Stream of Consciousness

  Creativity means thinking on your feet, making adjustments and sorties as you go along, advancing commitment as well as erasure. Unless you express your wishes, however modestly or timidly, you may never know your power. Your general overall theme may be audacious, even simply audacious, but it is the final, well-planned flourishes that will help your work to fly.  Robert Genn

 Sometimes I feel as if I am on some roller-coaster ride! Sometimes high and then very low, nothing in between. Although I made some starts, really haven't been able to push myself to move some further. I have even placed most face to the wall. Now really, Carol, what's the point! I wake up with lots of good intentions, but then find one and million things to do instead. 

I bought a new book to help me get over myself. The Artist's Journey: Bold Strokes To Spark Creativity. By Nancy Hillis. Her process is intuitive, much like John Fullerton. She talks a lot about "The stream of Consciousness, "  creating art in a state where you try to remove all traces of deliberate steering of the creative process.

Stage I

Stage II

Acrylic paint

Stage III

Added tone

At this stage I have removed the papers and see if there are some I want to move forward with.

 

Spells of Calm

Every life needs spells of calm,

every life needs expanses of time when nothing much occurs, 

when one may sit for several hours 

in the same place and gaze upon static things, 

upon some waxen-leafed desert plant, 

perhaps,or a patch of dried grass. 

Alexander McCall Smith, The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

Nothing like going to the pool early in the morning. Quiet, not many swimmers, sun is not high, and if you are lucky, might catch a slight breeze.  After my 16 laps, I like to sit and rest with the book I am currently reading. (Trying to get more into the reading mode) One of my favorite authors is Alexander McCall Smith, he has several series, but my favorite is The No1 Ladies Detective Agency.
Set in Botswana I find the naive fresh philosophy enchanting and easy to read.

Background

20" x 20" cardboard

First layer from the previous purple and magenta painting  Keep adding marks and this morning I dropped a small container leftover yellowish-orange paint that a spread with a sponge, then another with a little thin magenta paint spread with the container's rim. (bottom right) So now I found a great quote and a nice background two good reasons to make a post!

Tread Lightly on the Stones

“ The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way you use them.” American

Treading Softly on the Stones

WIP

20" x 20" FSC Organic paper 350gm

Acrylics and Mixed Media

Bossypants#4 on toned canvas

Lost My Way in Storyland

“We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.” - Jonathan Gottschall, The Storytelling Animal

I Seem to Be Lost in Storyland

WIP

20" x 20"  FSC Eco Paper 350 gm

Acrylics and Mixed Media 

Start 

I thought that this would develop into an abstract floral but using the prompts of Bossypants #1 it went into another direction. Used a limited palette of Chrome Green and a vibrant orange, a magenta colored ink intense pencil, oil pastel forgot which color, and graphite pencil and crayon.  This will sit for a while till I decide what story or stories I wish to tell. 

Purple Skies

“The sky is already purple; the first few stars have appeared, suddenly, as if someone had thrown a handful of silver across the edge of the world.”
― Alice Hoffman, Here on Earth

Color mixing never ceases to surprise me.  Just the choice of what 2 colors to use in my intuitive process is exciting. Today I chose a fairly dark Magenta and a bright turquoise! This along with a watercolor pencil, oil pastel ( most often randomly chosen), and graphite pencil or crayon make up my limited palette combined with black, white, and titanium buff!  So what a surprise when I combined the two colors and got a really bright purple! There is such a wide variety in a limited palette and a wide variety when using a set of prompts.

Found Myself Gazing at the Purple Skies

20" x 20" FSC Organic paper 350gm 

Acrylics and Mixed Media

May lighten the bottom section to create more contrast. Thoughts?

Early Tuesday Morning

The blinding sun from my window
The cool air without AC
The sound of building site across the street
Boker boker tov!

This has been on my table since the middle of July.  Sometimes I would add a mark or two, turn it around but never really got to me. I seem to be great at making messes. Too much going on. I need to focus, clean up, simplify. I really love minimalistic art but it seems to avoid me.

