January 2, 1982. 
The December 29, 1981 small paintings only lasted for a day.  I quickly returned to the by then habitual 60 x 40 inch size.  However, I notice that after the first of January the Studio Notes grow brief or in many cases are not at all.  I guess it's beginning here that the paintings may actually speak for themselves. 

As is by now so abundantly clear, the large watercolors were not "aesthetic" no matter what their outward appearance.  Most of them were sexual and those that were not in their inception became so in their conclusion.  In this respect, the first painting in January--this one of January 2--was begun and concluded as a self portrait.  As I said in the Studio Notes:

"A portrait from crotch to crown"

And that's all the notes there were.

January 4, 1982. 
Perhaps I thought on January 2 that all of the large watercolors were sexual, but the Studio Notes for January 4--and this painting--indicate that the second painting of January was driven by the weather...

The painting was started as a Stairway to the Stars, it turned into a Rain Picture. I came to realize that the set of the world—the oncoming weather, the time of day, etc., are much stronger in these paintings than I had thought.  If I leave the paintings in the first stages, they often show it.  It's the later stages that turn personal.

The Studio Note was driven by the observation that I had begun the painting on a clear and quiet day, but the next days had turned violent and stormy beyond anyone's expectations

And as far as questions of objectivity (weather) or subjectivity (sex, etc.) at the root of my work are concerned, well, after this painting, take a look.  As Frank Stella is said to have said of his work, "What you see is what you get..."

   Links to all 1981-1982 Large Watercolors...  
February-March, 1981   April-May, 1981   June, 1981
July 1981   August 1981   September 1981
October 1981   November 1981   December 1981
January-March 1982   April-July 1982

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