Illustration Friday, Sunday Sketches and AEDM

So do you think I have enough challenges tied into this post? ::grin:: Don't worry, I have a piece for each as today was a good art day.

Exhilaration, acrylic on board, approx. 300 x 300 mm.

Savour the exhilaration. 'Savour' is the challenge word this week over at Illustration Friday. All I could think of was hanging in the moment, experiencing that second to its full extent, savouring the exhilaration. A reflection of a moment I experienced several years ago that I wrote about here. There was no lightning in that incident, but I still savoured the moment to its full extent.

Gungurru, gel pen on black card, approx. 200 x 200 mm.

This Art Every Day Month exercise was a follow through from yesterday's explorations. I had been planning to experiment with white and colours on black, but only managed to buy the pens a few days ago. It didn't scan very well because the pens were metallic and glitter, but I'm happy with the effect in reality. I'm not confident about the composition of this piece, though, and may draw another to correct it.

Sunday Sketches - these are a couple of sketches from this week's adventures.

The prep sketch for Cupid for Creative Tuesday which I didn't manage to enter in the end because my phone line died on Tuesday.

And the start of a sketch that followed on from the cheeky look on Cupid's face. Nanny Numbat...

Not finished. Don't know if he ever will be.

Nutty
(who had a great arty day)

Tree silhouettes - Gungurru

Gungurru, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 150 x 180 mm.

A native of the Western Australian coast, the Gungurru Eucalypt (Eucalyptus caesia) is a beautiful weeping tree with silvery white stems, blue green leaves and bright pink hanging flowers. The specimen in my front garden is var. 'Silver Princess', so you can imagine the what prompted such a name.

Some piccies of the real thing.

I wanted to illustrate the gentle movement in its shape. I'm not sure if I have succeeded, but this is my attempt. I am certainly going to explore this subject furture, perhaps using different media.

Nutty.
(exploring black and white representations)

A swirling zentangle and a beautiful fly

I finally got my grotty hands on a white pen that will write on black. I've been wanting to get one for some time, but when you have small children, shopping can sometimes be happenstance and I haven't happened to be in the right place to purchase one until yesterday.

This isn't what I bought it for, I have some other plans in the zentangle zone, but I played with it for a while to get a feel for it and test what it could do. This is what I ended up with.

Swirling, white gel pen on black card, approx. 60 x 60 mm.

It's seems to be moving and staring at it too long can boggle your eyes.

It was fun and I have plans...::cackles madly while rubbing hands together eagerly::

This evening, Hubby discovered that there were a lot of ladybirds on our continental parsley plant which is currently flowering (we let it go to seed so we can collect some for next year, it was a great performer). While I adore ladybirds and was quite happy to see them, something else a little less expected also caught my eye.

It appears that I could only get a really clear shot of its butt, but since that was the prettiest part of the fly, I don't mind too much.

And here is a ladybird that I found just too posed to resist :D

I hope you're all having some goodly arty times. I did some Christmas shooping today, so this is all I have to share. Hopefully more tomorrow.

Nutty
(considering a shower)

Drawing lab challenge results - Funky creatures

Okay, this one, I admit, was quite fun. And freeing in ways I haven't really done before. The reults, well, hmm, interesting, I guess. But the procedure, definitely fun.

I didn't quite finish them off as I left the exercise to the last minute again, but I think I like looking at the red, blue and yellow the way it is anyway. My favourites are the second and fourth piccies.

So how did you go? I've seen Pavinee's wonderful creations. Sorry I didn't make it clear where to post your results. I usually put up my answer to the challenge on Thursday night (South Australian time, so something like early morning UK Thursday, and middle of the night Eastern America, late night Western America Wednesday). To make that more accessible, I'm being adventurous...

I'm going to be wonderfully technically advanced and add a Mr Linky to this post like I have seen many other challenge hosts do.  So go ahead and link in your results :D

Nutty
(learn something new everyday and your brain won't rot)

Creative Tuesday - Heavenly

Okay, so it's a day early, but I drew it today so here it is.

There was the whole bald, cute and nappy thing, but considering he got to sleep on a cloud and then shoot people in the butt all day, his job wasn't too bad.

Cupid, pen on bleedbroof paper, approx. 250 x 210 mm.

