One of the things I've learned over the years is when a painting is horrible, keep working on it. Sometimes, your idea and palette doesn't mesh right away. But instead of giving up and throwing the panels out the window, there are several ways you can rescue it.
First of all, stop working on it for a day or two or even a week. Things look different when taking a break. Secondly, you can always start from scratch and paint over the whole piece with white acrylic or gesso. Thirdly, (which I used in this case) keep adding more paint and layers. I worked on this piece for days and finally came out with something I loved. Whew!
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Every year on the first Tuesday of September, artists all over the world participate in "Art Drop Day". I've been doing this for several years and this year, I will be "dropping" some artist books in Denver at cheesman Park and the Botanic gardens.
So matter where you live, keep your eye out for surprises along your walking route. I hope you all find some free art that brightens your day! I'm really having fun doing these black & white studies. After a few pages in my sketchbook, I've come up with a process.
I start by using an "ink blot" technique to provide the first layer. (This is where you squirt black acrylic ink onto one side of the page and then close the book to repeat a reverse image on the next side of the page, creating a spread). Then, I'm using stencils with black ink. Then I add collage. It's amazing how adding each step in the process informs the next step. Very freeing and fun! OK. I took my own advice and started to paint these grind on large sheets of paper, rather than in my sketchbook. Just in case I wanted to frame them as works of art. I'm very happy about how this piece turned out.
Moving from a sketchbook to a larger format meant a change in scale. My sketchbook boxes were 2" x 2" and this piece is 2-1/2" x 2-1/2 inches. Overall, the paper is 14 x 17. A strange size but that's what my Strathmore Bristol paper pad measured. I'm trying to use only supplies already in my stash but it's hard. I'm always wanting to try out new things but know that working in traditional sizes is the best approach because who can afford "custom" anything"! Next time, I will order a pad in 9" x 12" that will find matting and a frame at an affordable cost. Thanks to Jackie Schomburg who was my inspiration for this piece. I used her color palette and ideas for adding black shapes, but other than that, this piece is my own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUvQGwOztGY I am obsessed with painting in a grid format.
This is the third sketchbook that I am filling up with grid mixed media paintings. Some artists call then "grid journals" but I don't since I don't use words. The reason I love this format is because it allows me to easily experiment with color palettes, mark-making, collage, and other ways to create little pieces of art. Each square (which is my favorite format) is only 2 inches. I don't think about each square but how all the squares interact with each other together. This gives me freedom not to over-think everything and as my eye roams around the piece, I see where I need more contrast, more marks, and more shapes. Every square turns out differently, even though I'm using the same paints and mark-making tools. I think the reason I'm obsessed with this is that I can usually make 2 spreads a day and end up with something pleasing, but different than all the grids that I've done before. It's kind of like working in a series but since these paintings are enclosed in a sketchbook, hard to display in an exhibit. Maybe I should start making these grids on large pieces of paper so they can be mounted and hung on a wall. What do you think? Another print I made using Fulton Sim's techniques. Find his videos on YouTube by searching “ArtWhisperator88”.
I went to the "Indigo" exhibit at the Botanic Gardens this week with my friend Victoria Eubanks, a wonderful and talented encaustic artist. I have to say, I was not impressed. There were only 2 pieces of art that intrigued me and this is one.
This piece is from the artist Theresa Clowes. Her website is not very informative since many links don't work, but I loved this piece since it was so lacy and had different textures that created so many shadows on the wall that gave it a 3-D feeling. It was quite large and I couldn't imagine hoe she made it, transported it, and then installed it. Indigo is all about transferring this color from plants onto fabric or into mediums for painters. But this exhibit didn't show the depth of the history of uses of Indigo or all the mediums that used this color throughout the centuries. While I was disappointed, I will go back to see other exhibits at this gallery since prior to this, they have always exceeded my expectations. I just got it last week so weI've been interested in color for many years but sometimes, especially with acrylic paints, I have trouble combining different colors into a pleasing palette. It's easy when just using analogous colors (colors adjacent on a color wheel). Or, using tried and true color schemes like triads, etc. But I always felt there was more to choosing a palette and thanks to my sister-in-law, also an artist, she turned me on the this "Color Box" by Sarah Renae Clark.
I just got it last week so my plan is to swatch all my acrylic paints (currently they are swatched by brand, not by color) onto cards so I can quickly find the colors I need to create these palettes. Even though I have a LOT of paints, I already know I don't have the exact colors I need. This means I need to figure out how to mix my paints to achieve the result I'm looking for. So this will be a challenge! Something that I'm up for! If I have the courage, I will post my efforts next week. Many years ago, I took a workshop with a Korean artist who taught me Joomchi. I remember her studio and home was in the Santa Fe Art District but I didn't recall her name. All I remember from that day was looking at her beautiful and intricate hand-made books.
We spent the day felting mulberry papers together until they felt like fabric. When I got back to my studio, I added lots of hand stitching and loved the piece I made. Last week, as I was organizing my studio (once again!) I found the second piece I made in the workshop but never finished. So I decided to finish this piece as well using variegated perl cotton thread. THEN, I remembered my instructor's name. Sammy Seung-Min Lee. Having just seen her exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens, I never connected my experience learning Joomchi with her amazing exhibit. Duh! Joomchi is a calming process that can "attach" two pieces of paper into a fabric-like material. I encourage you to try it! |
Carol Ann WaughI am a mixed media artist and love color and texture! Archive
March 2024
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