Saturday, March 10, 2012

Procrastination, Play and Upcoming Show

I have not worked on my giant cherries for the past two or three days. It has to be completed and varnished by Friday for an upcoming show and sale weekend organized by the Nepean Fine Arts League. I have just felt like playing:-) Here is the result of that play...don't laugh too hard...it is sooooo "not me", but I loved making this mixed media piece that I am calling " Soaring Spirit" and which started as a pure abstract and which evolved into something semi-representational with tons of texture:

It  is acrylic paint on a 12" X 12" X 1" wood panel with metallic foil, cheesecloth, tissue paper, metallic paints. Because of the reflection of the metallic paper surfaces, it did not photograph well at all, but you get the idea:-)

What do you think?

 

18 comments:

  1. Makes me think of a human heart with a figure riding on it - so it does look like a "soaring spirit". Very good - and I'm not laughing at all (just smiling!) I'm becoming more interested in mixed media, and this one is very good! (Sorry - I just had a Senior Moment and put this comment under GCWS - then took it off to put it under my own blog)

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  2. Yes, I saw a heart, too, and then the person - not laughing here, I think it's great!

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  3. Deb and Rhonda, I did not see the heart until you mentioned it:-) Mixed media is addictive, I think. There are so many possibilities! Thank you for your encouragement!

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  4. Christiane, Good for you! I find that after playing (my mandala paintings), I always look forward to painting my next still life. I see a figure with arms outstretched, embracing a heart?
    I like it!

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    1. Laura, I am glad that you like this piece.After doing a complex, detailed work, it's probably relaxing and liberating to just let our imagination go. The figure...which started only as part of a cruciform composition...is certainly there. I had not seen the heart until others pointed it out to me:-)

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  5. This really separates from all your paintings. Very beautiful. I hope you'll work further on this kind of painting.

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    1. Cora, I am very pleased that you like this style that is so new for me. You are certainly giving me the encouragement and confidence to explore this approach a bit more. Thank you!

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  6. This is a lovely departure from your usual watercolours. I like the colours and shine to it. A foray into abstract work leads to all kinds of interesting things like this. Keep going with more!

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    1. Thank you for your encouragement, Jeanette. You know, I almost felt like I was being a traitor to my watercolours while I worked on this. But, of course, it's all artistic expression and one should use all the media we need to express ourselves. I have already started to prepare two new panels for more mixed media:-)

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  7. This is great. I am really scared of experimenting. Like to remain in safe waters. But I guess if I don't experiment I will not evolve. Thanks for motivating.

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by, Asit! It's only paint and paper or canvas...if you don't like it, you don't even have to show it to anyone. Treat it as playtime:-)

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    1. Krista, I am thrilled that you like it! Your comment means a lot to me.

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  9. This reminds me of Atlas and the world - but in this case he is not really holding up the world:) I love the texture you have gotten in this...Yes - we have to experiment sometimes if we are to grow and expand our perspectives. I like this.

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    1. Atlas...this figure certainly has legs strong enough to be Atlas:-) I had so much fun working on the texture. I think that I am hooked on this type of work - I keep dreaming about possible textures:-) I am so pleased that you like it, Barb.

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  10. I love it. It would be cool to see in real life 3D. It would be impressive i am sure. Have fun at the art sale and hope you sell all your paintings. Cheers!

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    1. Ross, I am very glad that you like it! It sold very quickly at the show this weekend along with my other mixed media ( Lake Fantasia): both sold before any of my watercolor paintings. I am not sure if I should be pleased or worried:-)

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