Follow up to color please

A few weeks ago I post the blog “More Color Please”, where I start 3 painting using color swirls and drips.  Two painting turned out just right, the 3^rd was lacking something.  After letting it sit for awhile I decided to attack it with a fresh start.  The painting was interesting but to me just look too swirly (is that a word?).  So I had 2 choices, one gesso over and start fresh, or readdress the painting as it was. 
   I decided it needed some geometry to break up the curves, so I used folded newspaper and planned where square and rectangles would go.  Once I found a lay-out I liked, I taped the outlines, and rubbed opaque paint in those areas, while it was wet scraped in some designs.  After that dried I added some direction lines, and then glazed over some of the boxy areas to change the tone. 

   This one is now pleasing to me and was saved from the gesso….

(Never give in, never give up…think I heard that in some movie)

This is where I stopped, when working on the 3.

 

 

paper shapes for planning some geometry

  the newspaper works well, because it is neutral in contrast to all the color in the painting.

   pressed the tape down smooth for good lines

paint on and tape off

   

 

finished and happy now

almost there...

close up of scrapping into the wet paint

My Clean up turned into ink

Clean up…almost

Well at least I attempted to clean up the work area today.  Paint brushes stacked, paper sorted, then on to notebooks.  The notebooks got me.  You know how it is, you sit down for just a minute to take a look at those old sketches and 3 hours later a whole new project is in process. 

   Found a sketch book, I took to the art museum last summer, and in it were really rough sketches of some old clay statues.  Yes I carry sketch books with me especially for visiting museums. In the book I had drawings of two very odd looking dogs, that were re-sparked my interest.  My brushes were all neatly put away, and paints sorted and put up, BUT   the ink markers were still loose and just daring me to get into them.

    So I used the images from the old sketches and lost the rest of the afternoon to art.

When I teach classes, I tell my students to save any drawings that look interesting even though they maybe rough or un-finished, because you never know when they will serve as inspiration, or at least stop you from over cleaning your studio.

 

 

 

the page from my notebook

 

In paint black paint marker on watercolor paper

Did the basic out line in an orange watercolor marker (love starting any art work with orange) then finished with black marker

Two more sketches to work up with ink....I will never get my studio clean....(like I care)