New Mixed Media Painting The Accidental Landscape and Process

The Accidental Landscape, 12 x 24 Inches, Mixed Media on Wood.
Copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle aka Braylee Rush

I just completed this mixed media acrylic painting over the weekend. It has been in process for a couple of months.

It began as an experimental painting and continued to be experimental and intuitive until its completion.

One day, I cleaned and organized my studio. You know what that means, don't you? The unexpected, that's what! Some elements that were not supposed to go together, got stuck to each other. Thus, the Accidental Landscape began its evolutionary turn.

The painting in process got stuck to the papers I was using in the process and another piece of wood that I was going to gesso for a separate painting. I couldn't unstick them without damage.

In the meantime, I was experimenting with making acrylic skins and creating a class around them. So, I used this painting as a demo piece to show what could be done with the skins after making them. I used three acrylic skins on this painting, along with found objects, and the paper you see curled up in the "sandwich."

Process 1. The Accidental Landscape.

Process 2. The Accidental Landscape.

Process 3, the unexpected. The Accidental Landscape.

Are You Ready to Buy Art?

Are you ready to bring one or more of my paintings to your home or office? Email me at Mary@MaryFineArt.com

Tips for Purchasing Fine Art

When it comes to purchasing fine art, buy a piece that you love. If you connect strongly with a work of art, go ahead and consider purchasing it. The joy and happiness that this original work of art will give you will be immeasurable.

Imagine a space in your home or office where it might fit. And ask yourself some questions such as:

Why do I like this piece?

What does it remind me of?

How do these colors make me feel?

Overall, how does this piece make me feel?

What location or room would this piece fit into?

Would it make a great gift for someone special?

About the Author

Braylee Rush

Braylee Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist, author, and creativity catalyst and consultant. She resides in Sedona, Arizona with her loving and efficient assistant, Sir Kitty. Her other websites and work are: Wisdom Painting for Self-Discovery, Igniting Your Intentions, Sedona Art Hikes, and Silver Graphic Design.

Contact her today with commissions or requests for creative work, consultations, or one on one coaching sessions. She can help you delve into your creativity and come out with your own unique expression.

Inquiries

Inquiries about this en plein air acrylic landscape painting can be made through the contact page.

And, as always, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

Sir Kitty

Until Next Week

• Appreciate art
• Buy art
• Create art

New Mixed Media Painting The Accidental Landscape and Process

The Accidental Landscape, 12 x 24 Inches, Mixed Media on Wood.
Copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle aka Braylee Rush

I just completed this mixed media acrylic painting over the weekend. It has been in process for a couple of months.

It began as an experimental painting and continued to be experimental and intuitive until its completion.

One day, I cleaned and organized my studio. You know what that means, don't you? The unexpected, that's what! Some elements that were not supposed to go together, got stuck to each other. Thus, the Accidental Landscape began its evolutionary turn.

The painting in process got stuck to the papers I was using in the process and another piece of wood that I was going to gesso for a separate painting. I couldn't unstick them without damage.

In the meantime, I was experimenting with making acrylic skins and creating a class around them. So, I used this painting as a demo piece to show what could be done with the skins after making them. I used three acrylic skins on this painting, along with found objects, and the paper you see curled up in the "sandwich."

Process 1. The Accidental Landscape.

Process 2. The Accidental Landscape.

Process 3, the unexpected. The Accidental Landscape.

Are You Ready to Buy Art?

Are you ready to bring one or more of my paintings to your home or office? Email me at Mary@MaryFineArt.com

Tips for Purchasing Fine Art

When it comes to purchasing fine art, buy a piece that you love. If you connect strongly with a work of art, go ahead and consider purchasing it. The joy and happiness that this original work of art will give you will be immeasurable.

Imagine a space in your home or office where it might fit. And ask yourself some questions such as:

Why do I like this piece?

What does it remind me of?

How do these colors make me feel?

Overall, how does this piece make me feel?

What location or room would this piece fit into?

Would it make a great gift for someone special?

About the Author

Braylee Rush

Braylee Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist, author, and creativity catalyst and consultant. She resides in Sedona, Arizona with her loving and efficient assistant, Sir Kitty. Her other websites and work are: Wisdom Painting for Self-Discovery, Igniting Your Intentions, Sedona Art Hikes, and Silver Graphic Design.

Contact her today with commissions or requests for creative work, consultations, or one on one coaching sessions. She can help you delve into your creativity and come out with your own unique expression.

Inquiries

Inquiries about this en plein air acrylic landscape painting can be made through the contact page.

And, as always, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

Sir Kitty

Until Next Week

• Appreciate art
• Buy art
• Create art

Two Abstract Paintings in the Works

Work in Process, Phase 4: Yellow Abstract
36 x 48 x 1.5 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
Copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle

Two abstract paintings are in the works. Besides painting landscapes of the awesome land around me, I love to paint abstracts.

