Painting 30 in 30 - Day 2/Abstract 1

"Annual Checkup"

10" x 10"

mixed watermedia

This one really pushed me way out of my comfort zone.

I don't think I have done a serious ABSTRACT since college.

Back in those days, the heavy gel that is used today

was called 'impasto paste'.  I used a little on this one.

Steps follow next page:

On a Raymar Plein Aire canvasboard I tinted

it with Dr. PH. Martin's Concentrated Pigment

watercolor, Saddle Brown.

Next...

I began with the darker colors.  I was certain that I 

would be painting lots of glazing layers to

get the effect that I was looking for.

Then...

I added lighter colors and chose areas that I wanted

to embellish with texture and interest.

I started out my twisting and turning the brush and

making little jabs and dabs at the surface, but

soon changed my attack and actually painted

with a 'blending' sort of push.

This one took most of my day.  It was actually

not stressful and I found myself getting

just LOST in the work,

which is actually what I was looking for!

I used it as play - and loved every minute of it.

What is it?

Well, I called it Annual Checkup because I just had one and abstractly

it is many of the things that I had tested or checked.

What is it really?

I used a photo I took at Dinosaur National Monument

a few years ago when we visited there.

When I TOOK the photo, I knew I would eventually

use it in an abstract painting.

Mixed media used was watercolor, acrylic and Sharpie paint pen.

I am thinking I may do a triptych using the same source photo

with different parts or turned upside down or ???

Stay tuned!

Click on the Christmas tree painting in the sidebar

to go to Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 blog for 2016.