Aero 1... the saga continues....

You would think by now I would stop being surprised by my inability to be consistent. That seems to be my signature in art... no signature at all. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to create several pieces of work at the same time only to have them look like they were painted by several hands and usually there is a sharp learning curve on each. And so Aero 1 was born.

I like it. 

I do.

But it's not the same as the other two. 

And I knew it going in. But I couldn't help myself.

I just couldn't.

'sigh'

Anyway... at least with this aberration I think I have figured out the way I will approach the next projects that might ensure a bit more consistency. 

It starts with the computer... the medium of choice for the modern illustrator. I've worked in illustration for years....(usually in a constant state of irritation that leads to violent fantasies of wanting to beat the so called art director with his or her own arm but that's beside the point) and I've picked up quite a love of Adobe. I find it uber-relaxing to create in Illustrator as it tends to inspire me into a visual poetry of a sort... a pairing down of the work into the most simplistic and elegant shapes. It turned out to be entirely necessary for the bubbles...who knew the little buggers would be such sticklers for perfection? So the sketch begins here with a simplifying of reality.

Then I took the time to work out the palette and gradient in Photoshop.

Then the fun began as I started to work out ways to make it interesting on the canvas.

I think that was what sold this whole technique for me. The marriage of planning and spontaneity.

Truth be told... I have an unnecessary fear of using the computer with painting. The man who calls himself my father is an artist too (the best one in the Midwest apparently, according to him, but that's beside the point) and he wholly relied on it for the better part of my childhood. I've always considered that the static, over-thought out work was a direct result of his computer usage. That alone has always scared me from relying on it too much. But I am starting to get over it. I will just try to find ways to keep the work fresh and spontaneous while adding a bit of structure. Turns out that it's the artist that creates the mediocrity... not the computer, who would have thought?

Anyway... I think this is the way I'm going to go from now on with this series. Illustrator will add a bit of consistency and discipline. Photoshop will help me suss out more interesting color and texture schemes.  And I will add the chaos in the painting process...my specialty. Maybe I might get a consistent series yet... maybe.... oh who knows... 'sigh'.

First Incendia 1...now Atlantis 1...the saga continues...

My Latest Painting- Atlantis 1

It's official... it's a series. Sniff... my first one. It's so cute. So full of potential. My palms are sweating at the potential failure. You see, a series is hard. A series demands a certain amount of consistency. I am not consistent. Not at all... Nope... not even a little bit. Anything that carries over from one painting to another is sheer subconscious or sheer luck depending on who's looking. But now I'm attempting it. It's nerve wracking. Crap. 

So...

My first attempt at this painting failed miserably ( at a live painting of course... more embarrassing that way) and my intention was to show the before and after of a failed first attempt. However I became overzealous with the gesso... and painted over it before I took a picture. So instead,  I thought I might give a tiny glimpse into my process... if that's what one can call it. At least the process I am trying to implement for this series... that word again... ick!

 It all starts with a sketch... well, this one did cause I screwed the first one up so well. That's when I bother to work out the kinks before wasting more time. I am the very epitome of discipline...

Next I fling random color onto the canvas...

Next is a layer of abstract glazes... this is supposed to have a water feel so I chose to create a feeling of bubbles... well actually, Trevor, my husband decided bubbles as I suddenly panicked at the thought of a series and couldn't figure out what to do next.... Panic is an integral part of all my processes.

Then the final step... the silhouettes. This was the problem the first time. Unlike trees, I was unfamiliar as to how to take on the underwater plants. They had to balance well and be different... a much more complex composition as opposed to Incendia 1( the tree one for all of you who don't remember names...not unlike the artist herself ). As you can see...I stayed pretty close to the sketch but of course things need to change in paint. The balance changes with color and sometimes the art just wants it different.

Now for all of you out there who just tuned in to my blog and have no idea what the first one looked like from my last blog...Or for those who just can't imagine the two together in a ...nope not going to say the word again...
 Here they are side by side... 

Now it's time to do one another. And another. And I think I am going to throw up now. Maybe that'll be the next series. "Artist with Weak Stomache 1-13"