Saturday, January 20, 2024

Collage Exploration on 9 x 12 Canvas #4 - Village Boardwalk

Collage Exploration on 9 x 12 Canvas - #4: Village Boardwalk
9 x 12 x 0.5 inches
Acrylic and Paper on Canvas
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Collage Exploration on 9 x 12 Canvas #4 - Village Boardwalk

9 x 12 x 0.5 inches
Acrylic and Paper on Canvas

#4 of 4 in the Series: Village Boardwalk

When I walk down the boardwalk, people stop me and say, 'Oh, your house is the one that glows.'–Mary Matalin

This fourth and final piece of this series is similiar to the third in color, design, and composition. The foreground wanted to be a lighter color than #3. But the same oranges, reds, and pinks are also part of the main color story of this painting.

The composition is asymmetrical with curvilinear lines. There is high contrast of darks and lights and warm colors and cool colors. The shapes seem to move to the right. The three triangles in the foreground anchor the composition.

All in all, I think it's a pleasing and colorful image filled with good cheer. What do you think? I'd love to hear, leave a comment below.

It takes a few to make war, but it takes a village and a nation to build peace.
–Abiy Ahmed 

 


Insitu

Back Story on the Series

I have been working on a four-painting series for the past month. All four paintings are now complete. This post features the third in the series.


The Series

This series consists of four small paintings on gallery-wrapped canvas measuring 9 x 12 x 0.5 inches. The media used was acrylic paint and paper. I did two series on 9 x 12 inch paper of three paintings each and wanted to try it with gallery-wrapped canvas.



Process

The first step was to paint a white acrylic base coat on each painting. Then, I adhered colored paper shapes onto each of the four canvases, each receiving a unique approach. I painted all four canvases with the underlayer, which helped determine the design direction of each painting. 


After the initial sessions of working on all four at once, I considered each one and worked consecutively, finishing each piece as I progressed to the next. 


I wanted to make a series of small paintings that would hang well together. After the first painting, the color scheme took a different route. Numbers two, three, and four share a similar color story. Numbers three and four follow an almost identical design style along with the color story. 



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“Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the diverse elements at the painter’s command to express his feelings.”
–Henri Matisse


Me, Mary Rush, with my painting, Village Boardwalk



 


Friday, January 19, 2024

Collage Exploration Series on 9 x 12 Canvas - Painting #3 of 4 - Fishermans Wharf

Collage Exploration on 9 x 12 Canvas #3 - Fishermans Wharf

9 x 12 x 0.5 inches
Acrylic and Paper on Canvas

I have been working on a four-painting series for the past month. All four paintings are now complete. This post features the third in the series.


The Series

This series consists of four small paintings on gallery-wrapped canvas measuring 9 x 12 x 0.5 inches. The media used was acrylic paint and paper. I did two series on 9 x 12 inch paper of three paintings each and wanted to try it with gallery-wrapped canvas.



Process

The first step was to paint a white acrylic base coat on each painting. Then, I adhered colored paper shapes onto each of the four canvases, each receiving a unique approach. I painted all four canvases with the underlayer, which helped determine the design direction of each painting. 


After the initial sessions of working on all four at once, I considered each one and worked consecutively, finishing each piece as I progressed to the next. 


I wanted to make a series of small paintings that would hang well together. After the first painting, the color scheme took a different route. Numbers two, three, and four share a similar color story. Numbers three and four follow an almost identical design style along with the color story. 



Subscribe now to my newsletter. Be the first to know about my new work. 


Fishermans Wharf - Coming to a wall near you.
Purchase information.

#3 of 4 in the Series: Fishermans Wharf

The third piece took a cue from the previous piece in its color story. It differentiated itself from numbers one and two with its design, shifting the color story to include a dark foreground. The spiral theme did not carry through with this painting.

At one point, the painting looked rather dull. I made a bold move, and grabbed a nearby torn piece of paper and ran a magenta paint stroke over the edge. That was just what it needed to breath life back into it. But, the painting was not done yet. I worked a lot with the mid ground and foreground to add contrast. The upper pink section around the gold circular shape took a bit coaxing to bring itself into form. 

The dark foreground received several different shades of blue-green leaning at times toward blue, then toward green, and in the end somewhere in between.

Summary of #3

All in all, I think it's lively and entertaining image. What do you think? I'd love to hear, leave a comment below.


Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Painting Series of Four Works - Collage Exploration on 9 x 12 Canvas

Slivers of the paintings as I worked on them.


I have been working on a four-painting series and running a contest. I hope you voted to win a set of art notecards or mini posters. Below is information on the series. The schedule for revealing the finished paintings is also below. 


The Series

This series consists of four small paintings on gallery-wrapped canvas measuring 9 x 12 x 0.5 inches. The media used was acrylic paint and paper. 


Process

The first step was to paint a white acrylic base coat on each painting. Then, I adhered colored paper shapes onto each of the four canvases, each receiving a unique approach. I painted all four canvases with the underlayer, which helped determine the design direction of each painting. After the initial sessions of working on all four at once, I considered each one and worked consecutively, finishing each piece as I progressed to the next. I wanted to make a series of small paintings that would hang well together. After the first painting, the color scheme took a different route. Numbers two, three, and four share a similar color story. Numbers three and four follow an almost identical design style along with the color story. 


Paintings Reveal Schedule

 My newsletter subscribers will be the first to see these paintings. They will have the first right to own them. Below is the schedule for revealing the finished paintings: 


Subscribe now to my newsletter to see the paintings first. 


Newsletter Subscribers

Thu, Jan 19: 1st painting 

Fri, Jan 20: 2nd painting 

Sat, Jan 21: 3rd painting 

Sun Jan 22: 4th, the final painting 


Social Media Reveal Schedule

Social media followers of my art will see the paintings two days after my newsletter subscribers. The two-day lag will give subscribers a chance to make their purchases. 


Sat, Jan 21: 1st painting 

Sun, Jan 22: 2nd painting 

Mon, Jan 23: 3rd painting 

Tue, Jan 24: the final painting 


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Saturday, January 13, 2024

Final Vote - Final Slivers of Paintings

Vote for you favorite sliver for a chance to win a 4-pack of art notecards.
Vote in the comments - #1, #2, #3, or #4


FINAL VOTE - FINAL SLIVERS!!! Vote for your favorite sliver of a painting in the comments for a chance to win a set of four art notecards. I wonder if you'll love the one you voted for? 

The full paintings will be revealed first in my newsletter from Thu - Mon. They'll be rolled out a day later to you guys, so Fri - Tue. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you'll see them first and have first rights to own them.

SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter. See them first! Own them before anyone else sees them!

Saturday, January 6, 2024

CONTEST - FUN!!! ANOTHER CHANCE TO ENTER

Vote your favorite to enter a chance to win a set of four art notecards. Choose from these four final paintings or others that are available on my website.


Vote for your favorite - #1, #2, #3, or #4 every time I post for multiple chances to win a 4-pack of notecards. Vote in the comments below.

These are slivers from a series of four 9 x 12 paintings I'm working on right now. I'm hiding them until I finish so I can show the final results. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to show you the slivers as I complete each one. #1 and #2 are now complete. #3 and #4 are in progress. 

If you vote in the comments, I'll enter your name in a drawing to win a set of 4 mini prints, small 4.25 x 5.5 inch postcard prints of the final paintings (or your choice from my other cards). You can frame them or mail them to friends. Vote now! Every time you vote, you get another chance to win! So vote each time I update the progress.