![]() Just this weekend, I was gifted a weekend to myself. Hubby headed off to a blokes weekend in the country and I had the house to myself. As our little fluffy mate passed away over three months ago, there was no one relying on me or waiting for me. I was as free as a bird to do as I pleased. The monthly paint-out had been postponed due to inclement weather. This had been my only commitment over the weekend. After heading out for some extra art supplies I headed back to my studio with the heater blasting and started on a project I had not had time to do for months. The panels I had purchased had sat there on my shelving teasing me every time I went into the art shed. They would look at me and I at them, wishing I had the time to take them off the shelf, unwrap them and then cover them with creamy delicious acrylic paint. I started slowly on my idea using paper and working on my idea for the eight panels. Suddenly two hours had slipped by as I worked on a small 20cm x 20cm piece. I was happy with the outcome. Finally, the next day I set up in the garden room with panels, paint, water, brushes, palettes and paper towels, I was ready. I could now start on my project giving it my full attention. Throughout the process, I mixed an array of colours, used a variety of mark-making tools and skimmed books for the right words to jump out at me for the collage. It was exhilarating, to say the least. I didn't stop for a coffee or a break, I was so focused and in my zone. After many hours, I was finished, it was time to sit back and let them dry so they could be varnished. The gift of a weekend to enjoy creating was invigorating, peaceful and filled with what I love to do. I think you need one of these weekends once and a while. How would you spend the gift of a weekend to yourself? Leave your comment below. Featured artwork: Unscaled Peaks and Uncharted Waters
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![]() When I picked up painting again, I went straight into acrylic paint. It was fun and forgiving and I enjoyed the medium. Over the last couple of years, I have taken lessons in watercolour, pastels and gouache. I love various mediums, given I do mixed media, that is a good thing! For the last twelve months, I have been enjoying the medium of gouache. So what is gouache, I hear you ask. Gouache is a water-based paint not dissimilar to watercolour, it is however, matte, opaque and creamy. Being similar to watercolour, it is more opaque, which means you can layer from dark to light and correct mistakes. I love how the medium quickly dries to a matte finish, making it ideal for photographing, and scanning for prints and doesn't have that shine. As I have been venturing out on en plein air excursions, gouache is an ideal medium to take out and about. It is compact enough for a small palette, dries reasonably quickly and can be activated with water. I enjoy being able to sketch and then paint while I am out, sometimes in my sketchbook and sometimes on watercolour paper. These en plein air paintings are then reference guides for future work. The fact I can paint in the colours of the day is ideal to capture the moment, the shadows, the highlights and the essence of the session. Although you can paint larger paintings using gouache, it is often associated with smaller works from an A3 - A5 painting. Smaller work on A3 to A5 is ideal when you have limited time and space, making gouache the perfect medium. The artwork you see here is a small artwork on paper using gouache. This was done with an initial light translucent wash and then layered with a more creamy gouache texture to give depth to the piece. Have you heard of gouache or do you use it? Leave your comments below, I would love to see your comments. Featured Artwork: The outback shed ![]() I can sit and while away hours lost in paint, brush and thoughts. Often, I get lost in the art, conjuring up stories or scenarios that fit with a scene. Take the piece pictured to the left. I imagined myself on this secluded beach, nestled in the rocks with a book, the sun glistening on my skin and the gentle lap of the ocean coming up to the shoreline. I transport myself to that place, if only for the time I am creating, even though it may be raining and windy outside. Some people create art for their pleasure, a form of relaxing, rejuvenation of the mind and soul and a pleasure entirely for themselves. There is no intention for the completed artwork, only for the moment. Hobbyist's create for the joy of a hobby that keeps them active, connected and enjoying their pursuits. Often,joining a group with likeminded creatives. There is also the part time or full time artist who creates art for not only the joy but for the purpose of selling their works. Some are creating for the purpose of their work to be hung in a gallery or museum. Ask yourself, am I creating this piece for: it to be in a museum? it to be in a gallery? to be sold? to hang on my wall at home? me to have no expectation? me to enjoy the time relaxing, having fun and forgetting what is going on in my life? There is no right or wrong to any of the reasons we create art. When I am in the studio or out an about creating, I don't have anyone in mind, I don't create with the intention to put the piece up for sale. I create for the joy, the experieince