Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Pieces of Eight Group Challenge #7 "Experiment"

Experiment?  That's my middle name and I am always up to something outside the world of painting. My latest experiments have involved making natural dyes and trying to coax color from vegetables, leaves and spices.  As one thing leads to another I stumbled into eco-printing both on silk and on paper.  Here are my latest experiments on paper.


You see solidago, geranium leaves, maple leaves, hydrangea petals and marigold.  For more info check out my blog at:

  Cindy Experiment Michaud



This painting was a real experiment for me.  I wanted to paint a sunset, wildlife and marsh, but could not find a reference image  that I liked.


Purchase here



Then I remebered a workshop I took, many years ago from Fritz vanEeden.  Fritz is an artist of international aclaim.  Among his many talents is his ability to paint images that he pulled from his mind's eye.

I gave it a try!


detail

I started with the direction of the sky and clouds and then laid in the  wetlands below.



I have to admit, I did use a photo reference for the heron.  I just could not visualize all those body parts!

All in all, I was happy the day's efforts, and hopefully, this technique will come in handy in the future.

Carol Schiff



I really like getting away from oil for awhile and trying new techniques.  I usually do a collage or even a pouring but I have discovered an entirely new medium, alcohol inks.  I love the "lava lamp" effect they have.  I think with some experimentation I could control the flow of the inks better and use different mediums to display them.  Right now I am using yupo paper and tiles.  The inks do so much better on a smooth surface.
Here are two tiles I did with similar color palettes. 




This one is very loose.  Notice all the spotting, this is from spraying alcohol on the paint.




This one is more controlled.  I tried putting down the alcohol and pouring in that area then moving slowly around the tile.  This reminds me of a landscape with a sky, mountain, trees and a lake.

Donna Vines
donnavinesart.etsy.com
donnavinesart.blogspot.com



 Mantilla, 5x7
I have been experimenting with transferring images using liquid medium. I painted the background with gold craft color, then transferred the images onto the paper. Most of the morning glory--or is it a Victrola?--is pen and ink. 
Windmill, 6x8

The windmill is transferred onto paper coated in copper paint. I drew the tulips in pen and ink.

Carmen Beecher
carmenbeecher.com
carmensart.etsy.com
carmenbeecher.blogspot.com

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For our Experiment challenge, I wanted to try a watercolor technique where you apply a layer of plastic wrap to the wet colors and remove it after it dries. I like a more controlled style, so this was a real challenge for me. Since the effect reminds me of underbrush, I used the technique for creating backgrounds for a those tiny little chrysalises you find hidden in vines. 


Laying the plastic on for pupa # 5 below

Results after it dries

Thought I'd try lots of layers and colors for #6 (mistake!)
Below are the final paintings. The first two went fairly quickly. But the final four were time consuming.
Painted in order left to right, top to bottom. Pupa 01-06. Each has that number of times I applied paint with plastic wrap. Click the image for a larger view.

What did I discover from the experiment? I like it as a very light background. (As in I like the first two.) The more chaotic it got (I applied more and more layers of paint and plastic wrap in heavier colors as I progressed through the series) the more I was out of my element! I really struggled to make the last two into anything I could live with. It is a very good technique, however, for creating the look of underbrush! Once I master it, I might try using it for paintings of the Liguus tree snails I love so much!

Kathy Garvey
for more watercolors, visit my Etsy shop


As artists, we experiment all the time when we create. If you are reading this, you, as a creative person, try new things as well. I love experimenting with new and different media. Just remember the fun of it isn't trying to create the next big masterpiece. It's to have fun, stretch where you might not have gone before, and try to improve on your craft.

This fish was an experiment with the Elegant Writer, normally used as a lettering pen. 
My friend and fellow artist, Kathy Garvey enlightened me on how they work.
Draw it, wet it, then spray with water and the pigment becomes more permanent. Wow! It achieves a certain inky look and the color you see comes from the pen.

Jean Thomas
Ozworks22@cfl.rr.com

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