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.

Still abstractify life

The final exercise of the course, was all about still life. I was uncertain where to begin, because I'm not really a "stuff" person. I wasn't even sure what still life was - did it include furniture, or just things that once lived (ie: flowers in a vase)?

So to satisfy my curiosity, I decided to embark on a few extra projects, to see if I couldn't thoroughly explore the subject matter.

For some reason, I wanted to capture our living area, because it's where we like to do our reading, research and to relax. So I set up the "arrangement", as you're supposed to do, for a still life painting. I knew I was going to remove things (like the red, stability ball) and add extra things - like maybe a traditional piece of fruit?

The first painting I tackled with acrylic...

I call this, "the one I had to get out of my system". Because it was mostly realism, with a vague play with abstract - meaning I simplified the shapes. I liked it, but I knew it was a little vanilla, as well. So I made another attempt.

This time I wanted to exploit the space, which so intrigued me, between the couch and the bookcase.

I set it up, so I could work on two pieces at the same time. Just because I wanted to see how far I could push the same living space, arrangement. But as often happens (to me anyway) I had to rescue the one on the right - it had too much charcoal, and became the dark abyss. So I covered it with white gesso, to start again.

I quite liked it at this stage. It was rough and not too precious. But I had an idea I wanted to exploit, which meant I had to add to it again. This piece eventually became, quite the "mixed media" project.

I ended up using, acrylic paints, charcoal, inktense pencils and collage (bookcase and book spine). The reason I chose this particular arrangement, was to make a feature of that space between the couch and bookcase, in the first painting. To do that, I used a lot of angles - like arrows, to point towards it.

Yet there is nothing so obvious, as a glaring arrow in sight. It merely encourages the eye, to slide down the side of the bookcase, with the glass and apple, to where the lamp is emerging, but pretending not to notice. There is no obvious gap between the bookcase and couch, any more, but I insinuate there is. Because in alignment with that sweet, invisible spot, is the unopened book, waiting to be read.

So that was my idea, in a nutshell.

The other piece I worked on, while waiting for the gesso to dry on the other, was very simple in comparison. Also inspired by the original painting, I wanted to extend the couch, to look like it was ready to embrace you.

The apple from the original painting, became the wallpaper. No books this time. It was just a little Inktense pencil, play - and everything a living space should be. Welcoming.

Then just to stick to convention, I decided to set-up a traditional "still life" arrangement. This little blue medical bottle, and shells, normally reside in our bathroom. They had to be temporarily relocated to my studio, however, in order to pose for my still life.

Out came the Inktense pencils again...

I probably could have played with it some more, but wanted to keep it simple. What I've learned with Inktense pencils is, you need very little, and you want to keep your colours clean. The more you layer them, the more muddy they become. Which is fine, if that's the look you're going for. But I wanted vivid colours, in this case.

So with that, the course ends. But the journey of creating, doesn't! I may take a break for a little while, to begin some sewing projects I've been meaning to. I've got some kid's birthday presents to plan for, in the next 3 months. But I will definitely return to the studio again.

Until next time...enjoy your creative journey, wherever it leads you!

Abstractify: week four

As week three of my course, ended up being a mega post - I'm going to break up week four, a little more.

The first exercise, was trying to capture the essence, of an aspect in nature. In this case, a tree - and finding different ways to express what a tree is, or how it can be experienced. It was really just left up to your imagination, how you would approach the subject matter.

I opted to use my own image, from our property, than the one supplied. Mostly, because I loved the "dwarfed" feeling, it created, by standing underneath.

Loved the concept! But (once again) it proved to cause another stumbling block, because of "attachment" issues. Thus, I tried to recreate the image, rather than drawing from my imagination.

I started the trunk, with newspaper collage, but ended up covering most of it! Not to worry.

I thought the composition, created a lovely, weightless feeling at first, but I had to try "pushing" it, that little bit further...
 

I wanted to add more weight to the bottom, by adding some under-story plants. Effectively though, I made it look more cluttered. But what I'm learning with each exercise, is not to become "precious" about my creations. If I'm not prepared to risk ruining them, then I'm not prepared to learn what IS possible.

While I may not effectively capture the essence of the exercise (at first) I'm still practicing. Which can only make me more familiar with my process, and how to change it! I like these "failures" (to me) for learning. So they're not wasted efforts at all.

Once the course wraps up (start of next week) and I have more time, I will try new ways to explore trees again. I'm looking forward to that, because our five acres, has so many of them!! 

