Get up. Get dressed. Paint! Thinking outside the box

Paint Mojo Exercise: Outside the square!

Step 1: Draw a grid on the paper.  Sketch an image that speaks to you on a piece of torn out book paper. Trying hard not to put too much thought into it, I drew a tree.

Step 2:  Paint a wash of white paint around your design paying attentions to any words that pop out. 

Step 3:  Gather collage elements. I went through my folder pulling out more that I knew I would use, selecting patterns and colors that spoke to me.  Moving them around, noticing some pieces that simply didn’t feel right while others had patterns which connected to the tree.   When done a color scheme for the collage emerged.  Then I spotted an envie from a swap I saved with leave postage stamps in copper and green.  My mind latched onto them and a different color appeared.  I changed some of my collage elements, adding a new polka dot paper I love.  Using my favorite leaf stamps and copper embossing powder I created several leaves to tie in with those postage stamps.  Satisfied with the layout I used matte Mod Podge to glue down the collage elements.

Step 4: Paint in the visible grid lines with Raw Umber.

Step 5: Begin filling in your areas with paint “loosely and intuitively”.   I struggled with this; where to put the colors, how to paint them in.  Finally I started adding white and allowed it to mix in with the other wet paint and I could feel myself loosen up.  Then I hit a roadblock; I had to paint around the tree and branches.  Had I sketched an image that was solid like a bird as she did, this would not have been a problem.  Frustrated, I began thinking of a way I could sketch something else and cover up the tree.  Overwhelmed, I cleaned up and walked away.

A week later…

With fresh eyes and more patience, I painstakingly began painting around the tree and its branches.  Using Raw Umber, I painted the tree.

Step 6:  Add a stenciled design and choose a foam stamp to add texture and surprise.  I chose this leaf stencil, tying in with the postage stamps and tree.

Step 7:    Start connecting the areas of the collage with color.   Realizing I still had a ways to go in covering the collage, I grabbed two Tim Holtz stencils, doily and gothic.  Once I started using these two stencils I could feel myself letting go and having fun, intuitively sponging on colors in various places, allowing the stencils overlap and even cover up images.

Step 8: Refine the color placement and add cohesion to the collage.   I wasn’t sure if at this step I was done adding color so I walked away, eating breakfast and doing some chores to clear my head.  Upon returning I spotted a few small areas of solid color which needed more stenciling.

Circling the words to draw them out

Adding circle stamp in magenta to tie in with the polka dot collage paper

Step 9:  Add some metallic for highlights.  Painted in some copper metallic dots, pushed Ferro Special Effects Paste in graphite through a stencil then added touches of Inka Gold Metallic Rub in Green/Yellow.  Done!

 

The completed exercise

What I learned

·         To work on a piece over a period of time rather than getting a it done in an hour or so.  This is a new experience for me and challenging. Such a different experience from completing a spread in an hour or so.

·         Walking away when I don’t know what to do next works!  Clearing my mind opens it to elements I wasn’t able to see.  And I remember supplies I forgot about using  such as the Inka Gold Metallic Rub.

 Joining Paint Party Friday where having paint under the fingernails is the norm.  What colors are under yours?