Painting One

Part Two

Back to Painting One to try a new technique.  I thought it would be fun to create some texture with this one and see how that played out.  Painting is fun.  I take my work seriously but it should also be fun.  I try new things to see how they work.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes not.  All of it is totally fine.  Sometimes a technique that doesn't work will lead me to an idea that does work and that's really magic.

Warm grey was spread on the left and a dry brush used to make the cloudy fluff in the lower left.  Then I used a plastic fork to make horizontal marks.  The fork was fun to use but the paint wasn't quite thick enough to really make a visual impact and you'll see later, the texture of the marks from the fork get lost pretty quickly with subsequent layers of paint.

More texture is added using dry brush, water spritzing, and here is one of the Pipettes in the foreground.

Drying between layers.  I could use a hair dryer, but since I'm working on other paintings at the same time, there is plenty of time for a slower dry.

30 in 30 Blog.

Beginning Three

Trying To Keep It Simple

Constantly telling myself to back up, take a breath, and keep it simple.  This painting was an attempt to really hold back from the very beginning.  I wanted to keep it really light and not have to edit it too much after I started, in an attempt to keep the colors very fresh.

I started with a wash of medium tan and lots of water.  I let that thin layer of paint dry before adding very light tan.  I used the same technique as the black of Painting 1: Yogurt consistency paint applied with a plastic Pipette, then a couple of good whacks on the sides to sort of flatten it out.  The light tan in the upper left was spritzed lightly with water to allow it to spread, then I let it dry so it is a bit fuzzy as opposed the blocky look of the light tan on the right.  Warm grey and light turquoise were mixed on the canvas with a palette knife, then sprayed with water and allowed to run.


30 in 30 Blog.

Beginning Two

Working in Tandem

Embracing my ADHD tendencies when it comes to art, I prefer to work on several projects at one time.  I find that moving around the studio from one project to the next helps to keep my work loose because I'm constantly backing up, focusing on something else, and then coming back with fresh eyes.  When I have a new idea, I just start a new painting and I don't feel pressured to finish before I capture that next idea.

This painting is the beginning of what I hope will be a series.  I'll be using lots of texture techniques so what you will see will be close-up shots with lots of detail.  The area of small circles was created by first painting yellow, allowing it to dry, then painting green. While the green paint was still wet, I used a rubber tip tool to remove the wet paint, leaving the pattern.


30 in 30 Blog

New Year, New Challenge 2017

Happy New Year everyone!

No Resolutions for me this year since I already have so many fantastic things in the works and ways that I improved last year that I simply want to continue on with the current rollercoaster ride.  I know the best is yet to come.

30 Paintings in 30 Days

...sort of.  The last few times I tried the challenge, I was very gung-ho in the beginning.  Painting a lot prior to the challenge and trying to be very organized and methodic.  I find that nice and orderly does not describe me AT ALL.  I do like finishing a lot of paintings in a one-month period of time but the paintings are not always great.  Typically, about a third of the paintings are pretty good.  One or two are really good and I'm quite proud of the work in them.  Of course I want more successes.  The challenge then should be to paint more successes.

Just Too Busy

That is one of my mother's favorite phrases to describe me and my life.  She says it with a lot of emphasis and she means it.  My life is packed full just about every minute.  Sometimes I use lists and calendars (I love the old fashioned paper kind and I have a big, erasable type on the side of my refrigerator!) and reminders on my phone to help me keep up with everything.  I never realized how much "free" time I have until I started back at college last Fall when every moment of every day was truly packed to the gills and I didn't have time for family or even cooking for myself.  I certainly had no time for art or anything enjoyable and that kind of schedule doesn't work for me.  I did well in my classes but that was the only thing I did well.  All this to say, I needed a different approach this time to the challenge.  Classes are starting again soon (I cut back to just one class) and I have work and family so the art has to still fit in to that schedule.

How To Have It All

Say that with tongue firmly planted in cheek.  My schedule will still have to fit everything else and somehow fit in a bit of art.  My approach to the Challenge then is to work at the paintings in short bursts.  I have been trying this idea for a couple of weeks already and I'm really liking the results.  Paintings get attention.  My soul gets time for creativity.  The rest of life gets accomplished.  Win.  Win.  Win.

How Many Paintings??

The number actually doesn't matter to me.  The point is to keep working.  As I said yesterday, I will be working on several paintings at a time and sharing the progress photos here and on Instagram.

Beginning at the Beginning

I painted the whole canvas with a very light tan color so I don't have to worry about getting color to the edges later on.  A light red-violet was applied with a flexible plastic tool that was originally for cake decorating.  I'm not decorating many cakes these days so the tool now lives in the studio.  Water was spritzed on and the color allowed to run.  Some of the edges were smudged with a paper towel.
I mixed "black" from Ultramarine Blue, Sap Green, and Alizarin Crimson and this was thinned with Matte Medium and water, then applied with a plastic Pipette.  Pipettes are my newest find and I absolutely love the control I have with them.  The consistency of the black was like yogurt so it's thin enough to go in the Pipette, but thick enough that it holds without running.  Then I gave the canvas a couple of whacks on the side which created this sort of blocky effect on the black.

Wish me luck!

If you are new here, I'd love to hear from you.  Say "hi" in the comments and tell me where you are from.  Just the state is fine, if you want.


30 Paintings blog
.

New Year's Eve 2016

Welcome to the end of 2016.

I have been doing a lot of studio work the past couple of months but I'm afraid the blog sometimes gets treated like the step-child.  If you want to see me where I'm posting more consistently, follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karimelenartist/ .

30 Paintings in 30 Days.  Always a tough challenge.  I have started the challenge a few times but only ever made it through one time.  I have a different strategy this time around.  I know I can't paint every day and I won't be finishing one painting per day through this challenge so here is my strategy: I'll be working on several paintings at once this time and taking progress shots as I work.  You'll have something different to see each day, so come back and visit.  Hopefully I'll finish more than one painting during the month but if not, at least I'll be working at something.

https://www.saetastudio.com/30-in-30.html

You can see some cool stuff at my store on Fine Art America.
You can follow my art page on Facebook.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year.


a

Process Photos

After an informative Social Media Workshop by Kellee Wynne Conrad I am working to increase my visibility on a couple of outlets I already use.  Social Media is such a great, FREE way for artists to connect to each other and to potential clients.

I am sharing my process for abstract painting a very large canvas (30" x 40") on Instagram and you can follow along there.

I have also increased my selection of items available at Fine Art America if you feel like doing a little holiday shopping there, you;d be helping out a small business person (me!).  Yay shopping!

Just Look sat this cute tote bag!  You should have it for holiday shopping.

Join Me This Saturday

Saturday, Sept.10, 2016 from 6 - 8pm I will be at West Annapolis Artworks at 4 Annapolis Street, Annapolis Maryland for a special show of emerging artists.  Come out and say, "Hello."  I'd love to see you.