I was really in a bad spot, my angry, frustrating really bad personality was taking hold. Sometimes she just overcomes me where I freeze.  But I also felt some compulsion to resolve the issue. That was my problem solver coming to the surface. Maybe this is a good mix.

New Vistas

20" x 20"

Acrylic and Mixed Media

350 gm organic paper

Note: Bought some new paper through the printer's where my daughter works. Light cream and dark brown. Seems this paper is made from organic material and is FSC ecological certified. It is quite strong 350 gm and has a slight texture. Haven't yet tried it with oils

See Saw Margery Daw

The work becomes important when the meanings contained are greater than what the artist had in mind when he or she created the work. Ambuity helps the work transcend itself. Audrey Flack Art  & Soul

That's the general feeling nowadays! Up and down. Media makes it more confusing! Trying to keep busy and not let my thoughts run away. This week flew!

One of the most difficult parts of creating for me is after the first starts is how to continue! Especially now with my new journey into more intuitive painting love just picking up the paint and following the prompts... and then I just freeze... total blackout!

Well took myself in hand! Added paint, oil pastels, even some white charcoal! Not the best of photos!

Dreaming of New Lands

Acrylic and Mixed Media

19.5" x 19.5"

Cartridge Paper

Brayed color start on cartridge paper

Acrylic 19.5" x 19.5"

After the prompts

The Underpants

Should I have just left well enough alone?

Sometimes We Need a Push

We are now experiencing a second outbreak which has really got me down. Not a complete lockdown but they closed our small community pool, which was a sort of lifeline. Diving into the cool water, swimming my 16 laps, resting, and reading for another half-hour really helped me get through the day, it was almost a ritual. And then they closed the pools except for hotel pools which really p....d me off! I felt safer there than when  I do my weekly shopping at the supermarket!

Well after lots of discussions and shouting higher up they are opening again at 14:00 TODAY!

Some more good news is that I have an AC unit in my small computer/studio YAY!

I ordered some new paper through the Printing place where my daughter works. I was getting down to the last heavy cardboard substrates that I got from when they emptied Archie's studio. The new paper is not as heavy but quite sturdy, 250gm. Bought 10 sheets in offwhite and 10 sheets in dark brown. These sheets are 28.5" x 40" so had them cut in half.  Have a great supply!

Main colors where Ultramarine blue and chrome green. Collage pieces from dried palettes. Added some pale gold and lots of mark making with graphite, colored pencils, and oil pastels

Just Wanted A Touch of Orange

28.5" x 20"

Brown paper 250 gm 

Acrylics and Collage

The start!

Art-itude II

Heat wave

Hard to concentrate

Want to slip in cool water

When will the pool open!

Poet, I am not, an artist maybe

WIP

19.75" x 13.75"

240 gm cartridge paper

Acrylics  Oil Pastels Graphite pencils charcoal

Art-itude II Used Ozo yellow light. There is a strong presence of muted yellow, large circle shapes, and a sort of pathway on the left. Not too happy with the circle on the bottom left section, keep seeing a face and that disturbs me. I like the flower-like presence at the top left and thought to echo that over the face.

Running out of my favorite brown heavy cardboard-like paper so I bought 3 sheets of 240gm cartridge paper. Most of our papers come in huge sheets called giliyon which is about 1000cm x 700 cm. 

Cut on in quarters.. 4 pieces  50 x 35 cm and the other 2 in 50 cm squares for this project. +  8 small sheets

20 x 25 cm.. Not bad for 6 shekels... $1.70

Art-itude

What's on my desk and easel. My bedside table is one great mess. pamphlets, Lily's medications, random writing tools, toilet paper (for tissues), tablet, remotes, clock, even my pot of cold wax medium. Everything and the kitchen sink.  Took a photo but ashamed to even post it. My desk is almost the same.... small table easel, wipes, real tissues palette, stapler, pens, earphones, mouse, you get the picture. On the small easel my latest work.