I like his eyes. I might do some more characters like him :D

Go visit the other great people participating in Creative Tuesday. I doubt this week's post is up, but there are plenty of goodies to be found on the blog itself. Say hi to Mr Toast for me :D

Nutty
(who planned to draw something else, but is too tired and I want a shower)

Sunday Sketches

The wonderful Kristin Dudish suggested I have a go at the Sunday Sketches Challenge.

So I dug out my sketch book and have some of my not so hot sketches to share. I promise in the future to actually do something constructive for this challenge.

I did scribble down Frenken Furter for the challenge, a little character that bombarded his way across my brain while I was designing a much more serious piece (that so far hasn't seen the light of day). I'm not sure what he is or if I'll ever do anything with him, but he was such a cheery fellow and cheeky at all the serious desing work happening in my head at the time that I thought I'd save him from my forgetfulness.

 

Hmm, I wonder if he is whimsey...

The other two pieces are currently listed as failures. I posted 'Afterwards' a short while ago and mentioned that it was my second attempt at an answer to the challenge...this was the first. I could have worked at it and got it right, but I've done precise drawing before and this isn't the field I really want to explore right now. So it sits unfinished in my sketchbook.

The expression on the baby's face changes at the slightest move of a line. It's kinda working, but not at its best. Also I have the baby at an awkward angle for the mother to hold.  The concept of 'afterwards' was after all the effort of birth there is that moment of peace for mum and bubs where they just stare at each other. Pfft, it will never be finished.

This one isn't a sketch, but so far it is a lame work-in-progress - read 'not working so needs to be beaten into shape or painted over'. I slapped this together today. The concept is evolving and not really working the way it should. Also, I suck at life drawing.

Now go visit some of the other peoples who have done way better than this.  There is some lovely work over there - Sunday Sketches.

Nutty
(off to bed at a decent time)

Colour experiments - Green Fireworks

This effort was a follow through from Fallen and Embers. It has more in common with Embers, but was actually inspired by a piccy that I found right next to the piccy that inspired Fallen :D

Green Fireworks, acrylic on board, approx. 300 x 300 mm.

I was angry and continually distracted by the children while doing this, so it was done fast and not with the care I normally give a piece due to time constraints. There was much frustration and mumbling under my breath as I struggled to get it done. I didn't give the subject what it was due and technically speaking it is not completely finished as I haven't painted the sides of the board as yet.

So my impression of it is currently stained with my emotional state at the time. I will have to put it away and get it out later to determine fully whether I think it works or not.

Speaking of emotion...

I'm considering starting a new challenge.

I've been thinking about hosting a challenge here for some time, simply because I'd like to contribute to this wonderful creative blogosphere, but there are so many challenges out there, it has taken me some time to think of one that would add some value to participants rather than just repeating something that is already out there.

This is my idea...

Many of us sell our work (not me yet, simply because I don't have any to sell), some of us just create because we were born to do it, would likely die if we didn't, and just like to share what we've done (I'm in this camp), and some of us are in both camps. In any case, we all like people to look at our art, maybe comment or give that dash of feedback, or simply feel what we wanted them to feel, know what we wanted to communicate.

I recently read an article somewhere, can't remember where, about why people buy art. The main point made was that the buyer needs to have an emotional connection to the work in order to even consider purchase.

So how do we get those who see our work into an emotional state that will have them remarking, commenting, telling their friends, or handing over their money?

I propose we exercise and experiment with this idea. I'm thinking of setting an emotion, a reaction, or a state of mind to generate in those who see your art. For example, you can make a person feel sad with the right imagery and mood in an art piece like rain, morose faces, or you can generate fond memories with images of children at the beach or playground or something you think you and your audience might have in common. Heh, our kitchen tap drips. It is the most irritating sound on the planet to me, so if anyone develops a sculpture housed in a silent room with a tap that drips at just the right speed, they could inspire a whole pile of violent emotions in me :D

So what do you think? If I post a challenge, say, once a fortnight (or maybe a month? This one requires more brainpower than I have available in only a week, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to pull off successful artwork for this myself, so extra time is needed). And we can see if we can generate the right response in our audience and ourselves. This would also be a great opportunity for honest feedback on this aspect of art between challengers, because we all need to learn.

It should also be noted that I would like all the responses suitable for mature audiences, but not delve into the depths of NC-17 (or R18+) as it would be easy to fall into that trap with emotionally strong content. Advertisers do it every day without breaching those lines on TV, so we can do it too.

So do you think you can make your audience love, hate, cry, grin, laugh, remember, groan, wonder?

