Layers, Tapestries and Shine

J
detail of a larger piece
encaustic

In my intuitive art class that I am taking, one of the big lessons I am learning is the beauty of the underpainting.  The layers beneath the surface are deep and broad.   In our class we are learning to let the underlayers build and weave a beautiful fabric of color, happiness and play.  There is no thinking in the early stages, only painting, layering and mark making.  No critiques, no analysis, no standing back - just paint.  When I find myself standing back to analyze.. I quit, stop.. and wrap up.  The layering process is a warm palette followed by cool and so on.. with bold strokes and freedom... put on the panel using the beat of music and different tools.  The colors intertwine and intermingle to create an amazing story behind the final work.  As the painting progresses it is up to me to bring to the surface, the story of what lies beneath.  I'm looking forward to this final step.
It really makes me pause when I think of a painting in this way.  I'm usually, so focused on the surface and how it looks that it didn't occur to me about this underlying tapestry of layers.   As the artist of a multilayered piece, I am the only one who really knows the mystery of what lies under the surface of my artwork.  In the end, its my job to bring all that to surface and let it shine and tell its story.   
I've been reusing old panels. the paintings that I made in the beginning of my encaustic learning.  I'm finding, because they hold the story of the beginnings they make the paintings so much deeper and richer.  Its not about starting over with these, its about building on the roots that are already there.  I didn't white them out or scrape them back.. I just built upon them.
 
All of this is making me think of how it relates to us as individuals.  We all hold an amazing tapestry that we have created through our lifetime.  How do we bring to life and let shine the beautiful multicolored layering that lies under the surface of each of us?  We, as the artists of our lives, need to think about how bring all this beauty within, tell its multifaceted story and let it shine, baby... Let it shine!
Happy Friday everyone...  hit the button and see some amazing artwork.

PS.. we're still working on layers in class.  I really don't have anything to show yet.  Stay tuned... I'm getting closer.