One thing that has amazed me as I’ve worked on my art daily is the fact that I’m working through my fear of trying new things. It’s not that scary anymore. So I might have to nix a piece I’ve been working on- big deal. I’ve learned some things from it no matter what. The best part is that I’ve never even thrown a piece away like I was always afraid I would- I’ve always been able to salvage any bad pieces somehow.
Anyway, I was doing some technique searches on the internet yesterday, trying to come up with different ways to work with oils. I found a completely unrelated topic on “drip painting” and a demo video that showed an artist using black paint and what looked like a palette knife to drip the paint on the canvas. If you’d like to watch the video, here’s a link.
It’s pretty awesome.
Well, I was inspired. I’ve never been good at drawing things, especially faces. But I talked myself into trying this technique, telling myself that I wasn’t going for realism. It didn’t have to be perfect.
I don’t have a palette knife, so as usual, I searched around my house for a substitute. I tried two things- a dinner knife and a mechanical pencil. Neither dripped very much onto the canvas paper I was using, so I had to just touch it to the paper and basically draw rather than drip. It’s funny how the techniques I’m trying to practice end up unrecognizable by the end because I’ve had to improvise for one reason or another.
I did 4 paintings with pencil and acrylic paint. Here are the results.
As you can see, I have a fondest for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Well, more specifically, the evil fairy from the movie, Maleficent. She’s the ultimate Disney Villain. But that’s another story for another day.
The top painting is her castle, the Forbidden Mountain. Then of course there is her, looking more like Tyrion Lanister than Maleficent, but that’s ok for a first attempt, I guess, right?
The bottom one is Sleeping Beauty’s castle with the thorns overgrown around it.
I added the purple color with some watered down acrylic in a spray bottle. I love the atmosphere it lends to the pieces.
I have to say, for a woman who doesn’t have a lot of faith in her drawing abilities, I didn’t do too bad…
These are wonderful! You should speak about your art in a more positive way!
:) Thanks Virginia! I’m always a little nervous sharing new techniques I’ve done… maybe in a year I’ll think of myself as an expert in this drip technique. Gotta keep practicing!!
It can be fun to try other artist’s techniques we find on the internet…but it’s even better to find techniques that inspire you to find your own way. I think you did WAY better than ‘not too bad’!
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase” (Martin Luther King Jr)
Keep your faith
Thanks Carol! Even though I’m working at overcoming my fears, some of it is always there in the background. I’ve learned that you just have to work through it. Besides, the fun I have outweighs the fear. :)
That’s the right attitude! I just read today’s Daily Inspiration from Martha Beck:
“Every time life brings you to a crossroads, from the tiniest to the most immense, go toward love, not away from fear. Think of every choice in terms of “What would thrill and delight me?” rather than “What will keep my fear—or the events, people, and things I fear—at bay?”
These are very, very cool. ;-)
Thanks Kasey!!