30 days of Mandalas births........'The Mandala Orb'

April 2016 I set myself the project of creating 30 mandalas as a way of making sure I made art everyday.

Not only did it get the creative juices flowing but it also developed as I combined my love of colour with hand drawn mandalas and so the mandala orb was born.

I absolutely love creating these gorgeous little gems. Colour plays a big part in my life and artwork so to be able to find a way of incorporating it into my detailed drawings has been really fun!

My next project is to paint BIG mandala orbs! .....I can't wait to get started!!!

Watch me painting....

I love to paint abstract pieces, this one from last year show my process of building up layers. I love to see a painting appearing as if by magic on the page!

Experimenting with expressive colour

I love to paint

One of my favourite things it just just let loose and spread loads of acrylic paint all over the page.

I get my hands dirty by using my fingers to spread the paint which really helps me connect and get a really fluid finish.

Even adding some white gesso can help lighten things up and I sometimes create a quick texture at the end by using the wrong end of a paintbrush to draw lines in the wet paint.....why not have a go?! :)

Zoe xx

 

Painted backgrounds with fresh florals

I've been taking a break from painting over the last month or so whilst I focus on my sterling silver jewellery collection. I have recently really felt the urge to paint again. It feels like a nice break after constantly making jewellery, almost like a holiday to be painting again.

I did however have the usual quandary of what subject matter to paint.  I think I over think this sometimes, feeling like I should paint "a thing" when actually I'm just called to spread paint on paper and create colourful abstracts just for the pure Joy and freedom of painting!

This took an unexpected turn when I was suddenly inspired to layer some of the beautiful florals that are blooming in my garden at the moment on top of my paintings.  The final result of these beautiful natural compositions are so striking that I can feel a whole new series of work coming on.

Painting in layers then doodle the details!

I really love this process of painting which I seem to have developed for myself over the last few weeks. 

Watch theentire painting process here; https://youtu.be/wte9uQcPo5s

I start with an expressive painted layer using acrylics with a brayer roller and smudging with my fingers. I then add in patterns using stencils. 

I let this layer dry then go back in again using my fingers and acrylic paints in contrasting colours. I love to add in bold coloured dots too to create added details.

Once this is dry I love to add lots of crazy detail using black fine line and Paint pens. I find this doodling process so meditative and I like to just go with the flow and let the patterns create themselves, although they usually reference nature.

Big, bold and beautiful.  Everything that art should be!!! ♡

Why not have a go yourself? Paint something quick and intuitive, then once it's dry use it as a background for your doodling! 

The magic of Abstract and Doodles!

During some experimenting in my recent work I have discovered a surprising magic in combining my love of yummy textured abstract painting with fine line doodling!

A couple of my recent posts show these 2 techniques separately;
  "Being brave with layers" and
  "Black and White Doodles - Patterns Everyday"

Combining these 2 very different techniques has been really exciting and has surprised me to find that I can use my doodles to accent certain areas and brush marks of my abstract paintings.

Here's a snippet of some pieces I've been working on over the last few weeks. This is definitely something I want to play with and develop more!

Lush Layer Love!!! ♡

So after being brave and pushing myself with my painted layering process I'm putting this new found love into practice.  By repeating the process I hope that it will make it easier each time and help to grow my creative confidence as I go, striving onward into the unknown!

Here I have started with some intuitive abstract painting.

Then adding a layer of stencilling in contrasting colours.

One of my favourite layers is then to go back in with blocks of paint that I smudge into the paper with my finger. This layer really helps to tie the previous layers together. 

Lastly I love to add in details with fine line pens, adding in doodles and decorative shapes that give a focal point. 

Layer#30 Embracing Fear

I find it really tough to layer sometimes. I think it's the control freak in me. Sometimes it's hard to let go. Your brain overrides your heart and wants to know where you are going? What's going to happen? What are you trying to achieve and even sometimes what is the point?

I find when I am faced with a massive hurdle like this its because I'm on the cusp of something big. I'm about to realise something or discover something that is going to propel my work forwards.

At times like these I know I need to push on. Sometimes just getting something on the page,  anything is a start. And it's also the beginning of overcoming this great hurdle and overriding my inner critic.

Today feels like one of those days!

Being brave with layers

Sometimes it's hard to take the next step with a painting. To be bold and throw yourself in headfirst with the next layer, moving the painting forward into unknown territory.  But this is the learning curve. This is where the real magic happens, the surprises, the new direction. This is what helps build the story of the painting and create something special.

Painting process, from start to finish!

Pure Joy Abstract Painting

I love being expressive with paint and today I pushed myself out of my conform zone to work BIG!

Using A1 size paper I spread scratched and rubbed paint into the paper. Working big means you can get your whole body involved in the movements and motions of expression.  Almost performing a dance with the paint.

What a refreshing and freeing feeling!