Finally finding some time to paint. Have been struggling to get back into a painting routine. Spring is finally coming to our neck of the woods and the great outdoors is calling! The last couple of weeks it has snowed just about everyday - the ground would be covered in the morning, it would melt off during the day and snow again in the night. We actually had a wet snow yesterday, but today the sun is shining and the air is warm.
 |
| April 29, 2017 .....so sad....this is more snow than we had in November! |
I am just painting small dailies but you do what you can do. I used these paintings to experiment with colour mixing, and some varnishing. (Trying semi-gloss and satin varnish - no high gloss in my cupboard.) I do make colour swatches and have a book filled with different colour mixing 'recipes' and samples of those mixed colours, but decided to incorporate the 'mixing' into some of these smaller works. Much less boring!!
These are small - approx. 5”X5”, acrylic on Somerset printmaking paper. I tend to overpaint so the challenge this past week was to paint ‘quick’ and not obscure all the first layers of paint and collage. I started these just before the dinner hour so time was limited. I added the collage paper with the ‘typewriter’ font and wanted to be able to see it when I was ready to stop. I also used the same palette, and imagery - I am trying to work towards some continuity - thinking series. Although ‘series’ means different things and approaches to us all. I am happy with these and feel pretty successful in meeting my painting goals for them.
I am interested to hear your thoughts on working in a series, making colour swatches and of course the creative process in general!
'Prairie Red' #'s 1-5
I miss seeing the red barns and granaries. The prairie fields and farm yards seem to be filled with metal structures now -more economical and last longer but I still love the red wood buildings. I you are interested to know why barns were painted red (I was!) click here.
Your Prairie Red series is fabulous. LOVE the typographical collage bits; love that you made sure the typography stayed visible. Love your goals of painting quick with these exercises and not obscuring all of the first layers. Love the results. #3 and #4; their contrasting bits of white collage are especially compelling.
ReplyDeleteSeries—something I'm investigating also. I took a class last fall where that was a requirement (a minimum of 6 pieces for any one assignment). There is much about working in a series that calls to me, although thus far in my painting life I find that I don't always heed the call successfully; i.e. I flit in a new direction before I create anything that would constitute a series!
Paint swatches? Did a few over the course of a few days maybe three years ago. That was it!
Varnishing? Just getting there.
Apologies Dotty - I thought I hit 'publish' but obviously didn't! Your comments are much appreciated. I haven't followed through until know with the idea of a 'series'. Glad you have shared your thoughts and past experience with this idea. There seems to be as many thoughts about what 'makes' a series as there are artists. Maybe the more we paint the more we find ideas and imagery we want to explore. I like the idea of 'more painting'! Take care
DeleteEnjoyed this post as to how your think and how you go about experimenting. Thanks much for sharing. These almost look like a patchwork quilt, loving all the texture.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Nelvia. I seem to be doing a lot of 'thinking' about painting, etc these days. Really need to get on with some larger work - where does the time go!!
Deletei think you have found a successful "method" that works well for you. All the paintings posted are quite nice!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you Judith. Trying to switch things up a bit to keep my thinking and painting fresh.
DeleteReally liking the chunky shapes and subdued palette. These are so fun. 1 is my favorite, and then the last two. The textures are fantastic. I try to work in a series, Have a few times. But I usually get a completely different idea can't wait to try it. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila, I did have fun doing these. I keep thinking about a 'series' as well, but then get distracted with another idea(s). As long as we're painting though!
Delete