layers and layers

A habit I start some time back…is to work on more than one picture at a time. For me becoming too focused on one painting, no matter what the media, causes frustration.
It is too easy to over work an area, is one reason. The other is practicality, I hate to waste paint. I keep extra paper and or canvas handy so to there is a place to transfer the excess paint on my brush. In this case I have been working on a large figure painting but had t other smaller canvas boards near by, I used the extra paint to try out related ideas.
In this case it worked well because it made me step back from the large canvas, and yet keep the momentum of painting active.
Hope you enjoy seeing the changes, that of layers of acrylic paint, and the finished work that resulted on the extra canvas.

Play with Boldness

I bought some inexpensive canvas and just let the brush and the colors take control.
My only conscious decision was the colors to work with.
This is a wonderful release from detail and planning. I am not sure how I feel about what resulted, but I know is opened the door to a new adventure. There is some where I can go with these. Now it is time to pack and start the journey.

Learn then Play

Learning & Experimenting

A thought to share….one can not grow unless they are willing to learn something new and then experiment with new ideas.

I just took a class in silver point drawing, which I really enjoyed. Now that I have tried this, I just had to find some new places to go with it. So I took an old method of creating art and experimented with new technology. Thought I would share some of my new finds. Used the PC to combine images, and then experimented with them:

Combining passions

Combining passions sometimes creates odd partners.
A few years ago I won first place in the women’s division of the state pistol competition, in Lansing MI. Competitive shooting, art, and gardening are all activities I deeply enjoy. And I have often tried to combine these activities. Gardening and art were simple to put together. The garden makes a wonderful back drop, and environment to for painting.
Finally, this year I managed to put the skill of shooting with art.
Last Wed. I dressed in my paint clothes, packed up my glock hand gun, acrylic paints, rice paper, plastic bags and tape and headed to the range. With the help of my husband we put together an easel/target stand and proceeded to make ART. This was the first attempt, but from one afternoon I have, one complete painting and the beginnings of several more.
The basic set up is to hang masa paper from one target stand at a close angle to a second target stand that has plastic bags filled with acrylic paint hanging off it.
Then the trick is hit the bags, (not the paper) and watch the paint fly. The hand gun produced large droplets, and a 12 gage shot gun made a fine mist of paint. As other shooters gathered, several different fire arms were suggested to try out and see what results they produced. I am looking forward to trying several different set ups next time out.
The most interesting aspect of this, is the combination of using the creative side of the mind, at the same time as, working with the discipline and skill of gun control. The fun part is not just making a huge mess, but listening to the hoots and calls from fellow shooters, saying things like “MORE BLUE..MORE RED …MORE TO THE RIGHT!”

Staying on track

I am trying to stay on track with my figure drawings. I pulled out a one minute drawing that I liked and plan to do at least 12 paintings from it. So far I have about 4 and it is amazing how different each one turns out. The paintings so far are ink on hot press paper, but after 12 are done, 2 or 3 will be worked up to acrylics on canvas.

This is another way to work around the “what do I do now” mode that often attacks us as artists. This may appear to be work but it is really turning out to be fun and an easy project to work on.

watercolorist first....

Watercolorist first….BUT you don’t what your missing if you don’t experiment with all those other goodies out there.

Artist = Student, yep I think to be an artist you will always be a student. The logic to this is; making art is to create, to create is to grow artistically, by learning and experimenting.
Back to where I started artist = student.

Also, I will admit I am a sucker for new toys, new toys mean learning new games, and new rules. So there it is a totally logical reason to jump from watercolor, to inks, to acrylic, and finally to a mixed media for all three.

I have also been influenced recently by a DVD from Robert Burridge, “Start abstract painting today”. There were many interesting points, but it was the idea; to always do a series, that has me going, right now.

I have folders full of quick figure drawings, that when an idea is needed they are handy and inspiring.

Started out with a pencil drawing on newsprint, that was simple with good lines and decided to do a watercolor, from there a mono print adding an extra figure, then an ink…soon to follow an acrylic on canvas. Using one basic figure there is a number of things to learn, by testing new media. Continuing this process with another figure pose, a series can begin. With each new version I am free to change a point I may have questioned in the last, without losing the original. I really love this new freedom…so simple why didn’t I think of this sooner!