Day 14 of the 30/30 Challenge – Double Yolk Egg Raw

I returned to food today, but to something healthier than desserts.

This Double-Yolk Egg Raw painting was inspired by a recent carton of jumbo eggs – all double yolks! I took daily photos of this unusual occurrence (the art historian in me records everything). Maybe this double-yoke egg did bring me luck since this painting flowed. I even had time to cook, and I’m not just talking about eggs.

The process of painting turned out to be much like that of Laura’s Baby Shoe on Day 9 with its limited palette, warm grey acrylic underpainting showing through, and thin layers of paint.

I was feeling pretty good early on, and knew the risk of overworking this was greater than “underworking”. So I moved ahead carefully, taking breaks and coming back with a fresh eye.

By mid-afternoon,  I wondered if I could be done. I liked the transparency of the yolk, although it felt a little rough around the edges (the egg is floating, or should I say eggs?).

I took a risk and kept going, photographing each step so I could see if I was adding real value or kidding myself. Although I like the finished painting, there is something appealing about this earlier version too. It has less grey and feels brighter.

What do you think? Should I have stopped here?

I am amused by this train of thought. Now I am talking about overworking paintings after a a few hours, when I usually think about this after a few days, weeks or even months for larger works. The 30/30 Challenge has already had a positive impact.

Thanks for coming by and giving me your comments. The feedback is what I miss about working in a studio with other people – it’s the best way to learn.