Tag Archives: ideas

Jul14

Layers & Layers

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A collage of scraps

A collage of scraps

These last couple of weeks, I’ve been spending time gathering my embellishments. This really means that I’ve been stamping deli paper, layering the best paper towels, & starting to put papers together so when I start assembling the mixed media piece, I’ll have choices!

Paper towels colored, & covered

Paper towels colored, & covered

What do you mean choices?

Skins

Skins

IMG_1406

Since I’m work intuitively, as most abstract artists do, I never know what direction I’m headed until the piece tells me the direction!  This could mean it pulls together fast and easy, or…..it could mean hours of agonizing decisions.  This is usually determined by my brain;  you know right brain, or left brain.   The minute I start analyzing my work, I might as well stop.   I’ve slipped back into my left brain, and it’s all over for the day!

Stamps on Deli wrap

Stamps on Deli wrap

Somehow, when I’m just playing with embellishments, in my mind it doesn’t matter.  It seems easier to create something that may or may not be used.  Or, it may be used in part, the rest being left for another creation.   See…easier!

Soaked egg carton, flattened for texture.....we'll see!

Soaked egg carton, flattened for texture…..we’ll see!

All this has been created in the name of embellishments.  Even at that, it may be covered with gesso, or a semi opaque color so just a little will see through.

These six squares, all painted on brown paper, is in part my attempt at playing like a kindergartener!  Will it work,  we’ll see.  It looks a little rippled.  When torn up , or cut up depending, it will probably lay flat.  But, it’s not finished yet.  I’m just getting started, and I never know where I’m going until I get there!

Jul12

The Cold Wax Process

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A cold wax, and oil paint demo from Kim Sobat.  I have looked all over YouTube for a simple explanation of using these two mediums together, and this is it.  I hope you find it interesting, and useful.  So far I’ve tried it on a watercolor painting I just finished, an acrylic abstract, and recent oil painting to help preserve it.  The watercolor painting, and the oil did well.  However it seems  to me that it just presents more problems for an acrylic painting.  The one thing I haven’t tried is mixing the cold wax with the acrylic as I’m using it.   Rather than trying it on a painting, I think it might be better trying it on a small sample of watercolor paper.  What do you think?

As Kim’s work continued, I slowly began to see what he was trying to achieve.  

Each time he put another color on his paper, I thought….hell no!   But as it progressed I could see where he might be going with it.  Then as Kim finished it up, I began to really like the completed piece.

Maybe it’s worth trying cold wax again!

Jul7

My Latest Painting…..

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artist Karen Samenow

20 x 20 canvas

I just finished my latest painting…  It started out with the intention of being rocks, and before  knew it, the painting was telling me this wasn’t rocks, but people.   Every intuitive artist knows, they don’t know what a painting is going to look like when it’s finished.  For that matter, they don’t know if it’s even finished.  We can always go further, or go too far, and that I guess is up to the artist.

Presently I have another on the easel, and it’s telling me to STOP!    So, I’m watching it to see if it tells me anything else.  They are so picky, and bossy these paintings.

If any of you have ideas about the title, please let me know.   I need to name it!

 

 

Jun21

A New Artist

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After searching around YouTube for a bit, I ran into this video, and it sparked my interest.  I thought the artist that paints the dogs was amazing.  Although I don’t paint like this, & I’m not really shure what my style is, it triggered my interest, and I thought you might be interested as well.  I hope you enjoy.

Jun7

Transfering a Photo

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Over the years I have transferred many photos, one that comes to mind is a photo of my sister and myself when we were little….yes we were once little!  It turned out pretty well, but as many as I’ve done, it’s always been a pain to do.  There are many different ways to achieve this, and this is just one of them.  Enjoy!

May18

Like a Three Year Old!

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After years of purchasing just the right art supplies to achieve just the perfect results, I now have a studio stuffed with supplies that I love using!

But…..

Who knew all I had to do was use what I was born with?  My fingers and hands, maybe even my feet...who knew?

As I started to watch this video my thought was, “this isn’t going anywhere.”  But, since I had started it, I always think  you never know what might be learned by watching.  It wasn’t very long and the blending of colors seemed interesting.  Then suddenly it started to take shape and I found it even more interesting.  Remembering back several years while taking a Bob Burridge week-long workshop in Sedona, Arizona.  We were finger painting, and suddenly I felt like a three-year old,  totally in the moment.  The class was intense, and fun, and exhausting, but well worth the effort, experience and money!

It didn’t take me long to realize being in the moment was actually where I needed to be.  Especially since I constantly fight to loosen up.  This felt real and fun, and doable!

I loved it!

Running into this artist, Dena,  who was finger painting was a perfect way to distance myself from the tendency to slip  into reality.  I hope you get some inspiration out of it as I have.

Thank you for following me, and commenting on videos  and my work.  I realize I’m not getting things out there like in the past, however I am working at it.  As you all know, there are times when life gets in the way.    Enjoy….