G is for Grapes Leaves

As I mentioned earlier, I took a painting class this summer with the wonderful Elena Guttman. In her Dynamic Abstract classes we explore different artists and apply her teachings about their style to our own work.

In a recent class about Picasso, we not only fractured shapes, but colored each shape with lights and darks and selected color.

I needed a subject to practice this technique. What should I draw? I pondered this as I looked at the sky I could see through the curtain of grape leaves that were curling over our arbor. There they were - lovely curling shapes, tendrils, overlap, gorgeous shades of green and sky.

I spent days working this image using hard color pencils on soft paper. Each area is painted individually. An interesting and difficult assignment - but worth the work. Its very different from my usual work. I havent't yet really incorporated this into other images - but maybe soon.

F is for Fracturing

I took a painting class this summer which included several lessons in fracturing images in the style of different artists.

 As a result, I have been intrigued by using lines to break up shapes - making them both more abstract, and yet staying true to their original form.

When I work in this way, I am confident that interesting things will result. This my artist's attitude of letting what wants to appear, happen onto the page.

This image is an experiment in fracturing simple flower forms. I think the colors - the compliments and the light and dark work well together.

I drew in Caran D'ache Watersoluble crayons and then wet all to create this watercolor feel.

X is for eXpress Yourself

Every so often I have the urge to paint a face.

This one, though it does not resemble my actual features, is called Big Idea - and somehow expresses my inner self. And my white hair.

 I really enjoyed "fracturing the image" to create the light and interesting lines. So, painting a face, and abstracting what I find with color and line is one way I like to express the artist in me.

This is acrylic on canvas - "16x"20.