Saturday, January 2, 2016

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.






2 comments:

Laurie Mueller said...

Wonderful, Pattie! I'm interested in doing some abstracts, too. Thanks for the inspiration.....and a happy belated birthday!

Pattie Wall said...

Oh Laurie, thanks! I look forward to seeing some!

More NEW art pieces

  Lukki - watercolor 9" x 12" acrylic done from Unsplash ph ref, thanks C Deluvio!