I take an experimental approach to painting abstracts rather than painting abstractions from real life.

The first painting, called Purple Abstract, at this point (I know, original name, right? haha), started out on the floor with big gestural movements with a brush. I loved how the colors began mixing themselves wet on wet.

When I went to do the dark purple, it got kind of messy so it ended up being spilled, then splashed and splattered onto the canvas. It's hanging on my wall while I figure out what to do next with it next.

Work in Process: Purple Abstract, Acrylic on Canvas
36 x 48 x 1.5 inches, copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle

Work in Process, Phase 1 on the floor: 
Purple Abstract, Acrylic on Canvas
36 x 48 x 1.5 inches, copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle

Work in Process, Phase 3: The white part is matt medium
which dries almost clear.
 Yellow Abstract, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 48 x 1.5 inches
Copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle

The next one, Yellow Abstract (haha again), began with shapes that acted as masking. After that layer dried, I applied matt medium.

I have added two layers of paint over the matt medium. This one seems to have more to say to me right now than Purple Abstract.

Work in Process Phase 1:  Yellow Abstract, Acrylic on Canvas
36 x 48 x 1.5 inches, Copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle

Work in Process Phase 2:  Yellow Abstract, Acrylic on Canvas
36 x 48 x 1.5 inches, Copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle

The yummiest blue that I'm using on the Yellow Abstract painting.

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

Mary Gravelle (Mary Rae Rush)
About the author: Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.

Sir Kitty

All I Want to Do is Experiment Part Three

Highways & Biways
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 x 24 inches
Copyright 2014 Mary Rush Gravelle
All rights reserved

The current painting in my experimental arsenal is a project where I poured paint onto the canvas without the aid of brushes or other utensils and made a painting. I did use my fingers a couple of times to coax the paint to go where I wanted, like filling in tiny holes to cover the white canvas where the paint just didn't seem to want to go. Read my previous blog articles on that process here and here.

I created a short and speeded up video on the process that lasted over a week's duration, pouring a new color each day (thus the different wardrobe). I thought you might enjoy it.

My goofy self with my painting in process.
Mary Rush Gravelle

Until Next Week 

• Create art

• Appreciate art

• Buy art

I want to hear from you! What do you think of the final painting? Did you like this technique? Did you like the video? What was your favorite part? Leave your comments below.

About the author: Mary Rush Gravelle is an artist who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty. 

Sir Kitty

Find her work and daily comments on her facebook page. Her art can be seen on her website, maryfineart.com. She can be contacted via email at: mary@maryfineart.com.

All I Want to Do is Experiment Part Two

My co-worker, Tamara, installing her mailbox
she commissioned me to paint.

Mailbox, Acrylic on Metal.
Copyright 2014 Mary Rush Gravelle.

This article continues from part one.

Last week I left you with my self-portrait.

After finishing that, a co-worker at the clothing design place, Christy Fisher Studio in Cottonwood, where I was working at the time, commissioned me to paint her mailbox. Another experiment since I had never been commissioned to do a mailbox. It was a new surface and shape for me to try. It was a fun project. Tamara loved the final result. Do you like it?

Abstract Southwest Landscape, Mixed-media on Canvas.
16 x 20 inches, copyright 2014 Mary Rush Gravelle,
All rights reserved.

For my next project, I wanted to experiment with very watered down acrylic paints and masking. This was really fun and fast. I used cut paper and masking tape as my mask elements. The result was an image that looked like an abstract southwest landscape painting. Read the blog article here.

Crossing Over, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 inches.
Copyright 2014 Mary Rush Gravelle, all rights reserved.

The next painting, Crossing Over, continued on the idea of highly watered down acrylic paints. This time I wanted to experiment with texture. I used Light Molding Paste for the texture. Read the blog articles here and here.

Tucson Saguors, Acrylic on Canvas,
16 x 20 inches,
Copyright 2014 Mary Rush Gravelle,
All rights reserved

Next up was reviving a painting I began last year and hated the colors. I wanted to see if I could revive and brighten it. Tucson Saguaros began as a very drab painting that I was going to be teaching to a class. After I painted it, I hated it and never did the class. I dug it out and brightened it up. You can read about that process here and here.

The last painting I have completed, continuing with my experimental phase, will be the topic of next week's blog article.

Mary Rush Gravelle
Artist and Author of this Blog.

Until Next Week

• Create art

• Appreciate art

• Buy art






I want to hear from you! What are your thoughts after reading this article? Leave me a comment and tell me.

About the author: Mary Rush Gravelle is an artist who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty. Find her work and daily comments on her facebook page. Her art can be seen on her website, maryfineart.com. She can be contacted via email at: mary@maryfineart.com.

