Inspired by …a little spontaneous expression

Posted on April 18, 2012 by artistically afflicted

For Illustration Friday
Illustration Friday is a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday on the Illustration Friday site. Then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation. Anyone is free to join, regardless of skill or experience – just draw!!

This weeks challenge ~ Puzzled.

The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science ~ Erich Fromm

Playing with a bit of spontaneous expression for this challenge. A bit of spontaneous mark-making, mindless scribbling if you will, with ink on paper.

Lets see what happens…

Add more marks, obliterate others (its only paint!) discover shapes, follow your intuition..explore.
Add some color..

A color paint chip that has been pegged up on my inspiration board for some time now. Colors I would not usually use, but am intrigued by.

Recipe ~ alizarian crimson, yellow oxide, carbon black, titan buff and titanium white.
(ok…I know there is no yellow in the chip, but I just happen to have some slowly drying out on my palette so thought.. waste not..why not?)

A little spontaneous expression for you!

I can imagine you may be a bit puzzled as to how this all fits into the topic “puzzled”

Well, for me, this whole idea of spontaneous drawing ~ intuitive painting ~ is really just a matter of putting together the pieces of a puzzle. You have your marks, your shapes and your colors. Play with them ~ Move your paper around, discover shapes, add more marks take away (paint over!) those that are not working. Follow your intuition. It either fits or is doesn’t!

A perfect quick and dirty art journal exercise. Challenge yourself with new colors and new marks. Be free and most importantly be prepared to possibly discover something new and fantastic!

I am off to find more info on this topic so that I can expand on this topic at a later date. If you have any interesting links on intuitive painting, expressive drawing, spontanous expression…I would love to have a read. This intuitive road to creation definitely intrigues me!

Until next week…

Inspired by…pulling the plug

Posted on April 3, 2012 by artistically afflicted

I am definitely on island time now… I know its Monday, but catch myself wondering if it’s not Tuesday and where did Sunday go? The days start early here and are very long and very full.

My goal during this trip was to disconnect ( from the computer that is…)…and as you can see that goal has now been changed to an attempt to try and disconnect. It is very hard indeed.

Call me a creature of habit, but my week “disconnecting” has been a mixture of relief …and anxiety. I catch myself thinking “oh I should blog about that…someone would find that interesting” I have had to stop myself many times.There is just so much to share though!

I am full of mixed emotions ~ good and bad.

The bad ~ I have a serious case of FOMO. For those not in the know…FOMO is a serious ailment known as Fear Of Missing Out..

I have had this all my life. I am familiar with it and have become quite good at handling it but I know there is lots going on in the online communities that I have become a part of. I know they are all up to good stuff ~ sharing, asking questions,offering tips..I want to be part of the action.I want to see everyones work, hear their comments, make my own comments and generally…be present.It causes me a wee bit of anxiety to think about all the fun I am missing out on.

The good ~ it really is true what they say about disconnecting and creating. I have had oodles of creative time. None of it has been a struggle. I am relaxed, focused and present.. here in the real world. It’s a very good feeling..the ideas are flowing freely.

No need to worry about me…I think I will be just fine:)

Back to reality…

Louise Gales creative color challenge for March was tranquil blues. It’s always fun to see how others use color…and the medium they choose to use.

Here is a piece I have been working on. This started out in my typical, intuitive painting kind of way….

Missing a few photos from above…to below, but I think you get the idea now..

This baby is now resting. I have lost all patience with it and when this feeling overcomes me ~it is time to face the canvas to the wall and allow it to recuperate. Personally I would like to see this piece have a bit more softness, maybe a misty-like feel to it. It is not making me feel very tranquil. Funny, but when I think of the word tranquil I always imagine soft, misty pastels.

Anyhoo, I do like the top portion with the vertical lines and wondering if I should possibly make the reeds on the right hand bottom of the canvas similar? All suggestions welcome!

A great term I heard recently from Robert Genn was that of strategic patience.

“Strategic patience” ~ It’s the strategy of letting time take care of at least part of the process. It precludes running off willy-nilly in a knee-jerk reaction–a reaction that often does more harm than good.

