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Friday, November 11, 2011

A Lighter Shade of Pale

This week I tried something a little different.

Thinking in Pictures

Thinking in Pictures 30 X 40 acrylic, ink, oil crayon, graphite, marker and charcoal for Paint Party Friday

I know I usually work in a much more intense palette, but lately I've been drawn to lighter colors, While I was working on the marine life collages for the elementary school, I covered a great big canvas in different papers: maps, handmade papers, letters, a number from a road race I ran a couple of years ago; there's even an unfinished painting underneath there somewhere. Then, I layered on acrylic paint with a large palette knife. I let that dry overnight and took it to school with me to work on at lunch. While I was dry-brushing on some white paint, one of my eleventh grade students, Emily, got interested in what I was doing. (Emily's quite a gifted artist herself, but she prefers to draws dragons. She's got sketchbook after sketchbook filled with gorgeous, intricate dragons rendered in brilliant Prismacolor pencils). I borrowed one of her pencils and began to put the marks and symbols I always put on my abstracts, and, before I knew it, Emily had joined me! So I just let her take over the marking, and I began on the scratching-through-the- layers-of-paint-with-something-sharp-to-let-the layers-show-through-part. We began to see pictures in the layers then, and Emily enhanced some of these with her pencil. Can you see them? There are hearts, a figure of a person, and even a dragon's head. If you look very closely, you might see her name or what Ilike to call her: "M."

This was so much fun that I'm going to take lots more canvases in for us to collaborate on, and maybe someday Emily will even let me post one of drawings here for you. Keep your fingers crossed!

19 comments:

lisa_crofts said...

How fabulous creating with a like minded student.

Anne said...

I love this! Your colours are very pretty and I love the story behind it.

Happy PPF!

carol l mckenna said...

Love the pastel colors ~ great abstract and love the student story ~thanks, namaste, Carol (Share the Creative Journey) Happy PPF

Abela said...

Have you noticed? Summer colors you use now that winter is almost ... Your heart and your feelings must be very warm. Saludos

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

Now that's a great collaboration. Love the spontaneity of it and the soothing colours are wonderful. I'm hoping Em will let us see some of her art work in the future too.

WrightStuff said...

At first this picture wouldn't load but I kept refreshing the page and am so glad I did!

Love both it and the story of your collaboration.

carlarey said...

I love this painting, and even more after reading about how you and Emily created it together.

Tracey FK said...

I miss that interaction with students and what a wonderful experience for her to share with you... great finished piece as well... I love the soft palette, and while I usually use strong colours, after seeing this I am thinking I should soften up a little for a change xx

Mary C. Nasser said...

Yay! I love your painting!
And was so very happy to read that there are maps in there, too! ;)

Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art

A'n'G Johnson said...

I love that it became a collaboration

Carole Reid said...

I had to take a second look when I saw all the pastel colours! ha ha! Working with another artist is such fun. I hope "M" does let you post her drawings!

Carolyn Dube said...

This is on thing that art is supposed to do in my opinion - bring people together. Collaborative art is my favorite to make!

GlorV1 said...

Love your piece! Glad you worked with someone else on it, makes for lots of fun and a really great piece. Happy PPF!

EVA said...

Great collaboration and lovely colours.

Jen @Sadie Inspired said...

I love the soft colors together and the texture I can see popping through too. Great work!

Geckostone said...

Wow, how fun, this is beautiful!!! Oh I hope Emily lets you post some of her work, I LOVE dragons!!!! Deb

bohemiannie! art said...

Very beautiful!

JKW said...

Wonderful, I love how you included Emily in your work. Confidence and experience will be gained. The painting is fantastic, thank you for sharing story and picture. Blessings, Janet PPF

peggy aplSEEDS said...

how ownderful that this is a collaborative work. that is such an encouragement to your student i'm sure. happy PPF and thanks for sharing!
hugs,
peggy aplSEEDS