Continuing with textured surfaces

Never get dictated by former plans!

I am absolutely loving this #5 canvas.  The process of construction and deconstruction thrilled me once again!  Can't help but give myself a "like" for the courage I took to deconstruct, just to find that moment of satisfaction - a guide I use to complete a painting made out of imagination.

First deconstruction happened when an overworked surface was totally ruined, no way to be revived.  I had to stretch a new canvas on the stretchers which I specifically ordered from my framer.  I was happier to use my own familiar canvas which has the durability for the mixed media.

Again, I overworked the background by putting in too much paints too carelessly.  It was quicker to give it a shower, but gosh! some gels were rubbed off which freaked me out.  To my surprise though, when it was dried overnight, some amazing marks appeared with the residual paints! 

The "circle flowers" in my mind did not come out quite right.  They were shutting one another out.  And I remembered I wanted a lighter tone for this piece.

Lightened the background, also lightened the middle patch which took on a new look.  Also gave a good wash off the green on the one at the edge under the running tap.  But still the background was not alright.  

I took the risk to construct another textured area to create a visual link, but I felt I was creating a new distance.

Added a new circle to get them closer.  But something wrong with the big circle ...

The painting continues.  

Fewer textured surfaces, fewer "guidlines"!

Another piece of work. Another challenge. Another type of fun in drawing from imagination! This #4 piece took me a long time over the past week to bring in a next step each time I paused and examined. 

Again, my mind fresh in a morning spotted some marks that seemed workable, so I quickly put down the bag and got on with it before the eyes missed them, and before the cleaning lady came in (as if without the mess and drips, nothing would work). 

Just didn't realize looking at this series, I'm actually creating my little "garden" again after "Homescapes" my solo, and I haven't even started my real one at home!

Love the textures & marks so far. Hope the following layers won't spoil them. 

Carefree vs carefully-free!!

Smoothness on textures - continues

The challenge of adopting the "making big' mindset of working from a 6"x6" paper to a 3'x4' canvas continued.  To know, but not exactly knowing what I was making, I simply had to let go.  "Eliza go for it!"  Within half hour of quick layering some paints and gels, the ground work was done.  Adding in the colors gave a first definition of the painting.

... Came back to studio the morning, the WIP I did the night before caught my eyes. It's like a girl waving at me. Bliss!

I had to move fast to transfer the impression I had in mind onto the canvas, or else I would be trapped by the textures!  To opt for a balance in pictorial elements, I had to draw textures on smooth planes and smoothness on textured paints.  I finally overcame the pyschological hurdle that could've dictated the subject - yay!!

Textures to express smoothness. How far can it go?

New work finally takes its very first steps!  A continuation of the previous textured Bubbling series.

Can smooth surfaces be textured?  This thought has stayed in my mind, but the trying out of the idea at the beginning of year in small scales and watercolor led to a whole new page itself - new series, solo show & fun great sale.  No regret though, coming back to this one in bigger scales, the expressions are much enriched in layering and mark making.

New curating experiences!

Oh my!  Some six months' gone! I didn't even realize I haven't blogged here although I have had some very exciting art experiences - I had the privilege of using the space of a private gallery to curate some art shows at total liberty.  Check out my Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/elizachengfineart

The casual fun watercolor series gave birth to my solo exhibition:  Homescapes

An extension to a weekend mini art fair

Joint show with another female artist to show my illustrative series:  Illustrated Memoirs

Curating the show for a watercolorist

Mounting my students works to celebrate my 15 years' art teaching at my own studio

A quickie - indulging once more!

There's so much in my head I want to paint or to record.  Quickest easiest way is watercolor.  It helps me loosen up too, before I really go all the way to experiment.

A quickie - indulging one more time!

2013 new beginning

My day-off on 31.12.12 was fun with watercolor, just meant for fun, but how addicting it was! Since then, the mark-making has been craving for more experiments. Hmm ... a new and exciting beginning :)