LARA BOWEN
LITTLE SOMETHINGS
When I hit a creative block with a painting, I often find that shifting my focus to other media is the key to breaking through. I dig into my plan chest and flip through old sketchbooks, revisiting past ideas and forgotten experiments with a fresh perspective.
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One of my favorite tools for creative play is my collection of hand-painted papers. I love the tactile process of layering and arranging these papers, watching how different textures and colors interact with each other. It’s a way of letting go of control and allowing the materials to lead the conversation.
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Sometimes, in the process of revisiting older work, I discover that a small section of a larger painting holds more intrigue than the entire composition. In those moments, I embrace the simplicity and energy of that smaller fragment, cropping it down to focus on the essence of what makes it compelling.
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These "little things," as I call them, often turn into something more - a distilled expression of an idea or feeling. When they resonate, I pop them into a mount, transforming them into finished pieces to share.