Nutty
(always full of ideas)

Wind sculpted trees - Determined

It has been one of those weeks. I haven't managed to do much art and haven't even posted to my blog, which is even more disappointing. I'm not sure what happened. Real life ate me, I guess.

I have had something on the go. Something that should have taken me one day, but instead took four...as I said, that kind of week.

Determined, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 270 x 200 mm.

I don't think it is as effective as some of the previous ones (here and here), but it has some value. I'm certainly going to continue my explorations in this area. That and I just maybe a little down in the dumps about my performance this week. Hmph.

Drawing Lab Challenge - Hah! Um, no, I didn't manage to do it. Maybe I'll have a go in catch up week.

I hope you did better than I.

Nutty
(a touch depressed)

Colour experiments - Fallen

And Art Every Day Month strikes again :D

Fallen, acrylic on board, approx. 300 x 300 mm.

This is a follow on from my first acrylic painting, Embers. It turned out to be in a completely different style (I don't seem to have a set style or medium, I'm higglety-pigglety), but is still an experiment in colour. I'm also learning about brushes and the different strokes each gives the painting. It's fun to be educated.

It is not realistic, not even impressionist really since I didn't work from anything other than my brain (something I never thought I would be able to do, but seem to be managing to do a lot and quite well lately, and I'm excited at the new skill), but I am happy with the energy and the colours tick all my boxes :D It was fun to do.

Illustration Friday has the topic of 'burning' this week incidently. I had planned to do this one anyway (been thinking about it for a week, this is the first chance I've had to actually get out the paints), so I might submit it to that challenge if I don't manage anything better in the next few days.

Nutty
(off to dig out the Christmas tree, family decorating night tonight)

EDIT: Submitted to Illustration Friday. Who am I kidding to think I'll get another one done before Friday?

Wind sculpted trees

More Art Every Day Month :D

These were done in the last hour or so of the day today. The rest of the day was spent being mother and napping to catch up the sleep I was missing from last night when Izzy was sick (she's okay now, touch wood).

But anyways, I was really happy with 'Wind', particularly how the image managed to move due to the patterns I used in the bark and leaves. So I thought I would try again. I wasn't aiming for wind this time, but other impressions.

Survivor, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 200 x 150 mm.

Survivor was first, and I'm not sure it does as well as it could, though it definitely has a feeling. Not one hundred percent sure what feeling. Perhaps when I look at it fresh tomorrow it will make more sense. I find staring at a piece for too long, when working, distorts my impression and I have to leave it awhile and come back to assess it correctly.

Stunted, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 140 x 100 mm.

I was really happy with the pattern I developed for the bark of this one. I'm finding that I'm getting better at translating the feeling in my head to the paper. Not always successful, but my hit rate is improving, and this one worked for the bark at least.

This is one of those trees you'll find struggling for life at the top of a cliff, half beaten to death, but managing to still survive. Their twisted forms are fascinating and I hope to explore them more. nature loves to sculpt.

Both of these started as zentangles. I'm not sure they still qualify, but I'm going to call them that anyway.

Aaah, art. I feel so much better once I've created something. It can turn a bad day into a good one the moment a piece is completed.

Nutty
(thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my art, they mean so much to me, you feed my brush, my pen, and my inspiration)

Drawing lab Challenge #5 results - Herbert

'Somehow he felt different after visiting the art gallery.'

Herbert, pen on bleedproof paper, approx. 210 x 150 mm.

Just a quick post as my youngest daughter is not well at the moment (upset tummy, nothing major except for the fact she is only 7 months old) and I need to be with her.

I left mine to the last minute this week, only slapping it together a few hours ago. I also added an extra leg. It was fun and I would have done more if I hadn't left it to the last minute.

How did you all go?

Nutty

(dash, dash)

Afterwards

Afterwards, acrylic on board, approx. 300 x 300 mm.

I've been meaning to attempt an Illustration Friday challenge for some time now. This week's is 'afterwards' and after one busted attempt to fulfill it, I thought that yet again I would miss it. But late this afternoon I came up with a sudden simple idea that ties in with my interest in colour and my experiments in acrylic. I didn't have much time to do it tonight as nights here are always busy with the kids, so it was a gamble to even get my paints out. But I did it.

Likely the fastest painting I've ever done in my life, it took me around an hour from blank to complete. Incidently it was warm here today and at the rate the paint was drying (I couldn't be bothered to add a retarder), I had to work really quick anyway. Consequently, I found myself painting in a way I had never painted before. Lots of dry brush and strokes that only hinted at form, rather than clearly defined it. very unusual for me the perfectionist.

