This was really just being playful with some watercolour yellows, Payne's grey, some salt and a little burnt umber acrylic ink. I was inspired by an art class, of which I would only attend half (I had to leave for a monthly blood test), and by memories of the sooty sunsets when I was growing up in industrial England in the 1960s.
I tried two things new to me. First, I painted some yellow onto which I sprinkled salt, then overpainted with Payne's grey in places, onto which I did ditto. The result was the gorgeous (to me) patterns at upper right. Second, I placed a little of the ink over a salted surface to give the building/chimney/you decide at middle left, and its reflection. When I rubbed the salt off, it left tiny gaps in the ink. The paper is A4 sized.
Much fun was had here, once I had got over the idea that I might just be wasting expensive paint and paper. That is a hard feeling to master.
Written by
BrentW
Artist
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Trying different ways of using paint and other materials is so satisfying. Unless you try and experiment you'll never know what the result will be. Your experiment today reminds me a bit like the effect of tie dying. I loved seeing the way the colours merged.
You *should* love it … it’s an explosion of color, and the upper right area has some exciting movement! So, great experiment! (I tend to be timid with color, and envy the freedom you allowed yourself here ... )
Hi oh yes face book I'm on there but don't go on much I use it mainly for market place selling stuff lol it's grey sky here today ☹️me and pixie are watching TV in bed he was up early came in wet how's your boy 😴😺
I can't say I have sold any of my work on Facebook, but I really don't try hard. I use FB mostly for keeping in touch with people -- especially a few students whose theses I am still supervising. My boy (and his partner) are now full of fresh haddock served at mouse body temperature. That is their daily breakfast, and they apparently love it. Right now they are playing hide-and-seek.
Oh bless them, pixie came up to me wet do I dried him with tissues he wasn't too wet heard him.screaming he's asleep now, I must ring dentist got a throb maby my usual nuralgia but feel throbbish I've got the elec fire on to take the cold air off were in a small room may try nod a bit like he is I never got back to sleep when he woke me when it still dark he looked out the window and jumped on me few times at one point he was stood on my making bread lol then looked out window I'm letting him out in dark anymore after he brought mouse in through window and eat the back end 🤮😺hope you have good day and warmer than is here hope we get more sun soon, this was pixie yesterday he couldn't wait to jump in my place lol🌞xx
When I went to an art club, over 60's our mantra was. There are no mistakes only happy accidents, also it is only paint and paper so enjoy. I went to that club until 2 years ago, only left because two of us were paying fees. The others either moved or died, but I still keep in touch. After lockdown we hope to meet for an afternoon painting together in somebody's house.
I do try, Floxxy, and have sold some. However, I don't try too hard; I don't want the stress of running a business.
My wife, who hooks rugs, a few months ago thought seriously about setting up a side hustle selling hooking kits. She quickly found that she finds her joy from hooking the rugs, not from any business aspect. I have taken my cue from her. I shall stick to such Facebook pages as "Art for Sale in the UK" and enjoy the occasional sale.
I am hoping the local art society will start up again now that we are being allowed a little more freedom. If so, I shall join. They have an annual exhibition that I might enter.
But I love the feedback I get here on HU. It is so encouraging, even when I have produced what I feel is a failure.
I just put this one up for sale on a Facebook page. I shall see what happens.
Meanwhile, though, I am wondering what I might paint next. My painting of Harlech castle was an abject failure. I might try it from a different, more unusual viewpoint.
A Lovely Picture, some Very Good effects too. A few ideas, for you...
Have you tried Different Types of Salt.... I use Sea Salt a lot, you can leave it 'On', Brush it Off- partially, or fully- dried. Another 'interesting effect' is Soap (detergent) Bubbles, literally mix the Paint WITH say Washing Up Liquid. These Bubbles can be Left to Dry, Burst or- a 'bit of both.'
Have you Tried Chalk, or the More 'Interesting', Oil Pastels. A bit 'like' Crayons but, you can blend the colours far easier- you Can use both but be careful, the Pastels can be 'Overwhelmed'. (Incidentally Both Wax Pastels And particularly Crayons, can give excellent 'Wax Resist' pictures.)
I have had, shall I say, Considerable Fun making my own Stencils and Templates. If, for example, you want to Quickly 'draw' a Castle shape, make a Template for it. Equally both Christmas, and Easter, Boxes can be made using Templates too.
