“Pentimenti” is the Italian word for “regrets’. It is also used for corrections in Art. For example, an artist in the Renaissance of XVI Century had an initial drawing for a painting. Let’s say it was that of a woman with her arm raised. Then the painter changed his mind (“regretted” it) and drew her with her arm by her side. The final painting only shows her with her arm by her side. An X-Ray of the painting will show both versions of the arm.
Now, back to the XXI Century. I had a good oil painting called “Lightness of Being”. I liked it a lot but I was not completely at peace with some smaller areas. I had showed it at a couple of venues and always received very favorable comments. One day I decided to change just some areas of the painting. With all these painting years under my belt, I should have known better. You cannot change a single iota in a painting without affecting the whole. But on that day I seemed to be in denial…
So I made little changes here and there. Nothing worked. After working on “small changes” for a couple of weeks I decided to re-do the whole painting. Nothing was working and “Lightness of Being” had ceased to exist altogether.
I was obsessing about this conundrum. Waking up in the middle of the night with ideas, trying them out the next day. Another uphill battle. I decided to journal, jotting down my thoughts, feelings, doubts (should I just get a day job?). I also photographed each version.
“Pentimenti” is version #11 and that’s when I stopped taking sleeping pills. I have compiled a booklet of the journaling and photos of each version and they will accompany the painting wherever it goes.
This is an Oil painting with dramatic shapes that echo and balance each other. The solid shapes are somewhat softened by the ethereal circles and subtle decorative lines around them. The palette is restricted to only 2 or 3 basic colors. It is dramatic and yet peaceful and balanced.
“Pentimenti” will bring elegance and drama to your favorite room.