Thursday 3 May 2012

Don't be scared...


And keep scrolling... the painting gets (marginally) better I promise...

But... before I start... may I just say how THRILLED I am to be the featured artist on Paint Party Friday this week! Huge thanks to Kristin and Eva for pouring the champagne week after week (sometimes I struggle to get my Muse out of there....).

Where was I?

I'm learning so much from my mess!

Take the other evening. I was all set to create a beautiful whimsical girl. Soft flowing tresses, delicate English-Rose skin and a sweet smile. I dropped in the first layer of skin tone and then... from nowhere, came a little Imp intent on mischief.

The rascal put shocking pink paint in my hand and bade me colour her hair, then of all things begged me to splatter her now glowing locks with blue paint - in several shades - whatever next?

Well, it got worse as we sprayed with water, twisted and dripped, then when the deep pools of paint weren't keen on drying, we spoldged into them with rubber stamps with no care or thought. A few drops of alcohol ink and she was transformed. My beauty was now a zombie. Poor lass.

What could be done? Well, nothing until she'd dried out that was for sure... Then I very nervously (and carefully) brought her in for an examination. You know what... there were actually some bits I really liked...

I saw the beauty within and coaxed it back out of her...


(Zombie version was a photograph. This one was scanned and keeps the true colours)

OK, I admit that she still retains an element of the creepy supernatural. Nobody said bringing anyone back from a zombie-fied state would ever be easy - look how long it took Will Smith. The point of the exercise was to find wonder in the destruction; to find pattern and linkage; to see 'with my eyes closed'.




I made mental notes of how much I loved the mix of colour and florals on her cheek and will almost certainly be using the techniques again in future.

We don't just have to do this in art. The right side of the brain is set up for finding pattern and crafting what you might think unrelated ideas into original thinking. Have you tried painting to music? I don't mean just listening in the background, but really letting the music conduct your brush?

And what about playing with your words? Listen to a great piece of music and let the notes and movements dictate you the story. It's all there if you only listen hard enough and open your senses...

I'm getting all this from my Messy Book Group. I might not be growing cress again in my forthcoming artwork, but do expect to see more drips and free stamping!


I'm a crazy girl in love with pattern, texture and colour!

44 comments:

  1. Congratulations and look forward to reading the interview. Wow I love how your lady has turned out and also the idea of letting the paintbrush move to the music.........thank you for all the inspiration. Happy PPF, Annette x

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love her eyes and the wonderful colors...the stamping...it looks like you had a great time creating her. Great post. :)

    Congrats on being the featured artist at PPF.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am amazed at how well she did come out after your mess..lol. I always paint to music. I find it quiets down the left side of the brain saying YOU CANT DO THAT. and some times the music has played a big part in what I end up with. Congrats on the interview and Happy PPF.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great mess, looks like you had real fun making this! Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  5. i love her, she's the saddest zombie i've ever seen and i love that you enjoyed such a spontaneous and carefree process to achieve this zombie beauty! congrats on being the featured artist, your work does inspire! im now following the messy book group and will hopefully find some time to join in. i've just started my 3rd novel (the first 2 half finished languishing on my pc somewher!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. love your work. love your words. This is so true. Seeing the beauty in the ugly. The transformation is awesome and really she is still beautiful. Sometimes we have to create a mess in order to bring out the best in us. Everyday is a learning!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are the second artist to freak the $&^$% out of me!! The wait was so worth it and she has to be my favorite piece so far!! I love her innocent zombieness, and funky artist hair!! She is me in my youth!! Wow so impressive...so scary...haha!!
    Happy ppf...and thank you for sharing your precious zombie and your process!!