Half-finished paintings left deserted and grumbling in studio corners are often busy mending themselves. Pulled into the light, they re-boot the artist’s neural pathways. Solutions are often clearer, easier and less painful than originally thought. “All things come round to him who will but wait.” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Robert puts out a twice weekly newsletter smack full of interesting artsy tidbits of info. Have a look… It is well worth subscribing to.

And just because I am very thrifty with my paint, I have been keeping journal pages beside me to wipe all of my leftover paint on. These are the result.

Well, my friends, there you have it~ March creative color challenge complete! My time with blue and green paint also done. Time to move on to some bright and sunny spring colors.

Towards the end of the week I will be back to share all of the beautiful flora and fauna found here on the Big Island. I have spent hours, camera in hand, admiring. Until then, I hope everyone is well and happily creating. Dont hesitate to email me directly if you have anything good and juicy to share…wouldn’t want to miss out!

Inspired by…creative cat-napping

Posted on March 5, 2012 by artistically afflicted

everything always looks a wee bit better framed...

Taking a little break from intuitive painting. It is definitely my new found love, but one that deserves quick spurts of creative and mental energy. If I spend too long sitting and thinking and trying to see, I find myself getting a wee bit grumpy and frustrated.

I am not a patient person when it comes to creating. I like to work and get it done. Unfortunately, I lose my passion for the creation as time progresses. I then find myself staring longingly at the new blank canvas waiting…patiently.. for its turn.

The other day I had to physically lie down and take a nap. My canvas was leaning up against the wall. Half dozed and fully relaxed I found myself just looking at it, eyes half closed. I was amazed at all the different scenes I saw transforming before my very eyes.

Could this be the secret? Afternoon cat naps?!

I am thinking that they are definitely a thing of my future. I would suggest to all…try it! Instead of throwing up your arms in despair.Take a break. Relax and close your eyes. Let it evolve. When you approach your painting from a clearer, more laid back perspective, great things happen..

My husband is going to love that I am now promoting afternoon cat naps…

Painting does not come easy to me. I struggle with it which is exactly what intrigues me the most about it. I love a challenge and for me, right now, this is it. Slowly I have learned that I do need to step away..and take a deep breath or two ( or a nap now!)

So what’s a girl to do for a little mindless, creative fix??

I play with paper. I cut, I glue, I sew.

I find inspiration in books and magazines. I find layouts and colors that intrigue me. I go through my paper stash and put things together.

It’s very relaxing and doesn’t require as much brain power as painting. No worries here about how to mix the perfect shade of purple or create a beautiful distressed back ground.. Just find the piece of paper that best resembles what you are after.

Rip and glue….

There are so many beautiful handmade papers out there.(Dont forget to check out your local paint and paper store too.. have a little read here to find out where most of the paper for these collages came from!)

A great start to the week. Hoping it’s great for you too…

Inspired by….some more intuitive painting with Flora

Posted on February 24, 2012 by artistically afflicted

I am three weeks in to Flora Bowleys ecourse….Bloom True.

Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride….but one that I am loving! I laughed out loud when I heard Flora use that exact term to describe the process. At least now I know I am on the right path!

The typical painting goes something like this…

Oh, so much fun. Spreading paint with wild abandon.I could do this forever…this is what I love.Spray, splatter,swipe. Loving the cool colors and textures I am creating. Oh and I never knew how to make that color!! Wow, looking good..

Oh oh, now that’s just plain ugly. How did it just go from great to bad? Shouldnt have done that. Paint over. Damn, just painted over a part I really like. You want me to add black and white..oh ok..well now its just really ugly. Wheres the gesso. No, dont touch it…let it grow,trust your instincts….

Its madness. I have caught myself talking out loud.. more than once. Sorry, I mean talking to the dog.

I love it…I hate it..

I have had moments of feeling like a superstar…the next Rothko. I have had moments when I have questioned this style of working.I have had to leave the house more than once to just walk and clear my head. My husband is very thankful he is away traveling.

Well here you have my process….plus a possible finished product.

Stop shaking your head….I know…poppies again… ahh…my comfort zone. I saw more than one parrot lurking around in there.

Not signed yet…so there is still lots of time for changes!

