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I’ve spent the past week working on a new series of paintings. A parcel arrived in the post with big tubes of colour, I hadn’t used before. What could be more motivating to get me back in the studio, than, new art supplies, especially after weeks of medical and physio appointments getting in the way.
I didn’t want to open them and make dents in the big chunky tubes. When I finally did, it was quite confronting, to play with colour I knew nothing about. I took the plunge, slapped it on, moved it about, without thinking too much. Enjoying the colour, texture and flow of the paint. The process, I knew would take care of itself. I just had to be present, stand back, look and go back into it.
Quickly, I came up with the first layer which I was very happy with. Of course, I went back in with more layer’s wanting further depth and richness.
I now, look back at the photos, taken at the start of the process and maybe, I lost the freshness, freedom and flow of the marks I had at the start. Maybe, I didn’t need to go any further…
I believe sometimes, the essence of the story is at the beginning and “nothing else” is needed to tell it.
It’s amazing how many stages an abstract painting goes through. Ive had the beginnings of this painting sitting in the studio a few months now. Its only recently, I started to photograph the process of painting. Eventually I want to do time lapse video’s while working, but not sure yet, how I will set up my camera.
I wanted to dirty it up a bit
Added some black lines and spaces
The red slowly crept in
More drawing with oil pigments below and the circle was bothering me so I took a risk and blocked it out with red. And that’s what its all about. Taking risks, going along with whatever comes along and using your gut feeling.
I’m pretty happy with the results but will sit with it for a while, before I touch it or, leave it alone. It’s only afterwards, I’ll see connections and links to the context or meaning. Sometimes though this happens when doing, but mainly it’s a play with colour, line and space and knowing when it’s resolved.
When I first started painting, the thought of stretching my own canvas was frightening, but after a few attempts of stretching a canvas it came to me automatically. I was able to make canvases for half the price of store bought ones. Also, stretching your own canvas can trigger off the beginning of the creation through the hands on process of doing it yourself. Hope this helps.
Materials and equipment
Pre- made stretcher frame/ or self-made
Canvas material cut 10cm approx larger than your stretcher frame
Canvas staple gun
How to Stretch a Canvas
Lay your canvas on a flat surface wrong side up then lay your stretcher right side down on top of canvas. Pull the sides of your canvas up and round to the top of the stretcher.
DIAGRAM 1 Secure the 4 points with staples or tacks to create a diamond shaped wrinkle in the canvas. Check diagonals and adjust the stretcher for squareness before going further.
DIAGRAM 2– Secure the canvas to the stretcher with staples approx. every 6 cm. around the edge, working from the center points outwards. Pulling the canvas as you go. Continue working out to the corners in this pattern. Do not overstretch the canvas. When applying tension, the canvas pliers should not be forced to pull the canvas in place. The tension of course will become greater as you work towards the corners.
FOLD– the corners under; as neatly as you can, leaving no exposed tab that maybe caught and damaged. Staple or tack excess canvas that wraps around to the back of the frame.
HINT– Once finished and your canvas and is not as tight as you would like, fill a small spray bottle with luke-warm water and spray the canvas on the back. Once dry your canvas will be as tight as a drum. Happy painting!
Paintings & Gelatin Prints. The backgrounds are experiments with gelatin prints I made on canvas with my homemade gelatin block. Inks and acrylic paint were added afterwards to the surface. (How to make a gelatin block and the printing process (tutorial)
Inspiration for the paintings. A celebration to animals…Mapping and playing in the Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques in Paris. Opened in 1899 its a cemetery of dogs and cats and other domestic animals. Some of the cemetery’s residents are famous, such as Rin Tin Tin.
The plots and plaques are just so lovingly decorated. My daughter and I like to spend time with the stray cats and dogs who wander in and out of the cemetery .The kind staff feed and shelter any stray animal by scattering little semi- enclosed boxes around the cemetery.
My latest little abstract paintings with bursts of high-energy marks, dissolving into planes of colour with blocks of cobalt blue found papers walking across the surface.
This painting was started about 6 weeks ago and is still morphing…
Beginning with large areas of loose colour. I lived with it and watched
I tightened it up with more colour, dribbles and abstract geometric forms. For the next week I watched again…
Still not satisfied, I threw it on the floor and used, bucket and broom, to scrub, pour & glaze with puddles of watery acrylic paint and Gesso to muddy it up
Once dry, I worked into the forms to bring them back again
Recently, I scrubbed away more areas, added several paint glazes and played across the surface with oil pastel for days
Sitting on a line at the cusp of making a decision enjoying the moment before.
Acrylic paint, Oil pastel and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Touching Gaudi’s curves in Barcelona.
Acrylic paint, ink and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
Little wooden chairs dotted around .Sitting enjoying the Tuileries garden after the Louvre.
Acrylic paint, Oil pastel and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
Touching Gaudi’s curves in Barcelona.
Acrylic paint, Ink and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
Playing under the arch in the Tuileries garden after the Louvre.
Acrylic paint, Oil pastel and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