Afterwards, detail.

It's slapdash, but I kinda like it just for that reason. I think it gives it more energy (despite the photograph not being as good as it could be).

Incidently, does anyone have any idea of the concept behind it? What did I illustrate? I suspect it isn't as clear as it could be. But hey, it was fun :D

Afterwards, where I painted it on the back porch, lit by the setting sun.

Nutty
(who has never done so much artwork in such a short time in her entire life...even without the kids!)

Creative Tuesday (and AEDM) - little house

'Special precautions were required when Uncle Bill came to visit.'

Little House, pen on bleedproof paper, approx. 290 x 200 mm

Is it a little sad that when prompted with the phrase 'little house', the first thing that came to mind was a toilet? Or should I blame it on being Australian?

In any case, the 'little house', dunny, outhouse, shed out back, Aunt Jane's, and a whole variety of names not suitable to be written on this blog was, and, in some cases, still is, a small building out the back of a property containing a toilet, traditionally either a pan or long drop. For further info, feel free to visit good ol' Wikipedia. There is also a humorous Dunny piece of poetry here.

Nutty
('Give me a home among the gumtrees...')

PS: technically speaking this art was done yesterday, but the piece of work I attempted today was so bad, it is never going to utilise pixels on this computer or any other. Hopefully tomorrow will be more arty.

EDIT: I forgot to give you a link to the great Creative Tuesday challenge over on Hot Toast and Jam. Go visit! There are lots of other yummy talented peeps over there.

Memories and possibilities

I did art today, but I can't post it until tomorrow :(  I also worked up a concept for this week's Illustration Friday and may make a first attempt at that challenge. I didn't have a chance today.

So what am I going to post about tonight?

Memories in scribbles.

We are currently looking at revitalising our front garden, a large area full of Australian native plants (another hobby of mine)...and weeds. Several years ago I drew up a plan for what the work-in-progress would eventually look like. Can I find that map now? No. Why am I mentioning this? Because the map was drawn in one of my sketchbooks and I've been hunting through all of them trying to find it.

I may not have found the map, but I found a whole bunch of different things I forgot I had.

I don't have many sketchbooks, about a handful, but each sketchbook spans a time in my life. I'm not talking journals or anything organised. All I have is prep sketches for larger pieces, half baked ideas, and scribbles.

Tonight while going through them, I discovered that I have a sketchbook from when I was in high school. I have several from when I was studying graphic design in college, I have snapshots of my creative life hidden away in these old spiral bound pads.

There's the sketchbook that I bought while on my honeymoon in 2001. The one time I didn't take my art equipment with me (because when I do, I never use it), I found myself so inspired with an idea I had to drop everything, buy a sketchbook, pencil, eraser, sharpener, and a small set of coloured pencils, and sit in the middle of an empty mall and scribble down the idea (We were in Kuranda, near Cairns, Queensland. If you want inspiration, go to the tropics, so much colour and life!)

That is what I drew (one of of two ideas).

This is what it became when I got home.

That was the closest I got to what I have finally reached in artistic freedom now (after that I turned back to watercolour pencil and realism until now)

And I've wandered off topic...

One of the things I've come to realise in the last few weeks is that I have more artistic experience than I realised. I've been attempting things I never thought I could do competently and succeeding! And the array of different things I've been doing has woken me up to what I can do.

And those sketchbooks reminded me of some of the things I did in the past. Remember the mandala I created for the first time a few days ago? I didn't lie when I said it was the first time I had done something like that, but I remember having a vaguely familiar feeling while drawing it. When I flipped through one of my oldest sketchbooks, I found this...

Sturt's desert pea and clematis flowers

It's from the mid nineties. I guess I forgot to remember that my final years of art in high school were spent studying calligraphy and illumination. Derrrr. Twenty years ago mandala design would have been right down my alley if I knew they existed. The skill is there, but apparently I'd forgotten I had it!

I also found this...(sorry about the shocking photography)

Flannel and wahlenbergia flowers

Both of the above designs were never developed into anything, but I really like them both. They have great possibilities with the things I know now.

This one sums up my art career up until a couple of months ago.

Great starter, not so good on the finishing.

