In Medias Res
Coming to you from somewhere in the middle.
I come to you, in medias res— meaning in the middle of things. Usually this term refers to a story starting in the middle. Writing here and sharing sketches about whatever current journey I’m on, it’s use feels apt. I have those words—in medias res— written down where I can see them regularly. It’s a reminder to me that I am in the middle of the story. Or painting—if that suits you better, as it does me.
When I paint on a small canvas1, I’ll first coat the whole canvas thickly in wet goopy paint mixed from a sample of every single color on my palette. I scratch in a rough outline and quickly paint into it with fresh colors while it’s still wet. And I paint over that, scratch more lines, and perhaps even remove some paint with a knife. Add, remove, mix, pause, repeat— quickly because the paint is drying. Eventually I get to a point where I always feel despair, like I’ve messed it up beyond repair, and I tell myself to give up while it’s still unfinished. While it’s in medias res. I’ve learned that if I keep working at it, push through, it will usually come together all at once. Watching a painting rise from this muddy quagmire like a phoenix from the ashes is a kind of magic that I’m lucky to take part in. It is my favorite part of the process.
Sometimes the middle is good, like the middle of a piece of buttered toast. Sometimes it’s like my muddy painting, so awful that you think you’ll never find your way. Being in the middle means we’re still figuring it out,2 still trying new paths, and perhaps still stuck in old traps that hold us back. In medias res is the opportunity to continue working on the story, even if it looks like a hideous mess right now.
The beginning is known, but all that’s known of the end is that surely there will be one. It’s what you do with your time in medias res that matters.
Unfortunately, illness has taken hold of my family. The kids still want an art lesson, so we’ll study Georges Seurat and if they are enjoying it, maybe we’ll look into Henri Matisse and Gustav Klimt. Perhaps a little pointillism experiment afterwards. Something fun and less serious to boost our spirits. Last week was not good for drawing class, the energy was just not there. But sometimes that’s just the way it goes.
The painting featured above is from my Epic Journeys series. These depict the only journeys I was making at the time when they were painted (2020-21), but they were pretty good journeys. The series is here.
My Linktree to most of my art is here, and some of my originals are here.
Thank you for being in medias res with me. And thank you for checking out my scribbles. Have a lovely weekend, whatever journey you find yourself on.
-Jenn
I use acrylic so it dries too fast to paint a big canvas this way. Someday when I have more time, money, and a studio space, I want to switch back to oil.
I just figured out how to add hyperlinks. 😃
As a collector Matryoshka dolls, I really appreciate the first one.
In medias res makes SO much sense to describe life, the art process and yes, a goopy acrylic painting. I love the Hendricks gin with the books. There's a story there for sure. And your ink sketches too. I'm sending good vibes and prayers for the best possible outcome for whatever illness you're dealing with. Klimt will lighten any burdened soul. From a kindred artist also in the middle, Maureen xo