Thursday, May 30, 2013

for the love of.....

Chichi
Mixed Media on 30"H x 22"W 150lb. watercolor paper

Ready to be framed

SOLD

To purchase through PayPal directly from my Web Gallery, go here.

or you may contact me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com





This week I worked on a large tryp-tych (60" x 60") that will be a gift for our son Doren's new apartment.  Soon I will have it photographed to be shared here.  I began two new paintings that will be works in progress and completed this one and it's only Wednesday.   Phew!

Working on more than one painting at a time helps take me away, giving me a fresh perspective and I to see the next step when I get back to the work.  AND...it's productive!!

This painting was began alongside another one. (that one is not completed)  The initial inspiration was upon waking up in the morning there was an iris that my husband has placed in a vase on the dresser. I love flowers and am especially fond of the buds, just before they bloom.  This had both.  

Later, after the morning routine of coffee, breakfast, alone time...you know the routine, I went to work. Knew just exactly what I wanted to work with.  Picked up that floral arrangement and took into my studio where I placed it on a table that my grand daughter uses for her play dough and such.  

Decided I would also take a picture of it...just incase.  That picture can be seen here, as an instant gram.  When I saw the picture, I was struck by all the colors that were in the background created by Penny's artwork that we've been hanging up.  I really had no idea how much of an influence that would turn out to be, as I did think back on that initial thought several times while working on this piece.

The painting was begun by soaking the paper down with water.  Then by placing the first few strokes of watercolors allowing first impressions began to show through.  While wet a quick gesture drawing was done.  Then began the process of layering watercolors in between drying time.  Acrylics began to be worked in along with adding gesso.  Quite the mixture.  In time there was scratching through the surface of the paint allowing previous layers to be seen and creating patterns.

Painting change immensely from the original watercolor, gesturally drawing.  But, one thing remained...that I absolutely love....and that is the bud just beginning to blossom at the top of the painting.  Do you see it...or is it just me?


Check out my WEB GALLERY to see more contemporary abstract paintings.


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Monday, May 27, 2013

splashes...

Floralsplash

Mixed media on 12"H x 15"W 140lb. watercolor paper

May be purchased through PayPal directly from my Web Gallery

or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com


SOLD




Presently on a roll with these floral abstracts.  This gorgeous painting was inspired by the annual pick of Peonies from our backyard.  Ya, your probably wondering "where are the peonies"? Well, needless to say, I sort of got off track again....ok..way off track.  Anyway, we'll keep that a secret!

I began much the same way as I did with "Beaut."  The paper was first of all soaked with clear water and then taking Azo Gold and Magenta watercolor paint directly from the tube to a wide brush, I laid the brushstrokes down.  Colors where allowed to mingle as the paper was tilted.   While still wet, I quickly did a gesturally drawing of the Peonies with a brown watercolor pencil. Many of those lines where covered up as the painting progressed.  From here, there was a layering process that pretty much took the whole day as I allowed a layer to dry before working again.  The irridescent acrylic gold is a metallic paint that ordinarily doesn't photograph very well, but think it did quite well with this one.

Just having fun exploring and experimenting with splashes of watercolors/acrylic color!


Please visit my WEB GALLERY to see a collection of my abstract paintings.


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Saturday, May 25, 2013

just two...

Goldentwo

Mixed media on 12" x 15" 140lb. watercolor paper

May be purchased through PayPal from my Web Gallery: HERE

or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com






Inspiration can come from so many different places.  I recognize it by something that sticks so strongly in my mind that there will be a desire to create an expression.  It can come from colors I've seen on a show, the way the light just happens to be hitting an object, smells and sights from places, memories, music, another artist's work, a walk through a mall, flower gardens....basically life in general!

In this case it was a bouquet of yellow roses that my daughters, Elsie and Emma had given me for my birthday.   But, it wasn't until a week later that the inspiration hit!  As I walked through the kitchen early one morning there were two roses that had fully blossomed and stood out from the other roses that had begun to wilt.  I snatched the two, filled a green bottle with water, cut and arranged them so they fit snugly together.

