This week my Vlog is an exploration in line in my sketchbook. I've been updating one of the activities in my stARTs course and it's got me really interested in a couple of things - big shapes and delicate lines. I've always been a sucker for these two, but I feel like I'm going BIGGER with the shapes and more explorative with the line.
Underpinning my process of abstract painting is playing with OPPOSITES. In this demonstration I show you how every step I take is in contrast - or opposite - to the previous step. This is a great rule of thumb as it means you are never stuck with what to do next. Ask yourself: What have I just done? What is opposite or different to that? Watch the video to the end to see how the painting finished up following this process.
I've recorded this video to show you my process for painting and making a finished piece in my sketchbook. I create my work, big or small by building in layers, and in this demonstration you will see the full process reduced down to creating an artwork in less than an hour. Don’t forget to download my Markmaking & Painting Promptsheet to bring over 50+ ideas into your studio.
Intuitive painting is always an adventure. You start with no idea where you will end up. But in this video my painting took me to a desert, a kasbah and a camel - how wonderful!! By keeping within a colour palette and using shapes that evoke memories of places you’ve been to, you can recreate your feelings of a location in paint.
Starting a painting can be daunting - that blank canvas is like an empty stage waiting for brilliance to arrive! This can be a huge hurdle to overcome when expectations are high. So in this video I’ll share with you how to adopt the right mindset to allow yourself to freely create your best work, and what are some of the first steps you could take on that blank canvas to lead to success. Watch and then let yourself loose on your next painting journey!
It happens - sometimes a painting goes through a very ugly phase and a lot of artists give up and start again. In this video I go through this process with you - I create an ugly painting, and then I show you two ways to save it. And it’s amazing how quickly it becomes a fun, playful painting with a cohesive structure - instead of the chaotic crazy mess it was before.
Many of my students decide their paintings are too busy but then get stuck editing them. In this video I demonstrate the thought process in deciding what to take away and what to leave behind and how it’s all based on DIFFERENCES. Creating differences and then deciding which areas you like the best and reducing distractions around these areas, leaving them to be the focal areas in the painting. By doing this successfully you calm the painting and it becomes less ‘busy’.
Who doesn’t love flowers? In this demonstration I show you how to paint florals without getting hung up in petals, stamens, leaves and stems. Do you want your painting to convey the FEELING of the flower? Through combining a looseness of line and paint you can easily create gorgeous florals that are vibrant and fun.
In this video I lead you through a process of creating simple shapes that can be repeated in your abstract composition. When you repeat shapes you create a structure and cohesion in your painting which helps to eliminate that “chaotic, too-busy” feeling that can happen in abstract work. Follow the simple steps shown in this video using shapes that resonate with you and I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the outcome.
In this demonstration you will see how to create a beautiful abstract painting giving the SENSE of flowers bobbing in a breeze. My goal is to create interesting shapes of saturated colour with depth and complexity that suggests a floral form, but has the feeling of freedom and spaciousness. Using paint in layers, pencil and ink along with a palette knife and colour shapers beautiful effects can be created - watch and then try it for yourself.
When creating abstract artwork the most common problem people encounter is getting stuck - losing direction - not knowing how to finish. Having a simple roadmap and understanding what to focus on at the various stages of a painting means you never get lost, because you always know which Stage you’re at and what your intention is. In this video I demonstrate how I navigated my way through the painting process to finally finish my painting.
Watch this demo to see how I use a range of techniques in wet and dry media to create an imaginative painting incorporating abstract elements and representational references. Spoiler Alert: Anything goes here - freedom in markmaking and media to create a painting straight from your intuitive imagination. Give it a try!!
Great Art has clarity. The viewer is instantly drawn to it because it doesn’t confuse or overwhelm. It’s strong in message, even if the message is only “look at this gorgeous colour” or “look at this lovely combination of shapes”. In this video I demonstrate by using one of my own paintings, showing how I improved it by getting very clear on what are the HEROES. Once I could identify these I could eliminate the distractions and make them stronger. Watch the video and then take a look at your own work with fresh eyes and a new perspective.