Joan gave us a new set of prompts she called Art-itude.  A way of maybe expressing what we all are going through. She first told us to write down words that describe our days, which of course I didn't do.... my ongoing battle for words that don't seem to come. Then a new list of prompts. In the end, she asks us to photograph our work and try to write about our work. Another word problem! But, today I decided to sit myself down and tackle this "word thing" obstacle.

I Will Follow My Dreams

Acrylics on cartridge paper 14" x 19.5" 

Some of the words Joan wrote helped me describe my work.... connection, expansiveness, pathways, strength, and new dreams.

The main yellow figure like shape is almost in the middle, dividing the work into two main sections, one lighter and one darker. The figure has a light echo in the lighter area and seems to be coming out of a circle with many circles of bubble-like shapes. These could be thoughts and feelings. She is rising to new heights strengthened by the black and white verticals. I feel there is a sense of survival to this figure that maybe a new strength! 

The composition has two main sections, dark and light, monochromatic, and with color. In the dark section is also divided into squarish sections opposite the lighter area that has a thin vertical rectangle and a rising subtle balloon shape  The balloon may symbolize rising hope!

A Syrian artist, Khaled Hussein, uses this symbol in his wonderful work describing the horrors his homeland is suffering. 

Reason to Continue

"consider the desire to make progress reason enough to continue"

A small quote from Sara Genn's biweekly newsletter that I so enjoy reading. Each week I receive 1  from the archive of her late father's Robert Genn newsletters and one of her own.

To progress, now that's a good question...  where am I going and why? I find no real answers in myself except that I enjoy doing what I am doing in my creative journey so I continue. How, well as Sara says " The first order of business is applying paint"

In my intuitive creative journey, I hope to find some answers about myself.  Meanwhile, I will continue to progress.  

WIP

Acrylics on paper

13.75" x 9.75"  

This painting started with a group of prompts that I found on Joan Fullerton's page.  The two colors, most of her BossyPants prompts deal with 2 colors + white , black, and sometimes Titan Buff, I chose were Hansa Yellow and Chrome Green. All neutrals came from those colors. Bottom layers may have graphite pencil, watercolor pencils, oil pastels, charcoal, etc, of my choosing. My paints are just regular paints, nothing fancy... can't afford Golden.

Feel this came out pretty strong so I am going to let it sit before I decide how to move it forward or not as the case may be, 

A Coat of Many Colors

ג  וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אָהַב אֶת-יוֹסֵף מִכָּל-בָּנָיו--כִּי-בֶן-זְקֻנִים הוּא, לוֹ; וְעָשָׂה לוֹ, כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colours.

This painting started not with Joseph's coat in mind, and I doubt that his coat looked anything like these interwoven stripes, but somehow it got stuck in my mind after the painting was finished.

As you all know I am a bit obsessive when it comes to tutorials and online lessons. I have taken many classes and I think I could spend more than a year just re-taking them. This started with a free lesson given at  Jeanne Oliver , A Guiding Word taught by Rae Missigman.  I experimented with a way of putting down paint by squirting paint on the top in varying widths and dragging it down with a scraper, palette knife or whatever to cover the substrate. Don't know if this is now free but she does have about 35 Free classes online at this time. Of course, I went every which way!

WIP

Acrylics on brown paper

13.5" x 19.5"

This sat around for quite a while and then I saw a great tutorial by Jane Davies about stripes on paper bags. Brown paper,yes, stripes, my interpretation! 

Coat of Many Colors

Acrylics on brown paper

13.5" x 19.5"

Wish I had a rug like this!

Interested click here

Evolution of a Painting

Painting using prompts often brings interesting outcomes. Never the same even when using the same recipe. Different colors, different substrates all come into the equation. I often use the leftover paints on a new substrate choosing different prompts as they come into my head. That is how this painting started. Edited in oil pastels using some tips from Pauline Agnew and here. I have ordered my first set on Senelier Pastels! YAY!

