Challenges & mixed media

While quiet on my blog, I've still been creating, here and there. I'm part of a lovely group of artists, via Facebook, and every month a reference photo is supplied, and everyone who wants to - can attempt their own interpretation.

I'd love to show you how amazing (and varied) the other artists' works are. However, it's a private Facebook group, so that's not possible. I can share the works I have completed, over the past few months though.

Monochrome sketch

July was the first month, I decided to participate. I didn't have much time to commit, so completed a quick pen-ink sketch, first. Thanks to my recent experiments with spirals and pen-ink, I was able to sketch quite loosely and without fear of making expected mistakes.

Colour

Then I wanted to play with colour a little more, and incorporated my Inktense pencils. I really enjoyed the exercise, because I truly love to sketch. However, I also realised sketching is ALL I had committed to doing artistically, lately. So for the next month of August, I decided to be a little more daring.

Mixed media

The reference image was of an old castle, nestled into the green hills of the countryside. It was quite beautiful, however, I wanted to do something different.

Now for some reason in my brain; brickwork, masonry and stones in general, remind me of newspaper print. So that's what I used, after putting down some acrylic paint. I also used charcoal and oil pastels, for a bit more definition, afterwards.

My mother actually saw it on the fridge, and asked if my 5 years old son had done it. Mostly, I guess, because I'm known for doing quite detailed work. I decided to take it as a compliment, because children have no inhibition when it comes to expressing themselves through art - and that's what I was attempting to do. I was trying to push myself into new territory, and you have to start somewhere.

 Mixed media

For this month, I decided to stick with the collage newsprint, with more brickwork involved. I actually ran a black and white filter, over the reference image, and it just confirmed, how much brickwork reminds me of newsprint! So I added some to the facing wall, in the ceiling and the 3 standing pillars.

Once again, acrylic paint was used for colour, and charcoal for adding details. I actually like this combination of mixed media. Because it encourages me to view the image in blocks (ie: newsprint) and in finer detail (paint and charcoal).

One of my goals for this year with my art, was to loosen up. While I know my work is still leaning towards the detailed side (something I'm trying to move away from) I can actually see through these monthly challenges, how much more variety I'm incorporating. The way I sketch has changed, I use more blocks of colour/collage, and even my painting has become a little more impressionistic.

Collage paper ~ not my work

I've so enjoyed doing mixed media, I intend to do a bit more. I have a collection of collage papers I can experiment with, but I also wouldn't mind making my own collage paper, from printing experiments. As that is another aspect of art, I wouldn't mind exploring.

To that end, I have reserved some books at the library to teach more about technique, more art supplies are on their way, and what better time than spring for new creations to emerge.

Happy creating in your neck of the woods, whatever season you're in.

Another 7 day challenge

I've started a new 7-day art challenge, via Tara Leaver's instagram #mycreativetouchstones. Please feel free to jump-in and add your own creations, so long as you have an Instagram account of your own. Here's mine, if you're an instagram user and want to see what I'm up to.

The gist is to pick a single subject, and explore it for 7 days - with the intension of narrowing your own style: rather than being all over the place. Which tends to be me, by the way, in case you hadn't noticed *wink*!

First, I'll show the three pictures I've completed, over the past 3 days. then explain why I'm exploring these particular avenues.

 

 Day 1: Experimenting with marks

cross-eyed, but couldn't erase

 Day 2: Added a little colour after sketch, for experimentation

but it may not be a habit

Day 3: Loser than day 1 ~

but not as lose as day 3

Reasons for choosing this subject and medium, for my 7 day challenge:

1. Time was limited. It's the school holidays, so time was short. Painting was out of the question. Sketching would be easier to set up, and quicker to produce something. It's only taken 15-20 minutes to complete each sketch. 


2. Challenges with mark making. Normally I use a pencil for sketching, but wanted to see the marks I'd make, without the buffer of an eraser. So permanent, black pen, it was. The goal: to learn how I sketch, without refinement.


3. The doodling factor. In the past I've used lines and spirals as a form of meditative, "doodling" on paper. After a google search on, "faces", images, were used as models. The expansive nature of doodling, however, ensured no sketch, looked anything like the original counterpart.


4. Faces. I'm fascinated with expression, and what they convey without words.


5. Moving past realism. The goal is not, complete abstract, but to move past creating realistic representations.This is so I can create an experience beyond what you get from viewing a photograph.

I look forward to sharing more of how the 7 day challenge, unfolds. Then finally, sharing what I got out of it. I enjoy participating in art challenges, for this valuable learning component. That's why I push past the clock, to join in. Because creating a series, teaches you a lot about your creative process.

Here are the rest of the links in this series:

Day 4-6
Day 7
Further experiments

7 day challenge, wrap up

So I didn't finish day seven, of the 7 day challenge. Mostly because I had a pressing issue, of building chicken housing, for our new chicks.

See my other blog, for details, here.

I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. I learned a lot, about how work best. I also look forward to starting the new Touchstones art course, starting in a few days. So I only have a few days, to finish that chicken tractor!

