I’ve had several requests for this one, so here it is finally, the first in what I hope is a series of explorations that I’ve tried and can now share with you so you can try.
-o-o-o-
I was giving my eldest daughter a bath one night, swirling bubblebath around in the tub, when the bubbles suddenly grabbed my attention. They had a beautiful texture. I wondered if they could carry paint and leave a print on paper. Of course, I had to explore the idea.

Read more on Gumnut Inspirations.

Experiments - Paper mosaics and motion

Motion, paper mosaic and acrylic, approx. 480 x 370 mm.

This is what happens when you experiment. You never quite know what you're going to end up with. This one is slightly weird. I could have added more to it, but it had such a sense of motion to it that I stopped in case I spoilt it. It is also a lousy photograph. But I'm fairly happy with it. It keeps asking me for more colour variety, but I have no idea what to give it, so it stays as it is.

Can you see the movement?

Nutty
(building a new blog on her own website - http://inspired.gumnut.net )

Painting experiments - Caught

Caught, acrylic, watercolour pencil and gel pen, approx. 265 x 195 mm.

Here you go. My attempt to create a painting from this. I love bits of it, other bits, not so much, but hey, it's only an experiment :D

So Christie, you scored :D It was a fish I had in mind. It would be interesting to see if it was the same fish :D

Nutty
(dashing off back to all consuming motherhood - I painted this in the last hour or so while the kids were asleep, bit of a rush job)

What can you see? - painting experiments continued

Furthering on my experiments from here, here and here...what can you see?

I know what I can see and what I'm going to add to it as soon as I can, but I'm interested in what other artists might see.  This is the beauty of experimentation, you never quite know what is around the corner.

And thank you so much for all those wonderful people who commented on my last post. You certainly encouraged me and I am really excited about this new avenue I have found to play in. Exploring my art is just so much fun!

Nutty
(playing)

Sunday Sketches - Balloons

Dreams of Balloons, acrylic, watercolour pencil and gel pen on illustration board, approx. 250 x 200 mm

Still more experimenting with paints in line with yesterday's post. I was mesmerised by this idea the moment I saw it in the paint. It has it's faults, but I'm happy with the movement.


Since I spent a good part of today doing this, I'm submitting it to Sunday Sketches. Drop on by and see what everyone else is up to.

Nutty
(crawling off to bed)

Dream

Dream, Acrylic, pen and gel pen on illustration board, approx. 200mm x 250mm.

The experiment from the previous post? Now a completed painting.

The scan seems to have obliterated most of the stars. Right down the centre of the piece is a spray of stars in yellow and white.

What do you think? Not quite my normal stuff. :D

Nutty
(experimenting)

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)

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?

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!)

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)