Things are a little different now and I am finally producing work at a decent rate and exploring art as an artist should. And it is very much thanks to this blog and all you wonderfully supportive people out there. ::hugs all round::

I have a current sketchbook and I'm filling it with challenge answers, prepwork for finals, etc, just as I have always done, if at a faster rate, so down the track I'll probably stumble across it again and gaze at a piece of me from the past.

And they'll be good memories.

Nutty
(rambling a little because I'm up too late and my brain has vacated the building)

Colour experiments - Embers

I did my first acrylic painting in nearly ten years today. It's not much, but it is finished.

Embers, Acrylic on board, approx. 300 x 300 mm.

Hmm, jpegs certainly can't handle reds very well. This is rather more orange than it appears in this piccy. That and the poor lighting make for a pretty poor photo. Apologies.

Anyways, I didn't know what I was going to paint when I started and it just happened. I wanted to play with colour graduation (but then I always do :D) and decided to go with the yellows through to red. I also wanted to play with thick paint, something I've never really done before (I'm too much of a stinge). It was fun, and I like the glow.

Ooh, and the day is not over...I might be able to do something else. What an odd concept :D

Nutty
(I did something, finally)

My Creative Neighbourhood - 6 November 2010

Okay, so it is now technically the 7th November, but last night I crashed on the couch with my arms full of baby so I simply stumbled off to bed. No summary of art done, no post. Ugh.

But here I am today, stealing time over breakfast.

So what happened in my creative neighbourhood this week...

Art Every Day Month started with a bang, and boy, am I loving it, despite struggling to complete art every day.  There is some wonderful stuff being created out there, well worth drooling over.

Kristin Dudish is creating up a storm with her 30 in 30 for 30 challenge tied in with Art Every Day Month.

And speaking of challenges, I came across the World Doodle Challenge, something some of you doodlers might be interested in.

I discovered SkinnyStrayCat who has recently uploaded some seriously fantastic zentangles/doodles.

She has some wonderful creations, well worth a gander.

Get the feeling I've been doodling a lot lately? :D

Kirstin Chursinoff announced her latest exhibition of her fabric art. Even if you can't make it, staring at pictures of her art is incredibly inspiring. She does wonders with stitching and colours.

Speaking of fabric art, Wooly Fabulous has gone black and white with some stunning results.

Jenny Blair danced with the elephants again to create some more lovely art.

Dave Rowley has had a bad week, but is now bad on board with his 30 Labyrinths. I really must have a go at drawing one of those.

Melissa Moss was published in a magazine with her beautiful art.

Amelia showed us how to make wonderful little books.

And me?

I've been crazy trying to keep up with the Art Every Day Month. I haven't managed a piece per day, but there is definitely art happening here, in a variety of forms. Several doodles and experiments. Today, I'm hoping to do some acrylic work on the boards I primed yesterday. I haven't done a pure painting in years, so the results will be interesting.

Yesterday I managed to do a little work on the Almond Blossom Mandala. This is what it currently looks like. Watercolour pencil takes TIME.

Now, must dash, Izzy's awake.

Nutty
(hoping to get more done today)

AEDM - Day 5 and Drawing Lab Challenge #5

Hmm, a convergence of fives :D

Today's art was just as scarce as my previous two, except the one doodle I managed to start and poke at for the previous two days has now been completed.

Wind, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 200 x 100 mm.

Back in 2006, Hubby and I went on the best holiday we had ever had (well, that I've ever had anyway :D). We took a driving holiday in Western Australia, a wildflower paradise. Anyways, while travelling up the coast towards Geraldton, we passed some wind sculpted trees - Wikipedia has a piccy. They've stuck in my mind ever since. And they were a major influence on my brain when I drew this. Not quite as bent, and a touch more active, I'm really happy with the movement in this doodle.

Maybe I'll get something other than a doodle done tomorrow ::crosses fingers::

And...

Time to bend your brain...

This is the fifth challenge post for the Drawing Lab Challenge. Grab your copy of 'Drawing lab for mixed media artists: 52 creative exercises to make drawing fun' and join us as we tackle the book together. Details of the challenge and joining can be found here.

This week the challenge is...

Lab 19 (Page 58).

This one should have some interesting results.

Have at it!

Nutty
(let's see if I can let go of control)

Art Not-Quite-Every Day Month & Drawing Lab Challenge results - catch up week

Okay, I blew it today. Busy all day, visitors, a trip to the doc's for Izzy (she's fine), and I traded my last little bit of doodle time for a shower. I did start a doodle, but barely had time to do anything and I'm exhausted. So no art today :(

So, why am I posting? Cos I wanna ::grin:: So here is a piece I prepared earlier...about five years earlier.

