Loosening Up!

As a lot of my work is on a commission basis, I tend to find that I work in quite a realistic style - this actually goes against my natural compulsion to be more expressive, and I sometimes need to take a bit of time out to go a bit mad on a canvas to release the inner me! So with that in mind, I took the opportunity to book Carole Bakers LOOSE, MOODY AND ATMOSPHERIC PAINTING IN ACRYLICS two day course

I was joined by some of my fellow Cranage Art Club members, in Lichfield, in a lovely well lit room off the side of the Catholic Church. Carole had set up an enormous canvas and once we had all arrived explained her methods, and development of an idea, through some fantastic sketchbook work - note to self - use sketchbook!!! She had just come back from a week away in Scotland and some of her study work was beautiful. She chose one of the sketches to use for her demonstration, that was to be developed over the two days, whilst we painted from our own reference, using her loose, free and expressive style of painting.

What fun! Once Carole had explained the importance of using a complimentary contrast (and zingy) colour as an underbase, I picked one of my lovely friend Shelley Stones photographs to use as reference. The colours and texture in the photo would work through to some fabulous mark making. Once I had decided upon my composition (through thumbnail sketches) I set about painting my canvas turquoise blue as a zingy underbase for the rest of my 4 colour palette, Process Magenta, Pthalo Turquoise, Indian Yellow and White.
I then painted thin layers of each of the colours that I had decided to use in my sketch, and allowing each to dry inbetween, built up texture on the canvas, being very careful not to paint over the underbase colour as I went.
The whole thing was very quick, but my canvas was only small, so tomorrow I am taking a larger canvas with me and tackling a different painting. 
When I got home, I carried on with a commission of a child holding his baby sister - it is all very precise and represents a photographic likeness, so I can't wait to get back to spattering and scrunching again in the morning. It has made me decide to always have a loose piece of work on the go though as it is a great way to release tension!_