It felt "blah" to me, it lacked color. It didn't feel like my art.  (I did like the leggins though). 

I saved the painting to my computer, so that if I wanted to make a pastel print for any reason, I could.  Then I began painting over "Sailor Girl #1".  I added some origami paper that I had tucked in a drawer and voila, "Sailor Girl #2".  There was my color. 

Here is a close-up of the collage element which has an iridescent look, and cranes flying around.