Love the Layers

Image 1

Image 2

"Release" 16"x24" Acrylic on Canvas

Week four of Wyanne's Paint Free e-course (which I started this summer and can finally say I am half way through...yikes!) was an awesome lesson on layering. The assignment was to write a message then cover part or all of it with paint. We could either sketch in a subject or just paint abstractly. I chose to simply start adding paint to the canvas (I even limited my palette to only 5 colors). After several layers I chose an area I found interesting and used masking fluid in the shape of a heart to save the painting underneath. After adding a little more paint (image 1 above), I saw what looked to me like the shoulders and back of a woman in a low-backed gown gazing at the trees. Even though I have no interest in painting figures, I had to move forward with this vision (image 2 above). I am very pleased with results...I love the FREEdom of painting in this style, no expectations, less frustration, and just FUN!

Painting "FREE" & "FEARLESS

Exercise #1 from Connie Hozvicka's Free Workshop
"Total Alignment::Opening the Heart Center"

"Don't analyze" she said, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't just paint, especially with kids talking to me and dog barking in the same room. I should have painted right when I got up. I don't think it would have made any difference. I still can't paint FREE or FEARLESS. I painted my heart as instructed and then didn't have a clue what to do. I knew I was suppose to just paint...but what? So I started putting random colors down and watched the way they mixed with the color next to it. I set the timer for 30 minutes and tried to just cover the paper (18 x 24 inches). I'm supposed to paint like a 5 year old and she had mentioned lines, so I painted some squiggly lines. I still had 10 minutes left and the paper was covered, so I started on the next layer. Thought I would paint a black frame around it since I hadn't used black in the background. Then boxes just came to mind, kinda like my heart (where I'm supposed to be painting from) is boxed in. Now the right side looks kind of bare so I thought for a minute, which I'm not supposed to do, about what to add, flowers! Added a few swirly flowers. Even though the painting isn't supposed to have meaning and I'm only to focus on the process, I can't help but interpret the painting to mean "Rosy on the outside, blocked on the inside." Who knew painting from the heart could be so hard. My mind tells me I need a direction and a plan, my heart is blank! Click the button on the right to check out Connie's Blog. Total Alignment started today and will run all week, but the workshop will remain on her blog for future reference. Let me know if you check it out...she is too darn adorable. I'm sure you will love it.

30 Minute Painting Exercise
from Wyanne's "Paint Free" e-course

This painting is from Wyanne's E-course "Paint Free" and this is a 30 minute painting exercise. I was to paint something from my childhood that I loved and I choose candy...I know, weird huh? Well, big surprise...didn't know what to paint. So without a lot of explanation, this is what came out! Not too happy with it, but I'm focusing on the process...right?

Second part of 30 Minute Painting Exercise
"Candy 2"



Yikes...I know! I don't know where this came from or what happened. It looks like a scary Picasso self portrait or something. This is totally not something I would ever paint. The is the second part of the painting above. Needed to paint for another 30 minutes and this is what I ended up with. I laugh every time I look at it! I guess this is happy me after eating candy!

I'm happy I made time to paint lately, even if I'm not so happy with the results. I know all this playing like a 5 year old will help my heart and hands become one...eventually!