I look forward to reporting how the course goes.

Day 6 mini challenge

The days are just flying past now. It's the second-last picture for the challenge, and it turned out to be something blue. Because it just felt like a blue kind of day. Of course, the only thing I could conceive that was blue, was a peacock!

I started with an acrylic wash, and went over it with oil pastels for finer details. I even used a bit of black pen. While it's certainly blue, I noticed something about it, which reminded me of the sunflowers I did on day four.

Both were taken from internet images, which I decided I wanted to find. Want a sunflower? Got it. Peacock? No problem. But they looked as stilted, as a photograph too. I've used internet images successfully during the challenge, but I didn't go looking for a building with archways - I just saw it and thought it looked interesting. So there was no bias when I changed it to look completely different.

Even my self-portrait was done on a whim. I took a selfie, feeling happy and carefree - so that's what transposed into my sketch. "Being" me, rather than simply making a visual image to look like me. What have I learned from this experience? I work better with concepts, rather than a definitive subject. If I start with a concept, its more likely to shape the final product, outside of the reference photograph. Rather than the photo defining the subject matter for me.

A very small detail, but I'm glad I discovered it.

Day 5 mini challenge

When day 5 came around, it struck me, I wanted to do a self portrait. All this creating had revealed a little more about my creative style, so I wanted to see how that would translate into a portrait.

I chose charcoal pencils as my sketching medium.

It looks rather ordinary compared to how I feel. I could have done mad colour combinations, because that's how I'm feeling about creating right now. I'm loving the excitement of looking at the world differently. So why didn't I portray that in my self-portrait? Because charcoal is gritty, like I've had to be, over the past five days.

I've had terrible scheduling conflicts, with this particular challenge. I've had to just dig-in and persevere. But I also like the calming qualities that working with charcoal, seems to give me. Could it be, because it's a natural medium of the earth?

Day 4 mini challenge

It's always the way. When inspiration hits, it's time for bed! I went to sleep last night, excited about all the pictures I could create for day 4. Unfortunately, when I woke up and had a zillion others things to do, all that inspiration disappeared.

So when David took Peter for a walk, mid-morning, my brain was a bit deflated. I thought I might try something in oil pastels and found an image online, of some sunflowers.

While it was enjoyable to draw and get in touch with oil pastels again, I didn't have much rattling around, as far as creative juices were concerned. I also realised I'm not as keen on my drawing supplies as I once was. Which includes the different varieties of pencils and the pastels. They require a lot of concentration and time to work with, which I realise in my busy schedule, doesn't afford me the luxury.

Acrylic paint, on the other hand, is much quicker to work with. Plus you can go over it, again and again, to change things around. I need speed and flexibility to create.

So the good thing about participating in this mini challenge is, I'm realising what art supplies I can work with best, on time restraints. If I want to create art in this busy time, I have to make things a little easier where I can.

Day 2 mini challenge

While I've managed to complete a picture each day, for the 7 day mini-painting challenge, I'm behind in posting about it. So here is day 2. I started with a free, internet reference photo:

While I loved the look and feel of this image - especially all that moss growing on the stone, I went in a completely different direction. I used the picture, only for line references, which I managed to change quite a bit too.

So this is what I ended up doing from the original reference picture:

Title: Only Arbor

I wanted to keep the lines and colours simple. Remember that pink from my period ladies series, here and here? Yep, same pink. I also wanted to use the lime green as homage to the moss on the rocks. Green is a wonderful contrast to pink!

I actually had to race to finish this picture, which is why it's not perfect. But I kind of like that it's not. I almost didn't get any time to complete a picture on this day, but David gave me an hour to myself. He suddenly decided to take Peter for a walk. So I dropped everything and ran to my paint supplies!

This picture from the outset, was always going to be about perspective, vibrant colour, light and shadows. None were meant to dominate, which is why they're so simple in application. Material is acrylic paint on paper.

Touchstones

I've joined a new art challenge, via a course I've signed on for. The online course is called Touchstone, and run by Tara Leaver. From what I can gather, it's about drawing you closer to your identity as an artist.

There is a free 7 day mini-painting challenge, for anyone to join in. You're meant to do a small picture, with materials and subject matter you are drawn to, but most importantly, is easy! The idea is you turn out work for the 7 days, which you CAN do. I like that idea, with a toddler to entertain for most of the day!

So here is what I did after day 1:

 Title: Tipping point of balance

It started with an Inktense pencil sketch, but then I wanted to add some acrylic paint over the top, to soften the lines.

For some bizarre reason, I've been intimidated by mixing media before, but now I like it, because I realise the freedom it gives. I can go over stuff and make them different.

I didn't realise it at the time, but I chose a stack of stones to do for the 7 day mini-painting challenge, inspired by the "Touchstone" art course. In fact, I had done some preliminary sketches long before Tara Leaver mentioned the course. So it's kinda weird it popped up as a first piece, without me realising, until I finished it today.