So...along with many of you...I, too, was recently busy getting ready for
Surtex. I thought that I would share a new piece that I just finished to show you a peek at how I work.
When I begin a new piece of art..sometimes I have a sketch and a bit of a plan and sometimes I don't. I kind of think that the best art comes from keeping the plan loose and being willing to change your mind along the way. For this piece...I knew that I wanted to do a bike with a flower basket. And I knew that it was going to have a colorful border...because it is part of a series. The rest just happened as I went along.
I always begin with some base color or pattern. I like to pile on the layers as I go...adding things...painting over things. I often paint an entire section...decide that I don't like it...and paint right over it. I actually like how some of what was there becomes part of the built up layers.
One thing that I do often is grab some color print outs of my own work and tear up pieces of it to work into a new piece. It is my own form of recycling. Hard as I try...I go back to similar color palettes...so chances are ...pieces of my former work will work well in a new piece.
I used to work with the expensive paints...Golden. It is the cadillac of
paints and the colors are brilliant. But, recently, I buy the cheapie
craft paints. I just go to Michael's and pick out the colors that grab
my eye. This can force me to get out of my color ruts...which can be fun
and adventurous.
One thing I love is all of the happy accidents that happen in the process of making art. I have already splattered paint, by mistake...and end up loving how it looks and then intentionally splattering more.
I find that a necessary ingredient in keeping it loose and flowing is some great music. Playing music while I work makes me relax and not think too much. Stepping away now and then to dance a bit is great, too!! When I find that I am overworking a part of the piece...I make myself walk away from it. Go do something else and come back to it later with fresh eyes.
I will be sharing more about my process and other interesting things that I want to share with you in future issues. So happy that you will be coming along!! You can sign up for my new newsletter to get more updates and sneak peeks into all the things I'm up to! Click the link below to subscribe!