Figures

I'm not going to share every single exercise, in my online course, because some are more about experiments, than producing anything notable. Which is a great way to learn - through experimentation!

Nevertheless, this week, we're learning all about people, or figures - and how to bring them into being. I didn't realise there were so many creative ways to do this. I will share, two of the different ways we experimented with - and they're really, worlds apart.

Experiment #1

One of the exercises, had to do with exploring light and dark tones, specifically through paint. Using a naked model: we could opt for the female image supplied, or find our own. So I opted to find my own image, using a male model instead (above).

It was not my intention to give him, a "Wolverine knives" look to his hands, but I was experimenting with mark making, and trying to distract from the incomplete hands. As he was holding something in both hands, in the reference image. So I had to fudge his hands a little, in order to lose the items.

But then, we later came to do an exercise, which truly excited me...

Experiment #2 begins

This time, we were going to create figures from thin air. We could use a reference image for guidance, if we wanted to - but I was curious to see how I would go, with just my imagination, and the materials I chose.

Personally, I love incorporating newspaper prints in some of my work, through collage. And I found an awesome hand-written letter page, as my base material.

Two random pieces

I tore it up randomly, and started gluing it to my white paper. I had an idea of the figure's position on the page (conjured up in my imagination) but I was also prepared to see what would randomly appear, too.

Six random pieces

I thought this had the good basis for a seated, or crouched position. But at this stage, I still hadn't settled on the final position of the figure. It was still just an idea, forged out of random pieces of paper. Then I started adding the paint...

Acrylic Paint

This, again, was a random process. I liked the rust-coloured look, that yellow-oxide and red, made together. I also thought it complemented the vintage look of the hand-written prints, more than a more bold colour would.

To help in blending and highlighting though, I added a fair bit of white gesso.  Ever so gradually, a figure started to emerge...

Titled: "Mc Kenna Replies"

{Mc Kenna, being the surname, written on the envelope}

I decided to keep it more abstract, giving the illusion of a position, without locking it into one. My figure could've been in a crouched position, or standing on one leg.

This is the most abstract, I've gotten in this course. And it didn't make me feel uncomfortable either. Maybe because I didn't have a reference image to compare it to - did I get the proportions right, is the shading correct, etc. This was just a random process, to see what emerged.

I probably could've worked on it more, but I loved the weightless feeling to this painting - a lot more, than the heavy feeling, of the first. I didn't want to lose that, so stopped. I'm definitely going to try more of these.

Tranquility piece

It's been ten months since I worked in my studio. Nesting priorities, come first at this stage in my life. But what was working against me getting back in there, was having my studio overtaken with remnants of a quilt project, and anything else we cared to dump, when visitors were expected

I did a massive clean recently, and reclaimed my creative space. To mark this special occasion, I selected a subjected matter, I hoped would create a sense of tranquility and reflection, in my new space.

I found a picture online, of a young girl, playing with water from a jetty. But she had a frilly skirt on, and I wanted to create a lady. So I sketched with charcoal, something more from my mind - using the online image for cues.

I started with hot pick and green acrylic paint, for a more abstract use of colours. But the more I added, the more I found the pink burning into my retina. I wanted something more tranquil.

Using white gesso, helped me tone back the pink, with just a hint remaining. I could probably play with this piece some more, but figured it went against the tranquility I was aiming for. Too many details would have forced me to concentrate, more than I actually planned to.

So I leave it on my wall as a reminder, not to force creativity. Just accept it, how it flows sometimes.

Materials used: watercolour paper, charcoal, gesso, acrylic paint and water soluble, artbar.

Windmill

What a difference, appropriate materials make! I explained the problem I had with my first monochrome attempt, was the IXL charcoal blocks - used on top of the gesso paint. Well, I found some charcoal sketching pencils, hidden in my supplies cupboard, which I hoped would be more appropriate. I used the "soft" one (as opposed to medium, or hard) with great success this time.

The charcoal blended perfectly with the gesso paint and allowed me to make more expressive marks. I used a reference picture of a windmill, but added my own marks to make it appear as if, it was moving.

It's a simple study, but one of my favourites. Because it's the first time I've been able to capture "movement". It aims a little more on the abstract side (technique wise) but still a recognisable subject in the end.

I was able to complete this in about an hour. Why is it important to note the time? Because it's one of the strategies I'm using to be able to fit creative time in. It's a little window I get in the evenings, where toddlers are asleep and older siblings can watch a favourite show with dad. So small and simple projects, are what works best.

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.

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.