To the studio they went....to be come my next floral abstract painting. They can be seen in the beginning stages of this instagram photo that I took.  Again, there was a gesturally drawing and a layering of colors much like the previous post of "Beaut".  This one has a richness created with newly purchased Azo Gold, Indian Yellow, Golden Green watercolors and Irridescent Gold acrylic background contrasted with the softness of the golden yellow roses with a dab of magenta.

Two roses together in a beautiful full bloom!


Please visit my Web Gallery to see more of my contemporary abstract paintings.


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

a gesturally flow....

Beaut

Mixed media (watercolor/acrylic) on 16"H x 12"W 140lb. watercolor paper

May be purchased directly from my Web Gallery: HERE

or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com






My still life set up of the Irises that Penny and I picked last week were still sitting there on the table today.  Although, most of the flowers have now kinda gone towards the droopy side there were still a few lively ones.  As these were the inspiration for the last painting, thought I would give it another go!  

First of all I wet the paper down with clear water, then randomly added the back ground colors of magenta, yellow gold, green gold and a touch of cobalt blue. While wet, I picked up the block of paper and tilted it merging colors together. Next, I did a quick gesturally drawing using a brown watercolor pencil while the paper was still wet.  Green gold was used to fill in the stems. Left to dry at this point.

Second session.  Chinese white was used to emphasize, soften and create a subtle contrast between the pedals and the background.  Swirls were created with thick Azo yellow and later softened with a wet brush.  Acrylic pink was added to further enhance the magenta pink of the watercolors.
Left to dry again.

Third session.  Irredescent gold acrylic paint (a metallic) was used to create more depth with the swirly background.  Dipping my watercolor pencil in water I redrew, further darkening a few of the lines on the flower, also to create more depth. 

Lastly, it was photographed. I wish I would have remembered to have sign it.  Many times I will find a stronger compositional placement of my abstracts after I see the photographed image. That is why I do not sign them until I'm absolutely sure.  There was no doubt with this one.  Anyhow, it will be initialed MEC on the front and signed/dated on the back as I do all my paintings before they are shipped. 

A gesture drawing is one that is done rather quickly. It is more about capturing the feeling of the objects than an actual realistic depiction.  A loose drawing with a gesturally flow was used to create this floral abstract.  .....and a lot of fun it was!!!


A complete portfolio of available abstracts can be seen in my Web Gallery: HERE


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Monday, May 20, 2013

aha moment....

Flowerburst

Mixed media 12"W x 16"H 140lb. watercolor paper
Ready to frame.

Sold





To see more of my contemporary abstracts please visit my Web Gallery: HERE


Several years ago when I first began painting with acrylics I found them very frustrating to work with.  I was a realistic painter who had been trained in transparent watercolors and oils.  I LOVED oils.  I felt confident working in both of these mediums as I could work slowly blending and layering colors.  The switch to acrylics was made for practical reasons.  Because acrylics dry SO quickly, I simply began working very quickly, pretty much sticking with a painting until completion.  The more and thicker the acrylic paint that is added the longer the drying time and more time you have to work.  

I am still working with acrylics, but have decided to try some new approaches.  Wrote about this in the last post. This is the painting that I was working on as I wrote that post.  The initial inspiration was from some irises that my grand-daughter and I had cut and arranged in a vase.  I absolutely love irises with their graceful curvy lines and their intricate inner patterns.  Anyway, I began with watercolors and a loose gesturally drawing of the irises.  Watercolor washes were applied and allowed to dry as I went off to do something else.  Coming back to it from time to time gave me a new fresh perspective and new idea to apply.

The circles (and there are layers of these) were the beginning of the addition of acrylic paint.  From this point on the layers in various ways are applied with acrylics.  It is a mixed media painting having used watercolors, graphite and acrylic paint.  The richness of this painting was built up with experimenting, playing and adding color intuitively.  The "aha" moment came with the addition of the parallel pyrole orange lines done with the side of a palette knife.

I was originally working from a floral still life of irises in a vases and got way off track.  But, I think it's lovely...don't you?!  And, it sold within two days of having completed it!!  Fresh off the easel.

Eileen, thank you so much!!  
Your support is VERY much appreciated!