    Hugs Giggles
    P.S. love the vibrant colors too!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It is a good idea, that of painting music, I have to try. Congratulations on being the artist this week. Saludos

    ReplyDelete
  9. She's beautiful and way to go with colour and texture! Congrats on being featured today!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Enjoy reading your interview at PPF. Well Done my friend! And your girl painting is always so full of unexpected texture and layers. Just fun to look at! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just dropping by to say congratulations on being the featured artist on PPF this week. I love the examples you provided to go along with your write-up. I have been a fan of yours for several years now. Love your work.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Now that was courage- to mess it up on purpose! You are so right about about the good parts in it-I just may have to try this when I am feeling courageous! Thanks for such a wonderful post!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, I am impressed! I know "it's just paper" but to take that chance?
    This was just a wonderful lesson because your result is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrats on being featured, Lisa! :)) I love your messy faces and she turned out fabulous. I was a bit worried with the first photo though. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. She is fantastic!! It is so inspiring to see what can be done after having messed around. That little rascal within you did the (w)right thing! Your creativity is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm impressed - from Zombie to Beauty. Really beautiful. I love the idea of more free stamping! Happy PPF

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think she looks amazing. I'm glad you kept going with this face. Sometimes messes lead to more interesting results than something that's too perfect, I think. It gives our brains something to do when we look at a piece.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well it turned out wonderful! Love the loose style and all the colors.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You are a brave, messy woman! My hero! :-)

    I think you're right about the textures and colors... i love the combinations you created! it's amazing how you brought her back from zombie-land. although, she does look a bit sad for it.

    you continue to inspire! and great interview!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful work Lisa. Congrats on being the featured artist at PPF this week. I love the idea of more drips and free stamping! Happy PPF

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really like your crazy zombie girl, she is different, original and beautiful! Awesome details, too!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Whew, I have to admit that I was kinda freaked out at first but your turned into an amazin' work of art! Love that texture!

    God bless and have a fantastic weekend sweetie!

    Congratulations on PPF!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love your style! She turned out amazing! Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  24. And I'm in love with your use of color, pattern and texture! Thanks for taking us through the steps of your process- the end result is even more amazing because of the remaining touches of supernatural- LOVE this!
    Hugs,
    Stephanie
    P.S. Congrats on being the artist of the week at PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Loved reading about you as artist of the week and this painting is just gorgeous ... mess is doing great things for your work that is for sure...xx

    ReplyDelete
  26. Brava on 'Being Artist of the Week' ~ and your painting is very creative and expressive ~ awesome colors ~thanks, namaste, ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  27. Superb color, Lisa, and still a gorgeous gal!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! Excellent color Lisa. She is beautiful. Congrats on Artist of the Week. Great interview!

    ReplyDelete
  29. That's really something! The creepy + delicate look makes her seem ancient and maybe very powerful

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow! She's one pretty zombie and you are really good at pouring life into the dead ;)

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is fantastic Lisa. What lovely colours and patterns. And yes, I'm finding the Messy Book Group rubbing off on my other work. It's the best thing, and the greatest fun, I've done in years. Thank you for messing me up!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love that you're taking lessons learned from the book and applying them to your other art! I also feel the creative inspiration spreading beyond my badly worn book :)

    Thank you for leading the charge!

    xo
    Kristin

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love where she came from, what she retained, and what she became! A life story captured, really. Thanks for sharing your process - the paint and the words! I'm a fan.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh, I think she's gorgeous! Not zombie-fied at all, maybe she was in India celebrating Holi.

    ReplyDelete
  35. That's really amazing...I keep looking from the first photo to the finished one, it's a remarkable piece, congrats on your feature on PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Beautiful feature on you at PPF Lisa....congrats on everything! Beautiful art!
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  37. Love the evolution of the piece...beautiful, bold and awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Gorgeous! I fancy the fresh red colors among the others! :) so vivid also!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your blog s so interesting and fun! I'm so proud fr you and the featured artists piece and enchanting interview! Your art has really got pizzazzzz!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Okay, this is BRILLIANT!!! (Sorry for screaming at you ;) I just love how this progressed - and into something so unique and special - I bet you inspired a lot of us to try this! AND congrats on being featured - well done, you!
    Krisin xo

    ReplyDelete
  41. Lisa, this is so so beautiful... i absolutely love the mish mash of color and texture everywhere. Congrats on being the featured artist! You have such talent.. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  42. She's absolutely wonderful! You do color and texture so well!! And congrats, again, on being featured on PPF!!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love her wild look!!! Delicious patterns!!!

    I really enjoyed reading your interview! Wishing you BIG dreams come true and adventurous flights!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete

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

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...