Starts, ideas, and planning…

Today I planned, puttered, and started a few pieces - two starts on watercolor paper, two on canvas, and one on baltic birch.  All but one of these starts is going to be worked abstractly at first.  I have precious few concrete ideas so working this way seems logical.  Somehow it seems “right” that I am working my way from chaos through to concrete – it mirrors life.  Life is messy, art reflects life.  The process of allowing myself to work creatively within the chaos is somehow rewarding for me…  So, we shall see how these work out over the next few days and weeks.

Three of the starts are shown below…  the color choices are deliberate…  green reminds me of life and peace, yellow represents hope.  Ciao!

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Famous [22”x15”, collage & mixed media]

I put this collage together using tissue paper stained with fluid acrylics.  I tore pieces from the paper that were tulip-like colors and pasted them on to a watercolor paper previously stained with acrylics and on which I had stamped purple and green.  After the collage was dry, I painted into it extensively.

In this case, the base [below] doesn’t appear to make much difference – you can see only a little bit of it in the dark band in the background.  However, the support reminded me of the collage papers, which reminded me of tulips, which got me working towards this.  I’ve been struggling to  find inspiration lately so finding inspiration from a “start” like this is critical.  Enjoy! . 

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Spring Bouquet [acrylic. 14”x10”]

This was painted using an interesting technique from my mixed media class yesterday.  I started with splattering watered down fluid acrylic paint [Golden] over a piece of watercolor paper.  Most of the surface was covered in this way. When that dried, I used chalk to sketch the subject, being careful to make interesting negative shapes behind the flowers. 

Next I used juicy opaque yellow paint on the background and voila!!!  out popped the flower and table shapes.  A translucent [white and blue/green] paint was used to define the glass vase.  I then puttered with the flowers to define them better but left some of the dots and white paper showing through.  Then I painted a transparent reddish glaze [lots of water added] over the table area.  Once dry, I put the shadow in. 

I finished this at 2am and I am unrepentant!!!  I’ll get my days and nights straightened out eventually.  Really…  I WILL!  Ciao.

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Counting on Transformation revisited

My art buddies organized a nice potluck lunch yesterday to cheer me up.  Besides enjoying great food and company, we each brought some of our recent art for a critique.  I love these things…  they really push me to think of the fundamentals and provide many ideas for next steps. 

Something was bugging me about the bottom right of this one but I couldn’t put my finger on the problem.  Today I obliterated the previous work with the turquoise and dark purple paint I used in that corner, let it dry and then used the stencil again with opaque paint and my handy, dandy stencil brush.  Then I hand printed the quote.  The quote doesn’t stand out as much as it did before but I think I like it better this way.  I also increased the contrast in the main butterfly.  I hope you like it…  Regardless, I guarantee this is my last post on this painting! 

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First ever painting in oil… SO COOL!!!

Thursday, my friend Lindsey asked me over to try my hand at oil painting.  Thanks to a course she is currently taking at Calgary School of Art, she’s all set up for it and bubbling over with enthusiasm…  She sat me down at an easel, squeezed out some paint, put a brush in my hand and pointed me towards the still life.  This little painting is the result.  I know there are all kinds of composition issues in this one…  but the bottom-line is that I painted, and it felt wonderful!  It’s definitely about the process for me right now. 

I loved the creamy texture of the paint.  It’s a completely different experience than acrylic and watercolor painting.  You can go back and make changes long after acrylics would have been dry.  I really enjoyed the afternoon – it was a great diversion.

Hmmm, I think oil paints are going to be a the very top of my list for Santa this year!  Ciao!

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Counting on Transformation [acrylic, 15”x21”]

This painting has been a really good diversion for me this past week.  My subconscious choice to combine the numbers stencil and another that, among other things, include a butterfly was interesting.  The last time I used the number stencil it was for “Counting Sheaves” months ago.  So, once the texture of both stencils started to appear I jumped to the title, and the meaning of this painting for me. 

It’s interesting to study the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.  For example, in nature, only 10% of monarch chrysalises develop into butterflies.  The numbers can climb to 90% if the process variables are properly managed.  We can count on more butterflies in our lives if we set up the right conditions…  that’s what I hope to do over the next weeks and months.  Cheers!

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Counting on Transformation - in progress [acrylic on w/c paper, 15”x22”]

I’ve added a quote by Maya Angelou and emphasized the butterfly motif in this painting.  I’m still not done with this.  It lacks balance and I will continue to resolve it over the next few days. I’ve taken a close-up shot of the quote below…    I think I may have made it a bit too small in the painting.  The process of painting is SO good for me right now.  I’m so thankful to have this outlet in my life right now!!!  I’m looking forward to Nov 1 when we begin another journey of discovery in class.  The routine of it will be good for me.

I’m off to have dinner with my folks…  cheers!

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