I have to be honest, this style of intuitive painting is right up my alley. I have comittment issues at the best of times and the beauty of this style is that it can go any new direction at any time. Makes me feel so free…

I do shake my head a bit at another poppy painting. But, there is a rhyme and reason to it all. I am trying to explore themes and different ways of presenting the same thing. Things that I love…things that inspire me. I have never painted just pods so that’s a little different.

I would be curious as to which stage of the painting you liked best. I know I was in love around Layer 4-5 and when I first started adding the images. I am finding that with most of my paintings I am loving the middle section of the process vs the final product. I believe there is a lesson to be learned here. I need to stop then…maybe go a little abstract and keep it loose. I find I am loosing all of the wonderful marks in my journey back into my comfort zone…texture.

Constantly learning…. It feels good and while I do get a wee bit frustrated, it is nice to know I am making progress!

Thank you for all of your comments as I stumble through this process. At times I still cannot believe I am putting it out there, but I really do love and appreciate the community that I have become a part of….so much fun!

Have a great weekend!

Inspired by….Bloom True (the e-course)

Posted on February 16, 2012 by artistically afflicted

I am at it again. Stalking poor Flora. Read about her here….over here and here… I really should become her PR gal. Hmmmm…

This time I am taking her newly released e-course Bloom True. As I expected it is everything I imagined and more.She is true to her word.

I am OPEN to it all!

So bear with me for the next 6 weeks as you help me intuitively paint myself to greatness.I will try to limit my ” Help ..What do you see?” questions.

I have really been enjoying our classroom community. I love reading everyone’s comments and thinking “Yes, I get what you are saying, I see that…I know where you are coming from… ” But it is our own process and each and everyone of us will find our own way.Its just so nice to know you are not alone in your process. Everyone is finding and sharing.It is a great learning environment.

The key is trust.Not an easy value to uphold when painting. Especially when you have an inner critic sitting right next to you, critiquing every move…..

Currently we are working on our mark making. I have been searching the house high and low for tools. Just recently I received a lovely bottle of wine as a gift…wrapped in some fabulous cardboard.

What am I thinking you ask? I am eyeing the cardboard with great enthusiasm thinking the ridges on it will be a fine mark making tool. My children and husband no longer speak, they just glance sideways at each other and hope and pray that they did not inherit this gene….

So here you go. What I have found helpful in my mark making process. Fun times and lots of play….

My very own homemade cut outs. These are made from sturdy paint chips, a couple of different hole punches and an exacto knife. Anything goes…
Fruit and veggie mesh. Great for spraying paint or inks on.
Scrapbook paper cutouts, ridged cardboard,raised paper…
Anything to scratch, etch and move paint around.

Scrap cuts outs. Love these. Once again great for spraying through or painting on top.
And last but not least. My favorite…

Spray bottles, fluid paint and ink. I am loving these. My walls and floors are not!
Great for spraying through cutouts, or into wet paint. Great for drips!

So there you have it. Add a paint brush or two, fingers and rags and you have an arsenal of great mark making tools!
I would love to hear what you are using. Please share and feel free to add a link!

Thanks for dropping by…and remember…..

practice, patience and perseverance

Inspired by…exhausted by…intuitive painting

Posted on January 11, 2012 by artistically afflicted

Oh my goodness I am exhausted. This whole new brave, intuitive way of painting is slowly killing me. ..It is also cluttering up my home.

I am surrounded by canvas all begging for attention. All waiting for me to find something, some imagery in them. I must have at least 5 canvas on the go right now. Some intuitive style, some not. I think I am going to start turning their faces to the wall.

Pick me…don’t you see the huge orange poppy? your favorite poppy pods?..No, pick me I am so a birch tree….oh..and I have some birds in me too..What about me? Pick me, why dont you love me? I have been sitting here for over three months.. waiting… I have potential, you’ll see..love me…..

There we go…silence.

My favorite is now, in desperation, asking my children to find images for me. I asked my teenage daughter what she saw in one of my paintings. All I got was a “seriously?” you expect me to find something in that mess. My younger son, on the other hand, was able to find an entire, very complicated NYC skyline.

If I see one more bird , tree or flower emerge from all of my mark making I may scream. Really now…why cant I find a lovely figure or maybe a sailboat?