Blue Grass Lily, soft pastel on black pastel paper.

Those of you who have been following me since the Creative Colour Challenge might know that I'm a recent learner of the soft pastel medium. Well, here is my first ever pastel drawing (and first time drawing on a black background, too). According to my journal of the time, it took me an hour and a half back in 2005. Five years ago? I thought I said I was new? I am (though not at talking to myself :D). I did a small amount of experimenting back then, a handful of half finished drawings. Then I got pregnant in 2007 and didn't touch the things again until June this year.

And I kinda like this little sketch. Just thinking now what I could do with the same subject with all my recent experience....hmmm, might be worth playing with.

Drawing Lab Challenge - how did you all do? Did you manage to catch up or expand on a previous Lab experiment? I did some doodling with lots and lots of swirls which caught me up on Challenge #4, but I haven't revisited anything.

Tomorrow a new Lab Challenge. I hope those of you doing Art Every Day Month can weave it into your schedules.

Nutty
(sleep is an inconvenience)

Art Every Day Month - Day 3

Didn't have a very good day today. Izzy was teething and unsettled so I had to attend to her, so KJ got bored and destructive, I got angry and frustrated...it wasn't a good time.

So there wasn't much art done. The only thing I managed was a doodle at the last minute in front of the TV as I was determined to have at least something to post.

Sunflower Doodle, pen on fineliner paper, approx. 110 x 140 mm.

I actually attempted to use this as the meditative exercise zentangles are supposed to be. It kinda worked, though I have to say, the best thing to make me feel better is to have accomplished a finished piece of art. It's nothing fancy, but it is finished. I think this design would look better with more than one flower and bigger.

Here's hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Nutty
(suspecting that the Lurgy has rallied and launched another attack)

Oil pastel experiments - Swirls

Saturday I felt like doodling and since the Drawing Lab Challenge I had missed involved doing exactly that, I did some. I grabbed my oil pastels, a piece of watercolour paper and just drew some swirls. No plan, no design beyond the idea that I'd like to play with some graduated colour (I followed the order of the pastels in the box mostly :D).

For the challenge I was supposed to listen to something distracting, but since I can't afford the time to be totally switched off at the moment, I just listened to my kids playing with my sister. My attention was half taken.

Doodle done, I then wanted to experiment. I was inspired by the transparent effect I stumbled across in my last oil pastel experiment and decided to explore the use of white oil pastel to create that effect. So I did some more swirls.

This is simply white and a few other very pale shades of colour directly on top of the other colours. I was really happy with this effect and plan to explore it further.

The piece as it was didn't satisfy me as a composition. It needed more, so I experimented some more.

Please excuse the poor quality of the picture, we had moved inside as the weather had deteriorated and the lighting wasn't crash hot.

I added some white swirls with acrylic. Initially I just painted in a basic line swirl, but I followed it up with some light wash over the top to give the swirls more body.  I wasn't as happy with this effect as I was the white oil pastel swirls, so I continued to fiddle.

The composition lacked contrast, so I added a thin dark blue wash in places that could give the white swirls more dimension. Still not happy and beginning to wonder if I should never have gotten the paints out in the first place. Then I hit upon another idea.

I scratched off the white lines.

I'm much happier with it now as the remaining wash highlights and shadows are now just as transparent as the second layer of swirls and the whole piece has much more dimension. Scratching those lines back to the first layer colours also brought some more vibrancy back into the piece as those colours are brighter than the washed and the white oil pastel swirled surfaces.

But it is still not finished and this is where it stands at the moment as I try to think of what to do with it next. I'm tempted to cut one side off to make it square which would balance out the composition much better. I'm also thinking of a silhouette in either black or a very dark shade, maybe a tree or something else swirly. I'm not happy with the lack of contrast.

But anyway, this is my contribution for today for Art Every Day Month. I did most of this over the weekend, but I did finish the scratching off today. There is no way I can complete a piece of art everyday, but I can DO SOMETHING every day, so that is my challenge.

My favourite bit

Oh, and it should be mentioned that since the weather went bad, we all ended up in our kitchen and it turned out to be a fantastic afternoon. KJ and Sis joined in the arty experience and soon the kitchen cupboards were adorned with drying paintings.

So even if I end up trashing the painting, it was worth the memory we made.

Nutty
(who had a great day with family)