It's pouring...

Actually, early this morning it began as 'snain" ...snow/rain and some sleet. It's now pouring rain. But, that's not what this blog is about!

Yesterday I attended a workshop on "Acrylic Pouring." I did not really know what I was getting into, but it looked like it might be fun. The workshop was sponsored by Ben Franklin Crafts in Easton. It was delightfully messy so I couldn't take a lot of pictures during the process, but if you are interested in the seeing it in action, visit their Facebook page for some videos!

During the three hours we tried several different pours. On the first one, we prepared a board with pouring medium and then chose three colors. We poured the three colors individually into a colander or strainer, lifted the strainer and then tilted the board in different directions.

I used a red, blue and gray...

I thought this was really amazing!

The next pour was using acrylic ink and alcohol. (not vodka - although that might have been even more fun). We dropped ink around the board and used an eye dropper to place drops of alcohol on the inks. It was fun to watch the ink and alcohol react.

This didn't pour, but we did get an idea about moving the colors around. Not something I'm prepared to sign and put in a show...

The third project was another pour with a name that I don't remember - but, it had to do with putting layers of the acrylic paint in a cup. We put a board on top of the cup and turned the whole thing upside down. We left if for a minute and then picked up the cup. We picked up the board (like we had with the first project) and moved it around to get the board covered. 

This was my favorite! Apparently the colors I chose had silicon in them which caused all those bubbly effects. I had put green, blue, white, red and yellow in the cup (I think). 

A lot of paint ended up running off this one. I scooped up a bit and tried it on a smaller board. This is not as much poured, but just fun slopping paint around.

We still had time, so our instructor offered one more thing - marbleizing. There is a special liquid (I don't remember what it was called) that you can sprinkle on water in a shallow pan. We put in several colors and then carefully laid a piece of paper on top of the water. Instant gratification! 

I think the best part of all of this was letting go - we really had little control over a finished product. The paint has a mind of its own. I am loving the abstract quality of all this. I was truly playing and loosening up!

Animals!

Last year, my watercolor instructor and a friend who teaches a creative writing class teamed up for a joint project. The writing class had done several stories about trees. Our watercolor class was asked to read through the stories and each of us paint a tree that was chronicled in one of the stories. Unfortunately, I was away at the time and did not get a chance to participate.

This year we are reversing the precess. The painters are all working on animals, We were told we could choose any animal (or more than one) and offer it to the writing class. The writers will look at the paintings and then each write a story about one of the animals.

Where we live, on Maryland's rural Eastern Shore, there are always paintings of ducks, geese...birds of all kinds. We also see dozens of deer, squirrels, an occasional fox - you get the idea. I didn't want to paint a normal, everyday sighting. I have painted lots of dogs - but they were mostly pastels and this is a watercolor class.

I finally settled on a praying mantis. I googled photos of praying mantis and was amazed by how many different kinds there seemed to be. Perhaps it was just differing views and lighting, but there was a variety of colors and bodies! I decided to make sort of a composite of several rather than try to be anatomically correct. After all, it is my painting, I get to choose!

I began with a simplified ink sketch and a little color. I love his expression!

He is all the same value - that needs work. I added some darks to him and to his tree branch. What a difference. And, he needs antennae and a background...

He's ready to go!

Then I thought it would be fun to do another animal... I haven't painted a pig before (except for a sketch here and there). Back to google to look at photos and begin another painting.

I drew out a pencil sketch and took it to class. By the end of class I had gotten this far. I had limited color choices with me...he is very pink and purple.
I love the idea of a pig emerging from a dark background.

When I got home I defined some of the shapes a little better and added some more color. He's looking a little shapelier.

What I haven't learned how to do with watercolor is make this guy look hairy. I tried adding a little ink suggestion of his scraggly hair. It helped a little, But, I couldn't stand it any longer...

I went over to my pastels... There I could soften the edges between the dark background and the hairy pig. I added a few more colors into the mix and some highlights on his snout. I filled out the shadows under his snout and feet.

I think that's enough - at least for now! Oink...