Stages of an Expressive & Intuitive Painting

What is Expressive / Intuitive painting some might ask? 

It is a style of painting that relies on you listening to your own intuitive voice. It should guide you along on the the process of making art while painting. In a prefect world is should help you choose colors, shapes and mark marking that will result in a painting that is unique to you.  As an Art teacher I believe knowledge of the Elements of Art:( Line, Shape, Form, Value, Space, Color and Texture,) and the Principles of Design: (Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Pattern, Rhythm and Movement,and  Unity,)  are essential as well in understand the aesteadics of what makes a good painting.

 I recently took an on-line course on this very topic. It was was fun and very informative. I did however read a comment left by one of the students asking how the teacher knew when to change  the size of a shape or color to  make such a difference in the final appearance in her art work. The answer was that the teacher used her knowledge of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. For a bit of fun I thought I would share my experience with creating an Expressive / Intuitive painting.  A piece of cake for me you might might say. Not really, but I thought I would help you by describing my thoughts by explaining how the Elements and Principles planned a part in my decision making as I try to create an expressive & intuitive painting.

  I'm ready to start, got my canvas (24x30), all my brushes, acrylic paint, water, spray bottle  towels... just throw down some paint you say?  Well yes that is the idea but I actual did think about how I would start. I've been working with watercolor for so long I decide to thin out the acrylic paint  so it would feel something like water color, and to limited my colors.  When did I know to stop? The painting became so wet that I had to walk away an let it dry or things would have gotten muddy
Overall it was a good start. The painting showed depth (pale yellow under the dripping lavender, Contrast from light and dark colors and a large shape for Emphasis. These are The Elements and Principles working.

  Day 2:  The goal was Mark Making... and don't ask about the major color change, I have no clue but its pretty blue, and looks awful.But it did have some interesting  lines shapes.

  Day 3: OK lets get some of that green back in the picture and remember to keep some of the mark making.

Day 4: Wow This was a big change. My goal was to warm it up. I've added orange, and its looking better. It still has a lot of energy from the complementary colors and from the variety of lines and shapes. But what am I going to do with that big large orange spot? I'm listening but that little voice isn't telling me what to do.

 Day 5: Well the large orange spot is gone. I tried adding cooler colors to calm down the painting. It still has a lot of energy which I like, but is it done? Good question so maybe rotating the canvas around will help me answer that thought.

Well this looks fun, reminds me of Christmas. But is it finished? 

No something has to be added to the now large blue green space.

So  I'm going to play and just keep working on it and see what happens.

More to come.

~ karen

Stages of a Playful Watercolor Landscape

I always start with a quick watercolor in my sketchbook.

 I got carried away with the sky in the sketchbook

 Very stylized but I'm liking the effect.

 I always play around with my mark marking in my sketchbook, before adding the final details to the painting.

Feeling a bit rusty but at least I'm in the studio;)

Have a nice weekend. ~ karen

Back in the Studio

It has been a long time since I've written on my blog, or felt like working in my studio. This past year was full of major stresses that I won't get into to, but I'm happy to say my creative mojo has returned!

Coming up next is a watercolor landscape;)

Happy Valentines Day

I know I've been missing  for quite some time, but am starting to feel that pull again to get back in the studio. I have this week off and can't wait to start painting again.... see you soon with some new work;)

Happy Valentines day to anyone that still checks out my little blog

~Karen

Sunday Sketches; More of Linwood Gardens

The Gateway

 One nice thing about getting a new computer with mega amounts of memory is that I was able to upload years of photograph memories. Years ago I spent the day with a couple of my artist girlfriends at Linwood Gardens in upstate New York. The old and very lovely estate is open to the public for a reasonable fee to wonder around the gardens and dream about what it must have been like years ago in its hay day. You can go here to read more about Linwood Garden and its history. I took so many pictures that day and have been having fun looking through them choosing different photos to create little (7 x 10") watercolor sketches. I remember at the time when I took this photo I was to scared to try painting this gateway.  There was to many things going on and I wasn't sure where to start. I'm here to confirm the statement that every art teacher tells you... Keep your subject matter simple at first, practice everyday and you'll be surprised that one day you'll look at something you never thought you could paint and you'll know just how to break everything down and painted it.

 

Have a wonderful day, and never stop painting and taking reference photos along the way ;) 

~ Karen

Watercolor Sketches: Linwood Gardens

Linwood Gardens

Color study detail 

Still keeping up with my sketches, but I must be honest its hard doing it everyday. It's summer vacation and some times I just want to lay around and do nothing.....

Hope you are enjoying your summer.

~ Karen

Sunday Sketches: Daily Vacation Sketches

Thursday I posted several watercolor drawings done in my sketchbook while was visiting my daughter in South Carolina.  I'm back home with lots of photographs taken during our trip and trying to sketch each  morning using my photo references.

