Friday, 3 January 2014

WIP and 30 Paintings in 30 days - 2 & 3



Work In Progress


 

In the beginning of December I started a large acrylic in the manner of Flora Bowley.  I wanted to step outside of the habit of planning paintings as that method wasn’t working as I found I lost interest in finishing and I am a bit tired of all the unfinished canvas littering the place up.  Perhaps if I painted intuitively I wouldn’t lose interest?  I really struggled with it at first; I just couldn’t see where it was going there was nada in my head.  I left it for a week and then one morning I looked at it and saw these figures and I was off.  The above was as far as I got before Christmas.  The middle bothered me, but hey I am learning to let it evolve.  I kept seeing another figure but something inside of me shouted no.

Then yesterday I had some wet paint left over from my small paintings I am doing for the 30 paintings challenge.  After an hour’s paint play I had come up with this below.




I have actually done more to it today, but the light is bad we are in the middle of a big dark thunderstorm so I will post more about my progress next week.  I think it is very derivative of Flora Bowley, but I am not going to worry about that as I discovered that my first journal pages after seeing Teesha Moore’s work were derivative as well, but in a few weeks my own particular style emerged.  I am sure my style will emerge with these bigger paintings.  One thing is sure I haven t lost interest I can’t wait to get started on it each morning.  I just have to remember the “ugly teenager” phase soon passes (thanks Denthe for that!).


30 Paintings in 30 Days

No 2 - Bad Girl?

 

I had to laugh the other day while I was visiting some friends, they had their granddaughter of 6 years staying, she came into the lounge with such a guilty look and when asked what she had been up to she drew herself up and puffed her chest out and said, “Nothing much Nan”, then added, “the floor in the bathroom is flooded and the shampoo bottle has fallen in it and there are lots of bubbles!  I didn’t do it!”  It was the defiance on her face that got me.

No 3  Garden Ladies




This was today’s painting, I am not happy with it more needs to be done but I have to brood on it for a bit.  I decided to post it because if I am to complete 30 paintings I can’t be a perfectionist.  I have got to be real and show warts and all.  Perhaps it needs a bigger canvas this is only 8 x 10 inches.

Have a great day everybody, see you again soon.

Linking to
Kirstin and Eva’s Paint Party Friday
And Leslie Saeta’s 30 Paintings in 30 Days





Thursday, 2 January 2014

New Beginnings



Happy New Year Everyone!



For my Painting No 1 of Leslie Saeta’s 30 Paintings inJanuary 2014 I have chosen to dance the New Year in.  The painting is acrylic, on a canvas panel 8x10 inches.

Looking through my files the subject of dancing appears often as inspiration for my art.  It is strange as I hate dancing, well let’s say I have multiple left feet and feel self-conscious,  one new year’s party I dragged my dancing partner into a log fire as I tripped over my feet!  Got a nasty burn too!  So why have I been painting dancing lovelies over the last few months?  I think something is telling me to tackle my fears, the unknown and look twice at what I have rejected.  Or maybe the universe is telling it is now my time to dance in the light?  Lose my inhibitions and go for it!

So my word for 2014 is Dance (like nobody is watching!).

Friday, 27 December 2013

Reflections



2013 is coming to an end!  I have been reflecting on my art journey over the holidays and realize that I have come a long way since January.  At times it seemed as if I was going backwards.  However looking back with hindsight those blips were necessary for progress!  My word for this year was focus.  It seemed as if I had lost focus in the second half.  But as always when you have a period of intense progress there is a time that is needed to absorb the changes.
The ICAD challenge was a major breakthrough for me.



I discovered that I like whimsy, watercolours and acrylics. It has taken me a time to let go of painting in oils. (I have developed allergies with the oil paint and I don’t have space to leave oils to dry etc. etc.)  But, knowing me probably an odd oil painting or two will creep in.  I have fallen in love with watercolours and gouache again.



I don’t know where 2014 will take me but I know it will be exciting and surprising.  I have signed up for a challenge in January over at Leslie Saeta’s 30 paintings in January!  Yep, I am crazy!  I intend to do small acrylics on boards, of whimsy, flowers and whatever.  I probably won’t post every day, maybe every other day or so.

The digital piece I did earlier in the year I think says what I wish for me and all of my bloggie creative friends at Paint PartyFriday.



2014 here I come!