THE ARTIST’S PROCESS – THE BLANK CANVAS BLOG HOP

I am an experimental and experiential artist. It’s not that my experiments are so wacky, I just love the journey. I like solving new problems. If I have already figured out how to do something, I’m not much interested in doing it again. As an experiential artist, I want to create a new experience for myself and those seeing my work.  It’s a very different approach from other artists who are making something that looks real.

“What fun it would be”, I thought, “to learn about the process of other artists and to share my process with interested folks.”  Got together with a group of visual artists and we picked “The Blank Canvas” as the topic for our blog hop. Make sure you read to the bottom, where you will see how you could win my fabulous giveaway and read about the process of the other participating artists.

“The Eyes of War” 24′ x 24′ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Here is the painting in the very initial stage. You can see the transfer images, newspaper and canvas collage.

This painting,”The Eyes Of War” started out with my trying out some new techniques. I used a transfer process to reproduce some images from magazines and the New York Times, as well as newspaper collage. This was at the start of when the Ukraine and Middle East seemed about to blow up and the images of eyes led me to feel the sadness in the souls of those involved. I created large framing elements by collaging strips of frayed camvas onto the existing camvas. I used molding paste, gesso and acrylic medium to add additional texture. This would not be a smooth painting if I wanted to get a sense of the upheaval of war.

Adding layers of color to the painting gave it its direction and color palette.

I then began adding many layers of color including metallic gold, with each layer obliterating some and highlighting others.  I felt the presence of the eyes I had placed in the under layers, throughout my painting process. I intentionally limited my range of colors, preferring to delve into the nuances I could create from yellows, greens and blues. This created a cohesive and unified color theme for this busy and intense canvas.

 

 

Adding black and deeper color provided a gravitas to the painting that helped express its theme of war.

In order to simplify some of the activity and emphasize specific elements, I added strong lights and darks to the painting. The use of black evoked for me the emptiness and darkness of war.

By converting the picture to black and white, I am able to see more easily, the dark and light patterns,

I also use contrasting values (lightness and darkness) as a dramatic device to keep the eye of the viewer moving through the painting.

The final painting is distinctively different from anything I have created before. I find its asymmetry and allusions in shape somewhat disturbing and evocative of conflict. Hence, the title “The Eyes Of War” seems appropriate.

Did it surprise you? It certainly surprised me as I was working on it, to see where it would end up. That’s one of the reasons that I enjoy doing the work I do. It is a great gift to be able to create work where I surprise myself on a regular basis!

WIN THE FABULOUS BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY – $100 VALUE

Enter to WIN this fabulous giveaway! You can win any print you choose from my online sbelow.

You enter by leaving a comment below telling me what you think about my or other’s creative process.  

Other stuff to do to get more entries? Each action will give you another entry into the drawing.

• Subscribe to this blog by clicking “SIGN ME UP” in the upper right corner of this page.
• Sign up here for my mailing list (below) and get all the insider’s news on what’s happening
• Like me on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/ArtistKarenF
• Follow me on Instagram http://instagram.com/artistkaren
• Follow me on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/karenfriedland/

Then each day visit these other artists’ blogs to learn about their process and win other giveaways!

Giveaway rules: Giveaway is open to US residents only. Entrants must be 18 years of age and up. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Comment entries close 11:59pm, on September 23, 2014. Winner will be chosen by random drawing on September 24, and will be officially notified via email and must acknowledge the notification email by October 4th, 2014, or the prize is forfeit and will be given to the runner up. Artwork will be shipped within a month of getting the winner’s selection shipping address. Giveaway  Value-apx $100.

 

1. Sept 8….Karen Friedland  ←THAT’S ME
2. Sept 9….Lezette Markham
3. Sept 10…Cynthia Patton
4. Sept 11…Jennyann Carthern 
5. Sept 12…FRIDAY FRENZY – Kiala Givehand, Tori Deaux, Karen Friedland←THAT’S ME TOO
6. Sept 13...Jan Blount
7. Sept 14…Effy Wild
8. Sept 15…Virginia Simpson-Magruder
9. Sept 16…Dariana Cruz
10. Sept 17…Susan Miller
11. Sept 18…Grace Howes
12. Sept 19…Tori Deaux
13. Sept 20…Kiala Givehand
14. Sept 21…Martin Arkenstone
15. Sept 22…Nicole Piar← today’s spotlight

Thanx so much for coming along on our blog hop and for your participation here!