All I Want to Do is Experiement-Part One

Blooming, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 36 inches.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle

My art is really in transition. It has been for over a year. I had committed to doing a series based on my phone art. I titled it "Phone Art to Canvas". I visualized the entire show of at least eight paintings. I painted two.

Life has been taking so many twists and turns which put that project on hold, along with my art. Ever since, I have only wanted to experiment with new techniques.

Sunny Disposition, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 36 inches.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle.

Actually, the phone art to canvas paintings were experiments as well. I was experimenting to see if I could translate art that had been created digitally on my phone to art that was painted with actual paint and canvas.

The challenge was to maintain the brightness of color, to transfer the effects of light.

Blog posts on the Blooming painting can be found in the April 2013 archives. Blog posts on the process of painting Sunny Disposition can be found in the June, July, and August 2013 archives.

Then, I wanted to do some plein-air painting. So, I did two of those. Refer to my blog post about the painting Sans RV for more info on that. I did no blog post for Light-filled Day in Cottonwood, Arizona.

Light-filled Day in Cottonwood, Arizona.
6 x 6 inches, Acrylic on Cardboard.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle.

Sans RV, Approx. 8 x 14 inches, Acrylic on Cardboard.
Copyright 2013 Mary Rush Gravelle.

The next painting I did after these was a self-portrait.

Self-Portrait, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 inches.
Copyright 2014 Mary Rush Gravelle.

I wanted to see if I could paint a self portrait. I am not a portrait painter and I never thought of myself as particularly talented with that genre. So, I challenged myself to see if I could do it. See and read more about my self-portrait painting in the January and February archives.

More next week. Any thoughts on experimenting with art?

Mary Rush Gravelle

Until Next Week 

• Create art

• Appreciate art

• Buy art

I would love to hear your comments on this article, please leave one if you feel inspired.

About the author: Mary Rush Gravelle is an artist who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty. 

Find her work and daily comments on her facebook page. Her art can be seen on her website, maryfineart.com. She can be contacted via email at: mary@maryfineart.com.

Sir Kitty

Poured Painting In Process 2

Final Painting, Title: Highways & Biways
Poured Paint Experiment
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 x 24 inches
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

These are the last of the in-process photos of my poured paint experimental project, adding more colors. The process was enjoyable; although, different than I had imagined it would be. I imagined that it would be quick and fun. Instead, it turned out I could only pour one color a day to give the colors time to dry before pouring the next color. I do like the results of the intersecting lines and overlapping colors. What do you think?

Detail after Interference Violet pour
Poured Paint Experiment
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 x 24 inches
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

Painting after Interference Violet pour
Poured Paint Experiment
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 x 24 inches
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

The Pouring Table
Poured Paint Experiment
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 x 24 inches
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

Mary Rush Gravelle working on her poured paint
experimental painting.

Until Next Week 

• Create art

• Appreciate art

• Buy art

I would love to hear your comments on this article, please leave one if you feel inspired.

About the author: Mary Rush Gravelle is an artist who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty. 

Find her work and daily comments on her facebook page. Her art can be seen on her website, maryfineart.com. She can be contacted via email at: mary@maryfineart.com.

Sir Kitty, my painting buddy telling me it
is time for the next pour.
Painting in process behind him.

Poured Painting in Process

Experimental Poured Painting Project
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

I'm busy preparing a video of the complete painting process of my latest experimental painting, poured paint. It's taking longer than expected. So, for now, here are some photos of the process, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I began the process by preparing the canvas with Light Molding Paste for added texture. Then, I gessoed the canvas along with this texture to even out the tones.

I mixed a very diluted mixture of water and acrylic paint and poured it over the canvas, letting the paint spill over onto plastic on the table. This allowed me to move the paint around on the canvas without using a brush. I wanted it to be strictly a poured process.

Experimental Poured Painting Project, my "catch" palette
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

I tried blow-drying the first couple of colors so I could keep working. This did not work as the air pushed the paint around on the canvas in a way that was not natural to the process I desired. So, I poured one color per day and let it dry overnight.

Do you like the look that is achieved with this process?

Experimental Poured Painting Project, after pouring red
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

Experimental Poured Painting Project
In Process
Copyright Mary Rush Gravelle

Until Next Week 

• Create art

• Appreciate art

• Buy art

I would love to hear your comments on this article, please leave one if you feel inspired.

My goofy self with my painting in process.
Mary Rush Gravelle

About the author: Mary Rush Gravelle is an artist who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty. 

Find her work and daily comments on her facebook page. Her art can be seen on her website, maryfineart.com. She can be contacted via email at: mary@maryfineart.com.

Sir Kitty, my painting buddy telling me it
is time for the next pour.
Painting in process behind him.