It must all boil down to the subconscious. What do I do when not painting and living life? I doodle.

I doodle big bold flowers, leaves and fields of dreams. I guess it is only natural that I then keep seeing these images emerge in my paintings.

I think it may be time to sit down and scan some magazines and books. I need to build up a repertoire of new images in my art journal.

So, just because, I have posted a few progression pieces..work in progress, mind you. (There is no such thing as a finished painting around here..you are not safe from gesso until you leave the house:)

intuitive painting, workshop, flora bowley

making marks

sorry...white balance a little off..but you can start to see images..

outlining images..choosing colors..

still working color...

Close to being finished, but not quite. Definitely inspired by Flora, but trying to make it my own. Adding lots of texture. I am not one for transparency. Still need to add all the icing…more outlining and images to draw all the colors together. Also need a smoother transition from light to dark.

Any other suggestions? Please……

Hold onto your hats for this one. This one is full of flowers and birds of all kinds.

mark making..warm and cool colors..

Amongst it all I was thrilled to have found this…

I see a barn!..seriously? do you see it?

In a 24″ by 24″ painting covered in marks, I found this little 3 inch section of what looked like an old barn and some rolling hills and now, all of a sudden, I have a game plan!!

I see a village coming on...

Sigh of relief…I can only take so much braveness…I am actually still not that brave as I am still finding images “precious”..I have to be willing to turn this canvas upside down and re-work it…that still makes me quiver in my boots..

This has hours of attention coming its way…

In a nutshell,I love intuitive painting. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is such a fun, free wheelin’ process. Everytime I work a painting this way I learn oodles of information~ be it a mark, a texture, a color combination or an image. I can’t tell you how liberating it is to just paint and see what happens. I am constantly surprising myself…and this, my friends, keeps the love for painting alive and well in me.

Only three more weeks until Flora Bowleys online course Brave Intuitive You. I can’t wait. I have worked with her in person and written about her here..and here..oh, and here too.

All of a sudden I feel like a bit of stalker…

My weekend with her was all I hoped for and more, but I feel like I only scraped the surface of this whole intuitive painting style and my potential. I am so excited to explore this concept more.

I am open, willing…. and brave.

Join me!

Inspired by…Flora Bowley Bloom True E-course (yippee..)

Posted on November 30, 2011 by artistically afflicted

BREAKING NEWS!!

(well in real life it would be, but in the internet world it is almost old news..and it is only 2 hours old!)…… AEDM creative challenge continues below…….

I have some very exciting news for you today. I have mentioned Flora Bowley numerous times in my blog. She is one of the first artists whose work resonated with me. She sparked my imagination. She helped me reach a whole new level of artistic playfulness.

Flora Bowley surrounded by her artwork

I could even go so far as to say Flora knocked me on my ass! I was a bit lost after my True Bloom workshop with her two weeks ago. After, I had to sit down and re-asses how I wanted to express myself. I hate to say it was life-altering, but I really do believe something shifted in me.

I have posted about my experience here. Will I be taking her Bloom True – the e-course version? You betcha’! It’s not just about learning her style. It is about letting go. Opening yourself up to endless creative possibilities. Exploring.

All practices that we, as artists, should learn to embrace.

Well, lucky for all of you…she has just announced her first e-course! (For those of you living in remote places…now is the time to jump for joy)

Bloom True ~ the e-course

Bloom true: the e-course’ presents a groundbreaking and transformational approach to painting (and living) that celebrates intuition, connects body, mind and spirit and allows unique and expressive paintings to emerge naturally and authentically.

Brimming with high-definition video demonstrations, new techniques, unique lessons and inspiring prompts, this course will empower even first time painters to unlock their creative flow while gleaning life transforming lessons along the way. This will be unlike any other online painting e-course out there, and it may just change the way you paint… forever.

Registration is open now and this five-week painting adventure will begin on Monday February 6, 2012. See http://braveintuitiveyou.com/e-course/registration/

If you havent signed up already…you should! Dont forget to admire her new website while you are there!

p.s….. creative everyday resumes below!

Artistically Afflicted

Tag Archives: intuitive painting