I try to always embrace new learning and experiments wherever they lead and sometimes it’s really exciting. However I’m not conversant enough with computer software to generate anything digital or electronic. What I have done is call on nature to help. I did have numerous ideas. One was to use a hand whisk that I did use on POP2 and it made some fabulous marks but I realised that I perhaps shouldn’t repeat that. I decided to use an old canvas that I had started to gesso over as my support. I always try to recycle or re-use something rather than use a new canvas and waste it. My idea is to use some old dead flower heads that are ready to cut from a hydrangea. I would dip this into the paint and hopefully make some good marks. I also cut off some broom to act as stalks or stems. I would cover these also in paint and place on the canvas. I am also for the very first time going to try to video this work. If it’s successful I will put it on the blog but as a precautionary measure I am going to take one or two photos as below.
My first photo is of my flower heads and the broom and the tray that I load with paint.
The flower heads will hopefully create good texture. They are quite sturdy and are surprisingly not falling apart in my hands.
The canvas I am working on is below. You can see some of the pink blossom trees beneath as I have begun to cover over with gesso. As I shall cover up most of the canvas I leave as it is. If some of the pink comes through and any texture I’m happy with this as it will compliment m palette. I plan on Payne’s grey and silver acrylic paint.
As I begin to dip the heads in the paint which is black first I am amazed how easy it is to swish the head so that most of the leaves are covered. I make swirling movements to do this.
As I build up the heads by pressing against the canvas this is an image of the work close up. The vertical broken lines are from the broom covered in paint and lashed against the canvas.
The final painting is below. I deliberately don’t cover up the pink as it compliments the overall colour palette.
Apologies the video worked but I can’t upload it. Hope there’s enough images to see what I’ve done. I like the palette. I could have gone with more earthy colours reflecting nature. I might do this for the parallel project as an allotment piece.
Drawing 2 Interpreting the environment 