Evolving Art – Harmony

Evolving Art is a new series documenting the evolution of my mixed media paintings from beginning to end. I'm so happy to share this with you.

HARMONY – a woman sits quietly, her thoughts alive bursting with emotion, remembering, feeling uncertain. But on the surface she appears calm. Sadness mixes with peacefulness.  She is not alone.

[ Harmony – 2013 ]

[ My inspiration board/ collection for this piece ]

[ Typography papers I created from my bio, to be ripped and cut and used in the painting ]

[ Laying down my first layers of paper and fabric with gel medium, on a cradled wood panel – a range of business papers, typography and patterned papers I made, a sewing pattern, some handmade cotton paper, a scrap from a soap package, and fabric from a discard bin ]

[ Adding paint with a brayer and fingers ] 

[ Standing back, deciding which sketch to use ]

[ My choice: this sketch I did last fall ]

[ Transferring my sketch onto my cradled wood panel. I used art transfer paper for this. It can be easier than freehand drawing on rough surfaces ]

 [ Ready to paint ]

[ Painting with acrylics, first layer ]

[ Filling in her hair with a black pitt pen - these are a recent discovery for me and I love them ]

[ Adding another layer of paint to her face and body. Giving her nice rosy cheeks. And using my pitt pen to enhance her eyes and add dramatic hair — which is a metaphor for her swirling thoughts ]

[ Using grey pitt pens to layer more into her hair, smudging with my fingers to create texture. Using white rollerball pens to add doodles and scratches. And using green and blue shades to fill in her loyal perched friend ]

[ Final enhancement of features with black pitt pen ]

[ My finished piece displayed along with two others painted at the same time. Left to Right: harmony, winter, surfacing ]

Harmony
18" x 24"
Mixed media on cradled wood panel
© Ginger Deverell 2013

It's wonderful to share with you. Prints and greeting card sets are available in my little shop.

Creating with my hands - a rich summer

Autumn has arrived and I am reflecting on my summer harvest. Learning, experimenting and - most importantly - expressing myself authentically have been the biggest rewards of the season. This has been a summer of using my hands to create beautiful things. I took Danita's Mixed Media From the Heart workshop, Christy Tomlinson's She Art workshop, and am now taking Flying Lessons - Tips and Tricks to help your creative biz soar by Kelly Rae Roberts. These women are amazing. I have been inspired and motivated all the way, building a clearer vision of who I am as an artist and where I want to go. I've made art journaling part of my studio routine which has opened up a whole new side of myself I didn't realize existed, and has helped me to keep my creativity flowing daily. I feel like my life expanded this year. I'm inspired, and I'm my whole self. Do you know what I mean? I've been wanting to share this joy and document changes and creations as they happen, and so this blog is born. Everything that is "me" will show up here, and I'm hoping I can bring beauty and inspiration to add to your day. Thanks for sharing this experience with me. And thank you to my art mentors for all they are teaching me.

A glimpse into my summer makings:

Breathe - Sometimes it’s the small moments of tranquillity and vulnerability that are most real and meaningful in a modern life. A breath of pure calm is captured here with mixed media on cradled wood panel. Collaged with paper, ink, paint and beaded lace.

Garden Story - A story of growth, truth and finding her way in the world. The whimsical “her” portrays my journey of soul-searching and finding my path. Mixed media on cradled wood panel. Collaged with type, paper, ink and paint.
 

A simple and soulful art journal entry expressing the combined sorrow and happiness that solitude can bring. Acrylic paint and ink in a handmade art journal.

 

Taking time to celebrate a soulful state of mind with vivid feminine colours and a girl who symbolizes me. Collaged with paper, hand-illustrated words, ink and paint.

I discovered the pure joy of creating tiny 3 x 4 inch art blocks for the youngsters of some of my favourite friends. It is one of the most rewarding kinds of art to do because the inspiration comes from these energetic, happy little souls. I would love to expand my business and do more custom pieces for tiny hands.

 

Sketching is soothing. Everything and anything that comes to mind or inspires me, I try to sketch it.

And finally, making my own stamps has been incredibly fun. Use lino block and a lino carving tool, and voila! Thanks Danita for showing me such a simple and rewarding tool.

Creatively,