Hope it's enjoyed for many, many years to come!!


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Saturday, May 18, 2013

a new approach....

Rococo

Acrylic on 24" x 36" x 1.5" wrap canvas

May be purchased from my web gallery: HERE

or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

SOLD




Incredibly busy week!  Spring has finally made it into the Ozarks and we have had So MUCH we've been waiting -for what seemed like forever -to get done outside.  The garden is nearly all planted..yay...bring on the rain!  We nearly just gave up on putting one in this year, with the late, late frost, snow the beginning of May, a weekend of rain that had pounded down on our newly plowed plot. There were plants started in the house that we just weren't able to get out and we were afraid to lose them.  Anyway, we got out with a hoe this week, broke the soil up and planted...varieties of green peppers, tomatoes, squashes, cucumbers, green beans and corn.

What has all this got to do with painting....well there's been no time to put the brushes to the canvas.  It's ok though, it has been SO wonderful playing outdoors after a long winter.  I can only see this as the beginning of a new busy season...as we also have a wedding in June!! Our daughter Emma and Trey George will be exchanging wedding vows on June 8th!!!  Many other activities lined up for June as well.

I  have gotten caught up in much, but also realize that I do need to continue to work. Just needing to formulate a new strategy.  I think I'll call it "layers of summer".  Sounds like a series. mmm..cool.  Anyway, watercolors can be a good medium for this as they require drying time in-between the layering of color washes and I can run off to do other things.   I began one this morning that I have already been coming back to,  adding on and still working intuively.  Also, got a white canvas out to begin a new acrylic painting using this same approach and working on several at a time.  We'll see...

Oh...and I had a birthday this week!!


A collection of my abstract paintings can be seen in my web gallery: HERE!


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Monday, May 13, 2013

in time...

'Crown'

Acrylic on 24" x 24" x 1.5" wrap canvas






Does a painting have to be completed before moving on to another?  I have not been one to set a painting aside, moving on and then coming back to it later.  I must confess I do become obsessed and immersed in my work until it is finished.  But, only one at a time.  I am beginning to think that maybe I should give myself permission to allow a work to rest a bit.  This too can be a part of the process.  This one I guess, has had me thinking in that direction as I just wasn't totally satisfied with the painting that it was...and so decided to go back in and resolve it.  It is the third painting update on this one canvas. Hopefully, I can remember to just let go...it can always be picked up on another day, week, month...year?!!   I absolutely love it! now....


thanks for reading!

more of my contemporary abstracts can be seen and are available from my web gallery: HERE

enjoy!


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Thursday, May 2, 2013

bustle.....

'Fulgent'

Acrylic on 24" x 36" x 1.5" wrap canvas




May be purchased directly from my online gallery: HERE

or email me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

SOLD


the first stroke is the hardest....

It really is true.  For me just beginning a painting can be the most difficult part.  Perhaps it's because with each fresh start and blank canvas their are expectations of what I desire, which is often what I feel others will like that I have to get through.  Those first marks can help me to breakthrough and kick in the creative path leading me to the next idea, then the next and on and on. To see this paintings first marks click, here.  Each painting has it's own story to tell and it's important to listen and respond, building from each previous mark, layer, etc.,

It is exciting to have a work of art bring to mind a story as this one day did while working on it.  I will often times have cityscape like compositions come together, which is what I began seeing in this one.  Last summer, I had the opportunity to visit New York City with my daughters.  It was a short trip into Manhattan where they met with a book editor.  Being a visual person, I took in A LOT in those few short days and wondered how all this would express itself one day.

We arrived there at the end of June in what turned out to be their first hot, hot weekend, with daytime highs reaching 100.  Not so bad when your indoors in air conditioner, but for the most part we were outside walking everywhere, as most New Yorkers do.  It's a very busy, lively city with a distinctive sight of yellow taxi cabs and horns honking.  Lots and lots of people, busily moving and going places, quite the contrast to the Ozarks.  The sights, sounds and people brought back many fond memories of my child hood years in Caracas, Venezuela.  I must say...

Thank you New York!

can you see it?!....

Many more of my contemporary abstracts can be seen: HERE


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist