It is bitter cold here in the UpperMidwest-US. Actually, today it is a little warmer at 20 F; but the temperatures are dropping to nearly -20 F by Sunday, January 17. It's possible the weather has influenced my artwork or what I've selected to post today. I can't really say.
I've been experimenting. Maybe that's all I'm ever doing. Now it's time to share and get some feedback from anyone lurking out there and, of course, from Helga when you are ready.
First, a few oil paints mixed with cold wax and painted ON TOP of some acrylic paintings I'm fed up with.
I didn't mind where this one above was going in acrylic; but, when I painted over it with oil and wax, I really saw the difference in the depth one can achieve with oil compared to acrylic. The original acrylic painting design is intact, as is the general color scheme. The oil mix stays wet longer, which allowed much time for marking into the paint to reveal colors underneath and to add texture to the surface. This was inspired by a tiny piece of used soap.
I've been working on the above painting for months, maybe even a year. There is a ton of stuff under these layers of oil paints mixed with cold wax, including collage papers and even a piece of a blue print my son sent as the wrapping for a gift. Something is going on with these houses on stilts and it may have to do with my childhood days when my family lived in the Philippines. I'm trying not to force this painting. Again, using oil and wax in this next version has given the picture a lot of depth and bizzaro colors. I may need to let it sit again for several months.
OK. This is a newer painting in progress over the last month. It was pretty weird when I first started painting it in black and gray acrylic paint over and under charcoal and graphite marks. Some of those marks are still visible. I added some bright colors in the lower half using oil paints, then came back with more earthy oil colors after it dried. For some reason, I started using some pink in the upper region. Where is this going? I have no idea. My current name for it is "Arising." Something, perhaps, is arising from the dangerous-looking rubble below. Flip it around, you suggest. I'll try that.
Next are a few images of work on paper that I've been using for my art books - 100% linen, very fine weave and soft as can be. I decided to start as I usually do, marking with white China marker and painting over that with a thin watercolor wash. Before the watercolor paint was dry, I added splashes of ink from a standing position above the paper positioned on the floor. I got bold and added drops of fluid acrylic because I didn't know how it would react to the paper and the other media already there. Finally, after everything had dried over night, I tore the paper up into three pieces and added oil pastel marks, acrylic gesso, and fluid acrylic where I felt it needed it. These are done. The paper can't take anymore!!
After using a soft touch of oil pastel and gesso on the bottom row of "leaf tops" (above photo), I loaded up my palette and paintbrush with lots of acrylic colors to get the thicker look in the green leaves. Pink is a negative-space area at the top, just for the fun of it and to tie it to the pink in the lower row.
I like the way the inks bleed through the transparent and semi-transparent paints in this one. I used various writing instruments to write text in some of the leaf areas and I like how you can see that showing through. Mostly I was experimenting with a lot of things here and I like the variety. I'll use this as a reference when I want to intentionally recreate some of these textures and layers in new paintings on paper - or maybe I'll try it on wood panels of canvas.
The last one is FAR TOO TIGHT; but, I was playing with oil pastels in a way I never had before and I like some sections of the "scene" as a result. For instance, I like the dotted green hills and yellow sky in the background; and the glowing yellow and violet hill in the middle ground. Delicious! Totally silly.
OK. It is time to get back into my studio and WORK! Take care and thanks - anyone! - for comments and feedback.
Eileen
