#ColorSketch

Not too long ago, I began making color studies on paper to paint something every day that did not carry the pressure of "grandiosity" or the commitment of a large piece. I love to paint in large scale because it gives me freedom to move, and in some ways, freedom to think. However, the color sketches quickly became the backbone of my new series because it was through them that I got more comfortable with abstraction, and with using forms and color as the main visual language in my work. Process is my best teacher, and guide.

Most of the studies are done in one sitting, but some of them progress slowly over weeks, sometimes months. I increasingly use them to transcribe thoughts, feelings, and ideas, when experiencing many of them at the same time, or while I'm away from the studio. They connect everything by serving as mental maps that inform larger paintings, and by opening up possibilities to explore.

During these unprecedented times, I've found myself making many, and revisiting some of the finished ones. On one hand, making them helps me process what I am experiencing first-hand, particularly as New York became the epicenter of the global pandemic, and I haven't left my studio in almost a month. And on the other hand, the different color combinations, the tactility of the paper, the intimacy of the small scale brings me into the present moment, and gives me a moment to pause.

With that in mind, I decided to put together an art book with sixteen of my favorite ones to share with a larger group of people while we are all at home. The idea was for it to serve as a break, away from the screen, and from the worries that come naturally with the uncertainty of the times. If you would like to get one for yourself, and/or for someone who you think might enjoy it, the book is now available on Amazon through this link: Color Sketch by Gabriela Gil

Once you get it, if you would like to share your thoughts on which ones resonated with you, and if they helped at all, please email me at gabriela@gabrielagil.com. I would love to hear from you.

Be safe - stay inside. :)