Journeys - Spirit
How does one just let go and allow images to fill a page without planning, without questioning, letting only one's inner spirit guide the way? That is the challenge Leeza presents each of the Journeys artists when we receive her book, Spirit... we must create art spontaneously, directed only by the spirit within.
I had a hard time doing this. I was so daunted by the prospect of working without a plan that I actually stalled and stalled until this morning, even though I've had the book for weeks. Nervous as I was when I finally sat down to work on the two-page spread, I remembered how energized I felt when I created mixed media pieces for the Inspire Me Thursday's Senseless Art and Five Senses challenges. I decided to take a similar approach of abandoning expectations and just going with the flow of energy. I chose colors that appealed to my mood and then proceeded to make a great big mess all over my work table. I gessoed the pages, stamped in texture, rubbed in colors with my fingers, sponged them around, removed color with alcohol, collaged the horse, scribbled with water soluble pastels...adding and subtracting until I felt like I was finished. I thoroughly enjoyed the process, and I even like the product.
(acrylic, water soluble pastel, and collage on 140 lb. cold press water color paper)
posted by carla at 10:26 PM
23 Comments:
Carla, I think this may be my favorite piece yet. I love the subject, but it's as much the colors and the blending of them, and of the mediums. Really amazing work! I've been tempted to just sit and paint whatever, but am always afraid it will just turn into mud on canvas. Maybe I should rethink that. You've inspired me...
Gosh this is magical - and it sounds as though you created it in a very transformative way. My eye is really drawn to the lights in the sky and then back to the horse, then over to the mysterious wood.
Love it.
this is a wonderful outpouring in my eyes! what a great challenge.process is everything! spontaneous art can be so good for the soul and the journey!
Beautiful, soothing and a really peaceful painting. I like it very much.
The textural effect is wonderful and the colour choice serene and beautiful. I have wanted to just sit and allow the process to engulf me wihtout pre-planning lately, too, but always feel so pressed for time that I don't feel I can afford to do a disposable painting, if that's what it turns out to be (and beleive me, I've disposed of plenty in my time!). So glad yours worked and maybe I'll take a break this summer to do the same.
Wow, what a great experience to just "let it happen". I think it turned out wonderful. You were obviously in a very peaceful state when you did this. The colors are magnificant and very soothing. Love this.
a.
another wow carla. the trees on the left really is beautiful. it shows in your painting that you were satisfied and enjoyed the process.
thnak you carla for the support and thoughts you have left on my blog. i hope i can finally come back regularly and soon....
Beautiful Carla! This would be hard for me too. I am so used to creating for a reason! You should feel great about this!
So beautiful and soft, both of them. I think it is so cool that you mix media like you do. I can never get anything to work well together! Anyway, wonderful work as always! Brandi
SO beautiful and peaceful! The colors and softness are so relaxing and cheerful!
The colors and the way they meld together is so beautiful. I especially love the trees.
Carla this has a wonderful impressionistic feel to it.
The more you can let go and just create with out expectations the easier and more fun you will have. I love doing art work this way. It is as if I am the instument and my guides are the artists guiding my hand and everything about me.
Again this has a wonderful feel, texture, depth, and passion.
How beautiful this is! I love the colours, and the soft, fuzzy feeling I get inside when I look at this picture.
This is very poetic and enchanting! Lovely!
I came to see (by way of Caroline's blog) and I'm so glad I did - this is lovely! Very inspiring.
Wow! Gorgeous!!!
Wow, Carla!!! What a beautiful pic! I realllllly love it! And I enjoyed reading about the process of getting to it. Thanks for this.
Blue skies
love
Roy
That is just fantastic! Letting go is always very rewarding in my experience. Beautiful work!
Wow! Carla this is so beautiful. The colors are so soothing, so serene. Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!
P.S. Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments in my blog.
Carla, when you let go, all beauty breaks loose. Beautiful and fabulous piece!
Beautiful painting i can c ur efforts on this ....the colors the textures sooooooooo beautiful!!
well you should 'let go' more often, this is beautiful!!
Carla, I totally understand how this might have been a difficult approach for you. I have my "creative process" down to a science, and rarely just let go and create. Thanks for using this piece for "show and tell art." It's amazingly nice on the eyes, and really takes me to a serene place.
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