A Quiet Space

[Donna T]

I didn't know what to paint so I rolled on one layer of acrylic after another and built up some texture. A palette knife was used and some tissue paper too to blot on paint. At one point I lost the abstract feeling because I defined landscape forms with a brush so I obliterated them and rolled on more layers. I'm not sure what to think of this - it's not quite so rough in person. 9x9 acrylic on cold press watercolor paper

 

[Enyaw]

Tough one.. close to one value

 

[Grapes]

Donna, interesting experiment if you may me call this wonderful painting an 'experiment'. Amazing what you can do!!
I see there a sea scape. Perfect painting!

 

[Donna T]

Wayne, I agree it doesn’t have much going on value-wise. Every time I tried to add contrast I lost the quiet feel. I didn’t have much control over the outcome but that’s what I need. Once I start defining edges I get in trouble.

Grapes, this is what happens when I mess around with no destination in mind. It’s quite crude but it feels good to not care about the outcome sometimes. Thanks for finding a seascape!

 

[Jade]

Mm. I like it. Looks like the "water" is mirroring the sky...

 

[Grapes]

@Jade exactly .. that's what I was trying to say.

 

[JennieJo]

I didn't know what to paint so I rolled on one layer of acrylic after another and built up some texture. A palette knife was used and some tissue paper too to blot on paint. At one point I lost the abstract feeling because I defined landscape forms with a brush so I obliterated them and rolled on more layers. I'm not sure what to think of this - it's not quite so rough in person. 9x9 acrylic on cold press watercolor paper

View attachment 51678

Thanks for the description Donna. There are some tools that release the need for structure better than others. I like the way it seems to flow., stop, flow ...

 

[Jo Castillo]

You know I know nothing about abstracts. I love the colors in this and I see my New Mexico or Arizona desert and bluffs. Mmmm, good. I'm homesick in a good way now.

 

[Donna T]

Jennie Jo, I like the phrase you used: release the need for structure. Sometimes it’s hard to get the point of a piece across when you’re trying too hard to follow all the usual rules. Thanks.

Hi Jo, I used a red oxide color that I haven’t played with much so maybe that’s where the desert feel comes from. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Enyaw]

I appreciate what you are doing but I personally can’t make an abstraction in the nothing vein. I keep trying to get more of a lean toward abstraction but even that I find difficult. Your studies will take you there as you are honest with yourself and question all. Keep turning them out.

 

[Donna T]

I find abstraction very difficult too - especially abstracting the landscape. As soon as I define a mountain or a tree all of the rules of perspective come into play and I feel obligated to follow them - and the abstraction vanishes. I think I will keep going with this quiet space idea since that's what I seem to be craving. If I start with an idea or a feeling maybe I'll have something to work toward instead of drifting around aimlessly. I appreciate your thoughts on this, Wayne.