Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Different Studies of Pink Tulips


Pink X Two
8x4" oil on canvas
fracturing demo

Artist Note.
I have been experimenting
with painting the tulips 
on different surfaces 
with different media. 
The top one in oil was
a quick demo on 
the fracturing technique.

I used alcohol ink on the one below.
Still a work in process. 
I want to keep it abstract
and am looking forward to 
doing more with it. 
I am still discovering 
what acohol ink can and cannot do.
I enjoy its unpredictability.

X three
 alchohol ink on yupo.

Below is another WIP.
I like working on the 
YES canvas surface.
It takes all types of wet media.
Watercolor lifts off cleanly,
but unlike paper
it feels slightly scratchy 
and has a tooth.

X four.
watercolor on Yes Canvas

I don't know if or when 
I will finish
any of these paintings.
Does it matter?
I enjoy doing them
and like
  having a stash of 
unfinished paintings to 
nibble on when I
feel like it.


37 comments:

  1. Thank you for today's joy! Maybe I will show some experiments instead of waiting until I think they are perfect, (in my mine's eye only).

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    1. It would be great if you did show some W I P or experiments. . We are all on the same journey with paint. Curiosity is part of it. It helps when you realize the audience which matters is the supportive blogging friends. I think they truly care. I know I feel a bond with the blogs I visit
      Anyway... Does perfection exist? Or is that subjective too?
      That's a fabulous follower vendor painting you just posted. Love the simple shapes.

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  2. All are pretty pink ladies. Sometimes I am able to go through unfinished paintings or paintings I held onto but really wasn't satisfied with and I cut them down to ACEO's because there is always one or two areas that still stand out. It's a fun thing to do.

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    1. What a great idea to cut the best area in them down. I could mount them on a larger board even and paint a border. My mind is off and running.
      I enjoyed reading about your finds to go on your ebay business. What an interesting life you lead, Carol.

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  3. Dear Julie enjoy seeing your tulips. The one with alcohol ink looks so dreamy. I have never worked with these inks. Are they more challenging than watercolor on Yupo? Looks like you can lift them off the paper too. So glad you shared all three of these works. Have a great finish to the week. Hugs!

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    1. I think you would enjoy Alcohol inks, Debbie. I bought a small introductory set with a red, blue, yellow, brown and white. Rubbing alcohol is the cleaner and diluter. Works on tile and foil - any non absorbent surface. I like the yupo. It is more for the decorative side of the arts and that makes it fun. I painted on a mirror leaving space between the colors and it was very dramatic. My daughter snatched it up right away.

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  4. Oh my word, Julie; these are so beautiful - all of them - I'm mesmerised by their beauty and your amazing skill. Incredible!

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    1. You are so generous - bless you.
      I was admiring your sketch of the musicians at the Portrait
      Gallery. You captured so much and I really liked seeing the paintings on the back wall and the audience's legs ... too.

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  5. The important part is you are having fun! Experimentation is a good thing. But my favorite is still the oil. Delicate, just like a tulip.

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    1. Thanks Helen - Happy you like it. The colors were softer than I usually do and that was interesting.
      Hope you are at least "thinking" painting...

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  6. Today after almost two months I resume brushes...I hope resume visit blog friends but coming back jet lag was very difficult to face. I enjoy your experiments...Your results are always inspiring!Tulips are a sweet symbol of springtime and your painting are so fresh as this season.

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    1. I have missed you, Rita, but happy to know you were with Valentina and family. So important.
      I enjoyed your beautiful blog post - not only the flowers, but also the words you wrote

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  7. I love all three of them, Julie. Because of changes in media or surfaces you have a variety of results. I'm often surprised at how the same subject can look so different due to the choices one makes. All three make me feel like Spring is definitely here!

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    1. Oh Carol, your new abstract is truly FABULOUS. A real jaw dropper. Do you plan on doing a series?
      Thanks for the kind words and I agree about how different the same subject can look with choices made but I find the media I use has the most impact. I enjoy the surprise of how the lack of control with alcohol ink forces me to respond differently. How about when you cut out the paper for your collages? Is it a whole different mind set?
      I look at what Libby Fife is doing with hand painted papers - great stuff.
      and nothing like her paintings which I liked too. So the freedom to experiment is strong within us and I love the way we can share and celebrate it all..

