To try and stay loose with my painting, I like to create these small abstract nature studies on paper. I call them smalls. It’s not always as easy as it looks.
First, I started with mark making, then paint sploshing and swishing, carving into wet paint with the end of my brush handle and smudging and all around mess making. It’s like trying to capture the essence of being a child again, with that determination of nothing but having a good time. They’re fun and sometimes a hot mess. However, I have to trust the process. Usually, I get a few really good ones that I like. In the end, I’m really happy with how a lot of these turned out.
In the photo above, I was already liking where this was going. I’m a sucker for leaves, branches and trees. And, I liked the burnt orange color paired with the dark navy blue (Prussian Blue).
So above, that’s the hot mess I was referring to. But something magical happens when I remove the masking tape. Finally, I cut them apart and wow.
Somehow, little abstract nature paintings appear and to my eye look great. Loose and free. Simplistic and not overthought or overdone. These are mostly 6″x6″ pieces on paper. They’ll look so great matted and framed. I’ll leave that to the lucky buyer.
This first one I’m showing is number 6. I don’t think I’ll title each one individually. After all, they are just studies. What a study means to me is that I created multiple loose paintings in hopes of finding a really good one that speaks to me. Maybe then, I’ll take that painting and use it as inspiration for a larger piece.
I will use the name of the series though as part of the title. I consider this large sheet of watercolor paper (24×22″) and all the little pieces from it a series. So with that in mind, below is called Abstract Nature Study number 7. I’ve even organized them further by color for my files. This is Orange, Navy Gray Abstract Nature Study. But that might be a bit long for a title.
Below is number 9.
Finally, here’s number 14.
It’s much easier to loosen up when you’re not really trying to loosen up. So I love these studies for that reason. Plus, I think they might do well at some upcoming shows including my Pop Up Gallery I have this month on the 28th. The price is just right for gift giving or collecting several to gang up on your wall.
⟵What’s coming in September / Fall Pop Up Gallery Recap – Oaklyn Library ⟶
Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page under the additional links menu. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery and telling mystical stories.
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Sploshing, swishing, smudging, and mess making. I love those descriptions! It’s the artist’s version of the rough first draft, that hot mess of a story. I also really liked seeing the difference when the tape came off. That fascinated me. I saw the ‘big picture’ and thought it was great, and didn’t even notice the masking tape. Then the act of pulling that tape off brought my view in closer to the work, and the view completely changed. Once again, I’m amazed at your talent and love seeing the process.
I too, am fascinated when I pull the tape off! Ha ha, I don’t think we’re alone in that. It makes me so happy to read your comments Lisa and to know that you enjoy seeing my process and sharing of the photos. We’ve talked about this before about how similar both of our artistic processes are. I love to hear what’s in your artistic mind as an author as well. I think it’s so beneficial to have friends that are similar but different. We get each other but not so much that we’re ever bored or know what the other is thinking. I think, no I know that it enriches my life.