and the sheer enjoyment and pleasure of creating. I personally think, for me, it takes the pressue off, it allows you the freedom to explore, break the rules, have fun, create without expectation. If someone loves what I have created enough to purchase it, take it to their home and enjoy it, that is all I can ask for beyond my pleasure. Are you a creator or an admirer? Leave your comments below. ![]() En plein air, a French phrase meaning “in the open air,” describes the process of painting a landscape outdoors. Artists venture into natural settings, to capture the play of light, colour, and atmosphere from nature. When I started back painting in 2020, often we would grab a couple of camping tables and sit in the backyard and paint our beautiful outlook. I forgot how much I loved being in fresh air, sun shining and being at one with nature. Last year I had planned to start running en plein air mornings in the local area. With personal illness and family matters, it went on the backburner, until now! After a few promptings from some of my classes, I realised now was the time to execute these monthly jaunts into nature. Funny, the website page had sat there for the best part of 12 months waiting for the right time. I am looking forward to the first one coming up in just a few weeks. The artwork above is from the day I went out and scouted around for some lovely scenery. Using a sketchbook, pencils and some Gouache I was able to capture the day in my sketchbook. The colours, the shadows and the feeling. It was wonderful to be there amongst the bird life, the chitter chattering and the different bugs that make ever so slight noise. Every now and the, the feet on sand of the runners would break the sounds of the bush. It is a fantastic experience and something I think is great to try. Any level of artist can enjoy a paint out in nature. You can take what is in front of you and put your spin on it, your interpretation of what you see. You don't have to have a swag of supplies, you can take minimal supplies or go all out. I have put together a comprehensive list of what you could take with you. Obviously, you can be as thrifty with your supplies as you wish. If you would like to take a look at the list and even join me you can find out more here. Do you do paint outs? What do you take as your essentials? Share below your best tips for en plein air supplies. ![]() Acrylic paint was my way back into art and I loved it that's for sure. I signed up for some on-line art classes during lock down and was exposed to the world of mixed media. This changed everything for me and my art. Also, attending art classes where you could experiment and use different mediums opened my eyes and hands to different textures and styles. So what is mixed media I hear you ask. Mixed media is the combination of two or more art mediums into one piece of art. Some examples would be painting a watercolour picture and then adding pen or ink to the works or using acrylic paint and then adding oil pastels to the piece. Of course, you can have multiple mediums in one piece to get your desired effect. I tend to use soft oil pastels and or charcoal after I have completed the acrylic artwork. I find adding another medium gives you some amazing affects you can't necessarily achieve using the one medium. Mixed media can be used on all genres of art whether you love abstract, realism, expressionism or impressionism. Vincent van Gough before his early death had been experimenting with colour combinations and mixed media, although it hadn't been named at that stage. Mixed media for me is a new and exciting way to find expression and texture in my artwork, particularly as my art is inspired by nature and nature is full of texture and colour. ![]() I grew up in what was once a sleepy town on the outskirts of Perth. Our house was surrounded by bushland with a peppering of houses until the development of the land started. Our primary school had a special "Australia Garden" with a man-made creek, rockpools and native flora and fauna. It was an ideal surrounding for kids who played in the bushland, built secret cubby houses and hideouts. I think this is where my love of nature truly began. The photo you see here is the bushland that still exists near my parents' house. The land has been preserved to continue the growth of wattle, wildflowers, banksia, and eucalypt trees. I now live in a beautiful part of Victoria with our house backing on to public open space which has beautiful bushland, wetlands and bird life. I don't know how I would leave this place, it is so beautiful and inspiring. I am inspired by nature in my artwork, whether it be landscape, abstract or florals. Nature is perfectly imperfect. No two flowers are the same, an aging rose is as beautiful as a newly formed bud. A walking track can take you to the most beautiful parts of a bush or the most treacherous. A flower can bring back a memory and a smile to your face. You can change someone's day by sharing some nature with them, even if it is a small, handpicked posy from your garden. You can even have nature in your home every single day of the year with a piece of artwork inspired by nature. |
AuthorLee Cummins is a mixed media artist, workshop and art class facilitator. Archives
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