Sunday 17 January 2010

Taking Flight



I so wanted to paint tonight. Something was in the air and as I hadn't managed to rustle up something for the Mixed Media Monday 'wings' challenge, that flighty subject seemed the very thing to wet my paintbrush.

Yet how I pondered... how I stretched and searched for the lift onto the thermals of inspiration. Then the words 'taking flight' fluttered past and I knew... I would like to say thank you to Ms Kelly Rae Roberts for her truly uplifting book - Taking Flight - and her delightful blog where she shares her insights into her creative soul. Kelly is one of those people who proves that YOU CAN DO IT! After years as a social worker and without formal training, Kelly is now a successful artist and writer with her creations reproduced as prints and stationery across the world. She had a dream. She went after it. She caught it and netted the rewards.

I've taken informal lessons from many artists these last six months or so and the experience and techniques lovingly shared by Kelly in her book have given me not just endless fun and inspiration but have also given flight to my creativity. So for this challenge I wanted to create a little something with a nod to Kelly but still very much my own.

After my foray into portrait painting last week I couldn't resist another go. This canvas block started life as a completely different picture which never quite lived up to expectation. Layers of acrylics, transfers and collage have been painted over leaving an intriguing background. I painted the girl who represents me (though she was never meant to look like me!) and made her wings from words because, for me, my words and art go hand in hand. I added some collaged hearts and got grubby with pastels and detailed with caran d'ache. I was pleased with the result. I feel like I've come a long way since I last posted a Kelly-inspired creation which I felt was far too much an inferior copy of her work rather than something of my own.
I think I like painting portraits!

35 comments:

  1. Your painting is fantastic, Lisa! Diane

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  2. WOW!!! Your painting is beautiful.
    Debby

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  3. Wow, how delightful!!! What a beautiful painting and wonderful talent--you are truly
    blessed! Hugs, Cindy Adkins

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  4. will she come round and do the cleaning, do you think?

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  5. Fantastic piece! Bravo for launching into portrait painting! You did great with this one.

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  6. Very beautiful painting- really lovely color tones and expresion! She seems thoughtative and peaceful.

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  7. gorgeous painting!! Lovely wings she wears

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  8. Love her wings! Admire your persistent in your art. Keep going! :)

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  9. Wow this is stunning.
    Fantastic painting. Really unique.

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  10. wish i had your painting skills, beautiful!

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  11. Lisa, I wanted to write back about the Suzi class--I know from her videos and utube videos that she seems like an off the wall kind of person--and she is--she's fun, but she's also an excellent teacher! Faces have always been a "thing" for me--my motto is "I wish I could do them". It still is a challenge for me, but I'm learning, with her help. It's a five week course, but the class is open until May, and she's there to help you the whole time, PLUS you can download the videos, PLUS the support of the other ladies there is great. (can you not see that I'm excited about this class) So I say yes--go for it, and it is worth it! You know I commented on this gorgeous angel, but I don't see the comment :(

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  12. I think you've definitely found your niche, Lisa. This is just gorgeous. I hope you keep painting protraits because I can't wit to see more.

    Hugs,
    Kathy

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  13. This is great! I love all the layers that you always bring to the table with your style- the background colors, then the collage elements and then the central figure complete with story book wings! Love it!

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  14. I think last time I forgot to put in the little code--sometimes I forget to do that. One of the things that I said was that I loved Kelly Rae too! If you sign up for the Goddess and Poet class--add me as a friend there :)

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  15. Fantastic painting, Lisa and very artistic as well!

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  16. She's beautiful,love the way you painted her and I love her wings too. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice commment.

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  17. I love the pastel colors and the shading. It's very dreamy, Lisa :)

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  18. WOW how fabulous painting. Stunning piece of art.

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  19. ~i think my favorite so far...what a beautiful representaion of yourself...brightest blessings~

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  20. I think she has something about the wild west about her - I love the way she is looking into the distance.

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  21. You know, Lisa, if this is what you enjoy the most, go for it, say I! It's a real talent... plus you can do other stuff too, when you get fed up with making people this gorgeous!

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  22. Awesome painting,love the wings!!!

    Linda

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  23. That's wonderful!! I also love the wings on this beauty and the hearts just "pop!"

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  24. Great painting, love the colors.

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  25. Gorgeous layers of texture and color! This is beautiful!

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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