Layer#23 Mark making, homemade style!

Today I really felt the urge to extend the arc that was appearing across the canvas.  It almost looks like a huge whirl of crazy paint that is literally engulfing the layer below just in the same way as a wave crashes in a torrent of white foam.

I have been quite expensive with this layer, creating my own mark making tools which includes a piece of cardboard that I used in the same way I would use a spatula, smearing and scraping the paint across the canvas.

I then used the wrong end of a paint brush to scratch into the think paint, creating interesting marks and texture.

It was then time for a contrast so I dipped a piece of string into some white gesso and proceeded to slap the canvas with the string. It left some beautiful strong marks all with a lovely curve to them.

I finished by using my fingers to splatter and spray the remaining white gesso (mixed with water) over the slapped areas.

I really enjoyed painting in this way, it made me feel really free and expressive, somehow coming away from it newly light hearted.

Layer#22 Stencilling

Added pattern detail through stencilling.

Layer#21 Blue acrylic arc

I don't know why I love blue so much but I do.maybe it's because I live by the sea?! That might explain the urge I had to create a large blue arc, I suppose it's quite representative of a wave.

I love the combination of creating bold solid colour with acrylic paint and then adding water to areas which loosens up the paint creating more of a transparent wash. Adding gravity to the mix creates these gorgeous striking streaky watery drips that cut their way across the piece.  Blue bold and beautiful!

Layer#20 Line quality

Having stripped back to quite a plain canvas I felt this was a good opportunity to stick with monochrome and add detail using different qualities of line.

I chose a colouring pencil, a charcoal stick, a biro and some heavy body acrylic paint- all black in colour to really differentiate between the mediums.

There were some surprising results. A combination of both fine and delicate lines with bold and chunky expressive marks creates a really beautiful and elegant combination that I think would work well as the finishing touches to a painting not just to add interesting detail to yet another layer as I have done here.

The biro created whirly swirly marks that are quite similar to handwriting but look so beautiful peaking out from behind the sporadic dark marks of the heavy acrylic.  The charcoal can smudge and blur as well as create gorgeous crisp lines as the pencil leaves a ghost like streak along side.

I think what I love most about these lines is the overall effect, how they seem to compliment one another to create something far more beautiful than each would individually.

Layer#19 White out

This layer was screaming out for a fresh start, something simple to build upon, so there was really only one thing for it; white gesso and some brayer love!

The brayer means that some of the previous colour peaks through the gesso whilst the textures are really highlighted. The mass of white almost creates a blank canvas all over again yet these layers that we see a little glimmer of here and there add a whole new dimension to an otherwise complete white out!

Layer#18

Dream your biggest dream. Let your imagination soar and watch the abundance flourish.

Layer#17 Mountains

So I have recently been feeling like my brain is getting in the way of my intuitive art making which is causing everything to feel like an uphill struggle. 

In an attempt to face my fears head on and defeat this create hurdle I seem to be painting my way through it. Somewhere in my subconscious today I was drawn to painting mountains. Perhaps the lesson here is to visualise myself at the top, giving myself the pure freedom and liberation that I seek. Up until now I feel as though I have been stuck at the bottom staring upward without a rope in sight to help!

Time to breath deep and let the inner critic go.

Techniques used for this layer were my good friend the brayer with acrylic paint which has really helped to highlight the gorgeous array of textures created by previous layers. I also used a good old paint brush to apply some silver acrylic to the mountain tops. Nice to add abit of shimmer to brighten things up!

Layer#16 Sgraffito

Creating deep textures by scratching into the fresh paint on the surface. Blending colours in interesting ways and creating gorgeous mark making.

Layer#15 Brayer action!

I am so pleased with this layer. The textures coming through are gorgeous. 

This is the magic and beauty of brayering, not only does it cover a large area in paint very quickly but it also gives an uneven finish and allows previous colours and textures to peak through.

The colours blend in beautiful ways which are related more to print making as opposed to the flow of colour created by using a paint brush.

Brayering is fast becoming one of my favourite techniques of applying colour, I love it!

Layer#14 Water

I love working with water, letting the paint flow of it's own accord so that the piece transforms itself it ways I wouldn't be able to dream of alone. It's a great way to let go of control and watch the painting develop all by itself in really exciting ways!

Layer#13 Stencil Crazy

So not really sure where to go after going deep and dark with lots of splurges of black....maybe the complete opposite.  Why not counteract it with white, and lots of it, adding pattern and texture along the way? Time to get the stencils out!!!

Layer#12

Because sometimes you just need a bit of florescent pink in your life to lighten the mood!

Layer#11

Today's layer has been the most challenging yet. I already feel like I have been on a roller coaster of a journey just to get to this point and it's only January 13th!

Already my painting has become something beautiful that I could not have imagined before I started and I have been contemplating stopping and calling this piece finished......but that's not the aim of the game here. I remind myself that it's not about the end product, about making it look pretty. It's about the journey, about pushing myself out of my comfort zone and expanding my boundaries. This is a journey of discovery in which I need to press on to go deep and unearth more hidden treasures.

So after lots of photos of my painting I take a deep breath, grab a tube of paint and think bold. The only way to get past this hurdle is to be brave and do something transformative, something that will completely change the painting as a whole and set me in a whole new direction.....it's quite an exciting thought! Let's go!

Layer#10

Layer#9

Layer#8

Layer#7

Layer#6 Gesso and Brayer love

Layer#5

Layer#4

Layer#3

Layer#2

Layer#1

Blank canvas fear

I have always  struggled with blank canvas fear, to the point where whenever I start a new sketch book I always skip the first page for fear of "doing it wrong" or it "not being good enough".

Well this is the pure beauty of this project because it doesn't matter. It will be covered over and make part of the beautiful "history" and layers of the piece, an important part of the overall story.  It doesn't need to be perfect. It doesn't need to be "right". I just need to start, to take action and to just do it!

I think there is an important lesson here which can translate to anything in life, not just painting. The most important thing is that you start. That you make that first step towards your dream, vision, goal.....whatever it is! So let's see what happens. ....