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

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!!

Web Gallery

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

Abstract Floral Painting "Sur Fleurs" by Contemporary Artist Elizabeth Chapman

'Sur Fleurs'

Acrylic on 24" x 30" x 1.5" wrap canvas

SOLD!

To purchase contact me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

Almost there.... an absolutely gorgeous day yesterday in the Ozarks. Today, we got some much needed rain, the winds are howling, cold is coming back with possible snow in a few days. For now I'll just keeping painting my abstract florals, with my thoughts on the upcoming season of renewal and WARM weather arriving soon! yay!

web gallery: HERE

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist 

happy painting....

Sunshine

Floral Contemporary Abstract

Acrylic on 16" x 20" canvas

This was a fun little painting I did from a bouquet of flowers I bought at our local grocery store over the weekend. The background was painted lightly with acrylics with a wet on wet watercolor type of effect which is contrasted with the thicker paint of the flowers. Painting is on a standard size canvas which can be easily popped into a ready made frame.

Daily Abstract Painter Elizabeth Chapman

To purchase contact: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

To see more of my work please visit my Web Gallery

expression overflowing......

Mountain Flower

Contemporary Abstract Floral

Acrylic on 20" x 16" (1.5) canvas

( 1 of 2)

Sold

for commissions please contact: Elizabeth

This is the first painting of a set of two that I have recently done as a commissioned piece. (I will post the second one tomorrow) Inspired by a camping trip to the mountains in Colorado, Amy gave me some photos of a favorite flower of hers the Columbine. Other than just giving me an idea of the size of the format, she pretty much just turned me lose to paint my own expression of how I saw these flowers.

The colors are an exaggeration of the actual colors of the photograph, a meeting of the abstract and realistic styles. As I have had a few days to just simply enjoy the finished paintings, I have pondered the thought of how each of us has a unique expression .....that is beautiful in the eyes of the Creator. It is a gift that is given in order to fulfill the purpose of your life bringing it to light and allowing it to shine that others may see and know as well.

Daily Abstract Painter Elizabeth Chapman