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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Fun on Vancouver Island

"Salt Spring Island"
Original Oil - 6x8"

This was a demo done a couple of weeks ago on Salt Spring Island, BC. It was a flat, gray, mid-afternoon scene and I was completely uninspired by what was there.

I always find this is a perfect time to dig into the bag of tricks and play with an exercise. In this case I chose one of my favourites - thick paint right out of the gate, so thick you have to use a stiff brush and scoop it off the palette. The trick after that is to apply it with a light enough stroke that you don't ultimately wind up with a big, muddy mess.

Every time I try this exercise it is SO fun. There is something about all that paint that feels really playful, and it seems to open up some special, magic portal into creativity. I find I start mixing more colorful colors, trying bolder ideas, and moving the paint in rhythmic ways just because there's so much there. The best way I can think of to describe it is it's like finger painting with a brush - gooey and gorgeous and full of wonderful surprises.

11 comments:

  1. I like the painting - good idea.
    Thank you for the workshop (Calgary FCA) this last weekend by the way. I enjoyed it and its got me thinking...
    Lindsey

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  2. Oh, My Goodness! ... this painting looks so good, I want to eat it! Fabulous painting, Liz, fabulous post. So inspiring!
    B.

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  3. Very, very nice. Thanks so much for sharing your approach to painting...the whys, the hows and your thoughts!

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  4. Super interesting idea. I'll have to try it next time I'm plein air painting on a grey day.

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  5. Well,you've just reminded me of an early morning ferry ride back from Salt Spring Island about 3 years ago (heading back to Vancouver airport, then straight back home to the UK,) lovely painting Liz...

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  6. Wonderful colors! It shows that you were having so much fun with it. :)

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  7. wonderful bold shapes and palette. very strong and soft at the same time.

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  8. LOVE that approach...and it turned out great, too! Would love to paint w you someday; my kids live in Sitka.

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  9. Thanks everyone! I didn't love it on location, took it out of my paint box a couple weeks later and thought, "Hey...not bad!"

    Nancy, I have no idea where Sitka is, but if it's close to where I live (Banff,AB), feel free give me a call and come out painting sometime!

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  10. wonderful harmony Liz. Makes this one sing.

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