by Yvonne Callaway
Timing Issues
How long did it take you to paint that? is a question artists often hear. In the case of this painting, The Red Hat, several sessions over 23 years!
On the back of the canvas are the dates 1 May 2001, 1 May 2002, 31 October 2002 and November 2023.
In the latest iteration, the character was tweaked lightly. But the context was massively altered. Now the figure is strongly situated within a better-lit space. Colour choices and glazing make the hat and figure zing.
Instead of simply a nude study, the piece is a work about painting itself.
yvonnecallawayarts.ca
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Collectif 
This is so interesting. I never thought about the importance of timing when creating a piece of work/art. Thanks for sharing, Yvonne. What if we could actually enjoy the “sitting” period?
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Not sure if you mean “sitting” as in posing for the painting (Voyeur!) or the time between attacks on the canvas. Both involved patience.
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Reworking paintings over the years often works out well, as we gain more understanding of colour and composition. All you need is the bravery to tackle an older work which you are not entirely satisfied with. Kudos, Yvonne!
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Thank you, Susan. I liked the piece, then I didn’t, then I did. Now I do again.
Many times I’ll just do a new painting. But this one needed closure – I had to fix it.
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