A New Day

Final?

Acrylics and Oil Pastels on cardboard

Original "Underpants"

Leftover paints and mixed prompts! Acrylics, large charcoal blocks, watercolor pencils (ink intense) oil pastels. 20 x 20 " 

Flipped 180 °

Started using oil pastels

Just lazy to start with wet paints

More editing

I decided to bring this into PS and use some filters in Topaz Studio2. Topaz studio also comes in a free-standing software so you don't need PS. There is a free trial. They have great filters called  "add a look" I chose a grunge look. 

Grunge Look

PS painted on a new layer

Used as an idea

Incarcerate

To improve my vocabulary and my spelling I subscribe to  Word of the Day by Mirriam-Webster. Today the word was incarcerate. Very appropriate for these trying times. Most of us are experiencing some sort of physical incarceration but isn't it true that we all suffer from some sort of mental incarceration? We tend to let negative thoughts, ideas linger locked in our brains. The same is true in our thoughts of our creativity. We box ourselves in.

In January I started a yearly journey with Paint Yourself Free. Best investment so far in online learning!  I have done a huge amount of work but haven't really shared much. Mainly because I suffer from the idea that I can't express my thoughts in words. A negative thought that I have to release.  Looking back I did one post here. Most are WIP because of the process I am learning. But I promise to share more with or without any wordy introduction.

After many days/ few days, they all seem to melt into one, I finally decided to get my hands dirty with my "inner child Cookie" in my studio. 

Decided on yellows,one of my favorite colors. Chose Hanza Yellow and Yellow Ochre as my two colors along with titan buff and black and white.  BossyPants #1 on cardboard. ( I will be soon running out)

The first was done using the prompts except when Cookie decided to do some extra stuff like pouring some liquid paint and making extra scribbles!

Now to add to my frustration I can't upload an image NADA NADA NADA! 

I will post the images on my Instagram account and my Flickr account

Sorry for the inconvenience! Comment here or there or not!

Any suggestion for a new blog platform if this problem persists?

Well after searching and searching found how to revert to the classic mode! Uploads WORK!

WIP

Composition in yellows

Acrylics on cardboard 19.250 x 20 " BP#1

WIP

Leftover paints and mixed prompts! Acrylics, large charcoal blocks, watercolor pencils (ink intense) oil pastels. 20 x 20 " 

Found Myself in a Aquarium

I am always surprised by what comes out in the "underpants" paintings done by various audio prompts. I also find the editing process much more difficult than the intuition process with the prompts and turning the work between each prompt. This process keeps me from getting too attached and loving specific areas.

I am certainly surprised by the amount of these "underpants" I have piled under the bed, most with no editing, but at least I am getting more familiar with the wide amount of techniques. I am slowly getting used to working with acrylics, painting with paper towels, smudging with damp paper towels, making puddles of water and dropping wet paint.

I would certainly check out this class by Joan Fullerton. Only open till 29th February!

Found Myself in an Aquarium WIP

Underpants

19.5 x 20 "

Acrylics on Cardboard

Found Myself in an Aquarium WIP

Edit 1

19.5 x 20 "

Acrylics on Cardboard

Found Myself in an Aquarium WIP

Edit 2

19.5 x 20 "

Acrylics on Cardboard

Would certainly appreciate any feedback and suggestions!

Let's Test my Tablet

My studio is topsy turvey! So tablet please behave!

I am taking an online course with Joan Fullerton where we work intuitively using prompts and turning the work 90 degrees each time we put a new layer. Sometimes 10-15 promts. After we can edit or leave it. Love the process can't wait to continue.
A new world of acrylics, with lots of other media.

acrylics on cardboard

acrylics on cut canvas

Hoot Hoot Hoot

Look who peeked out on one of my small-works using acrylics and neocolor I crayons. My soul mate hooty the Owl! Love using up small pieces of cut canvas, and leftover paints!