Botany Bay Plantation SC

Have a wonderful.....

~ Karen

Vacation Sketches

Last week my husband and I spent time visiting our daughter and her boyfriend in South Carolina.

Jessie and Mark at the entrance to the Botany Bay Plantation

Lucky for me I brought along my sketchbook hoping there would be some time to record our trip.

The first morning I woke up way to early and realized I didn't know how to use the remote on their TV and didn't have their security password to use my computer. Good lord what was I going to do with myself while waiting for everyone to wake up?  As fate would have it, while waiting for my coffee to brew I noticed a little frog jumping across their kitchen counter. Actual it startled me to death and I wasn't about to pick it up... when it accrued to me this would be an ideal time to draw in my sketchbook.   I quickly grabbed my supplies and a  morning ritual was started. 

  Hopeful I'll be able to continue this routine each morning with my cup of coffee;)

~ Karen

Sunday Sketches; The Susan E. Anthony Home

My Project for the summer... Illustrating some of Rochester, New York's historical and favorite locations to visit. The first sketch was done on location at The Susan B. Anthony Home. It's very playful and I'm not worrying about perspective. I'm just trying to capture my enthusiasm for being out side, taking pictures and painting again. It is very whimsical.   

 Here are a few photographs my husband took, I think he was having fun too.

 Here is my first sketch (not the final painting) of The Susan B Anthony House.
So glad it's summer vacation, I was so ready for a change in my routine.  Happy to be participating in Suday Sketches today.

~ Karen

Sunday Sketches; Abstract Art

 

Feeling Sad

Sometimes when you put yourself and your artwork out in the world you face rejection, and it's not always easy to except. It's hard not to feel sad. I haven't been creating much art lately feeling rather sorry for myself. So it's time to start moving forward, and painting always makes me feel better. ;)

To cheer myself up I've been taking long walks with my dogs and working abstractly. My goal for the end of the school year is to just have fun! My students are loosening up with Abstraction; Line, Color, Shape, Texture and Pattern. There is no pressure only that they try and have fun, and I'm having fun right along with them.

Minnie Driver

My sketch for today is a controlled scribble mess of my Miniature Schnauzer, Minnie Driver. She's such a sassy little girl that always makes me laugh and smile.  My students thought the bottom of the drawing looked like musical notes. My response to them was "It must be my inter voice telling me to sing out loud while I paint." They weren't too sure about that one. haha .

Have a great day.

Karen

Sunday Sketches; A Cup of Spring

Good morning to all my Sunday Sketching friends... I'm  sorry I've been missing lately, but I do have something to share today ;)  It's just a little cup of Spring...  and boy do I feel rusty painting. It's not the best sketch I've ever done but I'm enjoying its charm.  Note to self... Even though you're tired, push yourself to sketch something, anything every day.

 So here is my excuse... My day job is sucking up all my creative energy. I come home after school, and instead of taking a walk or drawing in my sketchbook, I just want to take a nap. I refuse to think this is old age... I'd rather like to think I'm having too much fun pushing my students to try one more thing on their projects. Next thing I know it's 3:00 and all my creative energy is used up.  Having enthusiasm for my job and encouraging students to think creatively really drains the life right out of me. I've talk to my  28 year old daughter who is also a teacher and it happens to her too. Ha ha.

Have a wonderful day.

~Karen

Sunday Sketches; All About Me

I've been so  busy teaching this week that I haven't done anything in my sketchbook to share with my Sunday Sketches friends, and was feeling rather sad about that. Well that all changed when I hopped over to see what Juana had created for this weeks Sunday Sketches, and read her post about Drawing and Stamps.
  Guess what I have been working on all week with my students?  Drawing and Stamp Printing, and I thought I didn't have anything to share...
 This week I introduced my Studio Art Final Exam Project. Its an Art journal that the students create based on a theme designed around their interests. They must complete 6 pages based on certain Elements and Principles of Design (determined by me)  plus a front and back cover. This project has always been a favorite of my students over the years.
With that said, the requirement for page 1 of the Art Journal is Line/ Pattern. Students must create a stamp print using a variety of different line and then print their stamp in a pattern of their choice.

Basketball Love

Its all about Sweets

Shoes, Shoes and more Shoes

Three Samples from my power point presentation

Both the students and I have been creating stamps all week. I wish I had thought to bring samples of the students drawings and stamp prints to share today. So... seeing that I'm working on a Power Point Presentation for the "All About Me" page this morning I'll share my exemplar for that page. Its a photo of me and a sketch of how I connect with my theme "The Tree of Life." My image of course is an acorn. (I'm Nuts) ha ha.

 Hope you enjoy, and a thank you to Juana for giving me an idea to post about today.

Happy Sunday Sketches...

~ Karen