Another Beautiful Gift is a Handmade Card, Draw, Stencil or even cut out, your Own Beautiful Picture. Alternatively look 'On Line', in Magazines or through- your own Portfolio. (remember that Still Life drawing? The one Aunt Agnes 'did' with you? That pile of 'Silly Old Drawings', from Uncle Sid? Grandma's collection of Still Art?)
Another Technique that I Sometimes Use..... Take a Large-ish piece of paper (acrylic paper is good, normal will Do). Lay the Paper Down, on a flat surface and pick up a Pencil. Use one that is Part Worn, nicely rounded, Just start 'Putting lines', LIGHTLY onto the paper- some straight, come curved, some shaded, some 'just' outlines, all in Random places, across the paper. Gradually an 'Image' will slowly appear.... don't Force it, it Will Come. Once your picture, starts to, 'Take Form' slowly start Firming Up some of the Lines (if you 'get' more than one Image, then choose.)
Some that I Did, a while ago now, became- 'An Old Wall, Possibly A Border Post, Complete With Stockade'- 'Sea Creatures, Viewed From Above', - 'A Power Boat, On The Sea'.
I've 'Waffled On' quite enough now BrentW, on these Pages anyway. I will Explain 'Other Techniques', to you, if you wish, in a P(rivate) M(essage). I Quite Enjoy 'Free Form' Art... especially getting, things like, Perspectives... All Wrong!.
Many thanks for your long and detailed reply, Andrew. I am pleased that you like my painting. Every so often I produce one that I like too -- and those are generally when I am painting at my loosest.
My father is an artist, and was tutored by John Blockley. I admire John's work too, with his dark, brooding and rugged Welsh mountains and glowering skies. I know I have been somewhat inspired by him (whenever I visit my father, I spend ages looking at those paintings of John's that he owns).
I also very much like Ann Blockley's work, though I know her style is for the moment well beyond my reach. Nevertheless, I have spent hours poring over her books. Likewise Shirley Trevenar.
I very much like blooms, and have made them part of my own style. I also like salt, and have tried many different sorts. Frankly, my favourite comes in a grinder I bought from Aldi! I have tried painting with bubbles, but really did not enjoy it.
I am taking some online art classes, with a view especially to improving my sketching. My perspective is improving slowly. My next challenge is dealing with tonal values. It does not help that I am aphantasic -- that is, I cannot think in pictures, instead thinking almost entirely in words. I found a Facebook group that encourages artists with this problem.
As an aside, I for many years collected stamps, especially those of GB George V from the First World War. During this time the stamps were printed in many subtly different shades. I struggled to identify them. I mean, really struggled. I showed my collection to somebody with far better colour perception than me. She frowned and told me that I had them in quite the wrong order, my 'shades' being thoroughly mixed up and not forming the gradational series I had hoped. So, I abandoned philately and sold my collection.
I hope this gives some indication of where I am coming from and the challenges I face. I like the idea of drawing 'random' lines (though they are doubtless rarely truly random) and seeing what develops. I might try that, but on watercolour paper.
Meanwhile, any advice you might give regarding tonal values would be a huge help. I find those really difficult, even if I follow professional advice and squint my eyes to simplify the scene.
What an Interesting Reply! I have 'Pondered' your Words, especially regarding your inability to see- or is it imagine- colours. I do have few suggestions, for you to consider...
I don't know if you have ever 'converted' pictures, from Back & White- to Colour, or Vice Versa. This is often 'done' using Colour Wheels, let me explain....Take two Round pieces, of card, about four-to six- inches across (that's about 10 to 15 cm, if you need to know that). Next divide the Circles into eight individual Segments. Colour In, one of the 'Rounds' with the Rainbow Colours (red, orange, green, blue, indigo, violet), plus silver & black putting a Grey, of the same INTENSITY on the other Round. By Comparing, the two, you can APPROXIMATE the equivalents. (some colour intensities can appear similar, this is where Personal Knowledge, comes in. The SKY is unlikely to be Green, the grass, Orange or the sea Silver.)
From 'there' it's a question of Experimentation, to a large extent, so just enjoy yourself.
AndrewT
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A shorter walk today