In the 20th session I’m continuing to add forms and repaint others. The striped ribbon has been redrawn to open the space to the lower right, but I’m not happy with the background. Some of the forms will need six to 10 more layers of paint to give the color richness and depth.

In the 25th state, I add another layer of rings, because I want to try to push the original forms back in space. I introduce a simple circle form— to add to a sense of confusion and to enhance a conceptual sense of perspective. I’m questioning the original compositional concept of pushing the forms to the left side.

www.artistsmagazine.com ■ November 2008

After 35 sessions the painting is darker than I would like. I feel the need to alter the composition, add forms and repaint, or glaze, the entire painting. The colors have been building for weeks, and often a light glaze made with alkyd painting medium will bring them to life. In other cases a complete repainting is necessary.

In the 39th and final session, I add a new form that acts against the left side and contributes to the content. After twice glazing the background with various yellow-greens, and repainting the blues, the color interaction begins to give off a sensation of light. The forms seem to be active. Sibyl  1 (oil on canvas, 60x54) has arrived.