Painting: Escape #3
Sun, July 15, 2012 at 01:20PM “The most important thing is to enjoy your life
—to be happy—it's all that matters.”
Audrey Hepburn
More layers on this 36x36" canvas. Work in process for Flora Bowley's e-workshop Bloom True. Here's the layer under this one. Layers are so totally forgiving.
This painting is just full of surprises. Flora suggested that we keep some of our nature drawings nearby for reference while working on our canvases. So I opened the moleskine and searched for something to add to this painting. The moleskine drawings were sketched from photos in this mosaic. I started with the photo of the stones in a circle, absolutely love that! And I love that the center is empty. It's a mandala of sorts. A flower even. Then some leaves. Feathers or feathery leaves with two different brushes. A palm frond (I think) from this photo. Flowers in a glass jar.
Remember how I said that acrylics are forgiving? After painting the jar, I decided I didn't like it. So I covered it with a new layer. That left the flowers sort of flying or floating in mid-air, which was cool, but I wasn't sure what to do with them. I worked on some stuff toward the top and sprayed water, lifted the canvas from the top (I'm working with the canvas flat) so that paint dripped down the canvas at random spots. And guess where it dripped? Right down the center, through the black paint, creating a few stems down to the bottom of the painting! I was totally surprised and totally happy with it. What is that phrase... for random happy things, or happy coincidence? Serendipity.
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Reader Comments (5)
I just love the beautiful vibrant colors and juicy layers, gorgeous!
It looks great!
Love those moments in a painting when magical happy accidents happen. The colours and layers are gorgeous. And I love the drawings.
what a magical painting moment! tammy, your sketches are so detailed. i wonder how long it takes you to draw? i only ask because i am extremely slow. you seem like a natural.
Teddi, To answer your question - yes, I do draw very fast - but it's not really natural just lots of practice!