I've Come a Calling

8.5 x 9 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Just a Touch of This or That

8.75 x 9.25 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

The sound of Falling Water

8.75 x 8.75 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

A Rush of Red Cascade

8.75 x 9 "

Cut Canvas Acrylics and Crayons

Available Here

Small and Bright

Week 8 on PYHAS was all about landscapes. A lesson with Sherry Woodward.  A lesson in acrylics, layering, color-mixing, and abstraction. PHYAS2019 has my mind in a whirl! Sometimes I don't remember what I posted and where I learned what. It's a rollercoaster ride! But FUN! So here are a few that were put aside. One I did post you can find here.

I did deviate from the lesson and tweaked with my favorite neocolor I wax crayons!

All Paths Lead to the Monastery

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available At Artfinder

In the Dark the City Lights Glow

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available at Artfinder

Let's Go Downtown

8.5 x 9 " 

Acrylics on cut canvas with Caran d'Ache wax crayons

Available at Artfinder

Finished my Man

Have finally finished my "man" portrait. Week nine with Muriel Stegers at PYHAS 2019. It sat at my table for a while waiting for the final part, facing the fear and going a bit abstract. I had some leftover acrylic paint from the portrait study I had started and took a wide 3" brush and just did whish wash over sections. Hey had to start somewhere! Then I added more scribbles and marks with my  Neocolor I crayons. Now that wasn't so hard!

This is one lesson I will do again! Maybe try with a reference!

Let's Go Out for a Beer!

11.6 x 16.5

Acrylic Paper 300 gm

Acrylics

WIP Here

Going Crazy with Color Mixing

I sometimes get obsessive with color mixing. The main reason being that I am not a good colorist so I have always loved learning about how to make good color palettes and choices. So I really had a ball with this weeks lesson on PYHAS by Sabra Awlad Issa. Wow, what packed lesson, color mixing, foreshortened portrait, values. This was a real challenge! She is an excellent and modest teacher. A real treat! 

The lesson was in acrylics but I was too stressed with the color mixing and worrying about them drying so tried doing some crayon work which also had its problems so I dived into my oils. What a difference that made. The portrait is not done but I am happy with the progress.

WIP

13.75 x 19.5 "

Oils on gessoed paper

WIP

13.75 x 19.5 "

Oils on gessoed paper

Values

First layer in acrylics ugh

Second Layer with oil/wax crayons

Now, how many colors can you mix with just the primaries? We all have heard that we can mix an infinite amount, but we all tend to buy lots of colors. My usual palette starts off with two of each of the primaries plus chromatic black, a mix from ultramarine blue and raw umber, and white. But in Sabra's lesson, she used cadmium red, ultramarine blue, and cadmium yellow to mix a whole range of what she calls "dirty colors". I just love muted/muddy colors and I almost always add a speck of medium gray to my colors. Her basic color is a mix of all three to get a dirty brown. Then she mixes each primary with a bit of that brown and continues to mix these "mixes" together etc. With the addition of white and the range gets more infinite. Of course, the ratios matter as well. So when you feel in need of some occupational therapy any red/blue/yellow and go to town.... what fun. I did mention that I am an obsessive color mixer!

Three different browns depending on the ratios

Oils

I suggest less blue!

The basic Mixes

This Brown seems to make greenish hue with the yellow

Bottom right mixed red +yellow + brown to get a dirty orange.+ added more yellow

to get a lighter orange and to each added white

Yummy

My acrylic Mixes

Yellow Mixes

Middle row mixed yellow with medium gray

bottom  medium gray with yellow

Made a value chart with my chromatic black

red red+brown added white Blue blue+brown added white

Bottom red + gray + white Blue + gray + white

Mixing the mixes 

Bottom right used Indian Yellow with the Brown + White

Red Mix + Indian Yellow mix + white

Have Fun!