It’s all about the light. I reclaimed light by dabbing a damp paper towel into the treetops. Also found a bit in the first, large trunk. I dipped my rubber comb into clean water, and scraped the paint in the foreground. I love that those marks remained subtle after drying.
To the treetops I added more yellow, some orange and Shiraz in selective areas. Seeing it here, I feel like I need to add some shadow at the base of the trees. What do you think? Not going for realism, just think a little more contrast would be good.
We had rain for about 20 minutes today. Full sun, windy, light rain. Clear blue sky to the south. I kept hoping the sun would catch and really make this pop. Very dreamlike as it was though.
Rainbow
Was inspired by Sandrine Pelissier’s newsletter, as I always am. Dug out my travel Spirograph. Had a bit of a worry when I didn’t find it in the first two looks. The 4 x 6 paper did not fit, so most of my drawings ended up more centered, less random. I filled the edges with doodles. I am going to try again. But maybe this lends itself to trees better.
Just FYI. If you ever buy a travel Spirograph, post-it notes fit perfectly!
Hours filled with blessed creation. International Soul Art Day 2017 proved to be meaningful, mindful, and mending. This was my fifth year participating. I always find it so hard to put into words.
I was in the moment. No plan. Feels like I have said that before about Laura Hollick’s Soul Art Day. Layer after layer, I continued to paint without a preconceived idea of where I wanted the work to go.
In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.
Deepak Chopra
Not sure why the word chaos came to me when thinking of a title for this post. The only chaos was the unrestrained creative activity. The free-flowing mark making.
We live in a rainbow of chaos. Paul Cezanne
First layers.
Watercolor dripping and staining the paper. Wine, yellow, orange, fuchsia, rust. Acrylic stamping with wood and rubber. Stenciling gone wrong, paint too wet. Do more “wrong” stenciling in different areas. Use a dropper to add more yellow acrylic. Mist water on top and watch the paint spread in jagged blooming fingers. More yellow marks with a twig.
It seems like the chaos of this world is accelerating, but so is the beauty in the consciousness of more and more people. Anthony Kiedis
Detail 1.
White acrylic scribbles and swirls. Some of the watercolor mixes in and softens the bright here and there. White repeating texture. Some strong, some fading. Some becomes soft yellow when paint accidentally mixes.
Wine dipped dry brush tapped on the paper. Marks become like feathers. Thinking flight. Freedom. Spirit. Jagged marks with watercolor pencil. Swirling scribble line to cover the page.
Detail 2.
Dark splatters in watercolor and acrylic. Cover almost all with watery white acrylic. Layering in patches. Use the same square brush that made the feather marks.
Outline Seussical shapes with black marker until it runs dry. Continue with thick wine watercolor. Cover black marker with the same. Soft diluted splatters finish it off like sprinkles on frosting.
Art is the triumph over chaos.
John Cheever
A few tools.
When we submit our work to the Soul Art Gallery, Laura asks about our process, what the day means to us, and what insight we gained from taking part. The insight was slow in coming. Maybe I just was not focused on that.
That inner nagging voice told me that this wasn’t about creating a pretty picture. Maybe I took a wrong turn and missed the path to enlightenment. Maybe I was stupid for worrying and being too serious.
Maybe it did not HAVE to be deep, to be meaningful.
It wasn’t until the last layer of whitewash that it came to me. A single, simple thought. I know. Not very original or deep. But a message just the same.
Butterflies, original artwork. 4 x 6 approx., pencil, pen and gouache. Carol Edan. 2017
That was me when the mail came. I had no idea this sweet card would be there waiting for me. An original piece of art from Carol!! All the way from Israel! Oh JOY!!! I have followed Carol’s Journey for I don’t know how long. LOVE your work Carol! I LOVE this card!!
The image above is a photo, not a scan. Doesn’t do justice. But take a look at all that wonderful texture!! So soft and moody. A little mini-break for my soul. Breathe in, breathe out. Ahhh. This is a just-because card. Not part of LYA, and why it was such a surprise.
I guessed on the materials. You will have to correct me if I am wrong Carol. Your card did find me well. And left me in exaltation! Thank you my friend! You are a treasure!
Oh shoot, now I have done it. Christmas is in my head. But that works too. This IS “An Original Caroled”. Former choir girl here needs a fix.
I’m a dork, I admit it. I could listen to Christmas music all year long. OK, just one more…. start your day off with a shimmy and a shake!
But wait, there’s more!
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16
Not only was I blessed with Carol’s beautiful card, but I also received a surprise from Kat Sloma. I knew it was coming, but I sort of forgot. Sometimes brain farts aren’t so bad ‘ey?
As part of the LYA 2017 blog hop, Kat had a giveaway for a 6 x 9 print, and 10 packs of postcards. Seems the artists were super generous with their “extras” for Kat’s helpers. I was blessed with a gorgeous group of cards.
Kat’s LYA 2017 giveaway gift pack.
Kat included one of her cards too!
“Imminent Downfall”, Kat Sloma, 2014.
Artists included:
PJ Lawrence (TN), Louise Mamet (France), Sea Dean (Canada), Janice Darby (CA), ndvest, Lynda Stone, Linda Ursin (Norway), Therese Misner (OR), Laura Summer, Sarah Robinson, Catie Porter (WA), Ron Leunissen (Netherlands).
Thank you Kat for this wonderful and generous gift! And thank you to all the generous artists who shared their art! Each of these is a treasure! Yay! Thank you!
Spoonflower’s design challenge this week – Whimsical Watercolor Fruit. The top ten winners each week will take home a Spoonflower credit and a Skillshare Premium subscription. All submissions into May’s design challenges are automatically entered to win the grand prize full of design goodies worth over $1000!
A super opportunity to learn and grow my pattern presence on Spoonflower, and why I am so grateful for your vote!