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  8. I like seeing all your WIPs on different surfaces. Each gives its own different look and feel. I am hoping to try alcohol inks soon, so it is nice to see you are working with them too.

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    1. I think you will be amazed at the lack of control the alcohol inks bring to the table . I see artists putting the ink in felt tip pens and that is most likely what you can have fun with but I use the bottle tip to put it down and dropping it on top is another. I tried brushes and what a laugh that gave me as I watched the brush fall apart. I am interested enough to keep going with them.
      I really like your still life. Don't often see you do one so it was a real treat.

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  9. I'm still blown away with the results of your fracturing technique. The tulips are so fresh and beautiful. Congratulations on another winner!

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  10. What a lovely thing to say - thanks, Sue.
    It was neat seeing you did three paintings of tulips and all with different background colors. You gave me an idea to try the purple with the red. I loved that combination.

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  11. I had to google alcohol ink and Yes Canvas,I always learn something new from you, Julie. I love the results in all three paintings especially the way you keep the beautiful colors and expressive qualities in each. The alcohol ink on yupo gives great textures! I love the bright and fresh feel of "x four" and the oil is gorgeous with your fracturing technique. Love the light on the tulips!!

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    1. I appreciate your close observation, Celia. I do the same when I visit artists work. I was glued to looking at all your color changes in the white callas. And yet they are obviously "white"
      You are a master of watercolor.

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  12. Your work is always fantastic Julie but I particularly like this post as tulips seem to resonate with my artistic soul. I love their structure and yet they hold a vulnerable quality too. You have captured their querks beatifully.

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    1. Thanks for the neat comment, Laura.
      mentioning quirks...I love the green hats on top of eggplants and I think the way you painted yours made my day.
      So many artists put all their focus into the purple shape, but you gave both the attention they deserved.

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  13. You are on a pink and green roll! And experimenting too which looks fun. I looked at the Yes canvas too. Have you tried the thin boards at all? Looking to see if they warped or not.
    Libby

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    1. On a roll!! - Sure am - guess what? Just yesterday I was given a pink calla lily plant AND more pink roses.
      I use the sheets from the Yes pad and if I get something I like then I glue it down to a board.
      I find I feel freer to experiment that way. For some reason if I am painting on a more expensive support I try like heck to "save" it.
      No experimenting - no growth!

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  14. I love how you share your process! Today is no exception! This is a good reminder to experiment with other materials!

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  15. Nice of you to visit Kaethe, thanks. I told Libby, above, for me not to experiment would mean no growth.
    It is individual isn't it? I have to keep pushing because I am not as fortunate as you to have a mentor as brilliant as Stanley Goldstein. I am in awe of his work.

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  16. So glad to see these. I painted tulips today also, but not with the same success. Love the different looks the same artist can achieve with different mediums and different surfaces.

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  17. Having fun is the most important thing, not feeling like you need to finishing something. :)

    I'm hoping our tulips come up but not holding my breath since with the kids playing in front of the house, their soccer ball often ends up being kicked into our garden where the tulips are :/

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  18. I love all three of these tulips Julie! The alcohol ink on yupo is beautiful...I would love to see it in person!!!

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    1. It is very good to see your lovely portrait, Hilda and am happy to know the therapy is helping

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  19. I like the top one, so subtle. Thanks for visit and comment. Yes a friend of mine who knows most about computers says that many people have been badly affected by windows 10.

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    1. Thank YOU Barbara. It is a real treat to visit your blog and be taken on a lovely visit to a British spot. great images too!

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  20. Replies
    1. Hello Hani, I really enjoyed seeing so many wonderful watercolors on your new post.

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  21. Very beautiful floral painting Julie, I love your pink tulips !!!

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  22. The pink tulips in oil are my favorite, but the alcohol ink is looking very interesing. I almost tried alcohol ink in the past, but then decided not to add to my long list of art supplies. Maybe I will one day.

    Nibbling on paintings...I love that.

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  23. Thanks Stelios - what a beautiful view from that window. Have to say I like the way you painted the window glass. Hope all is well.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie