It’s week 3 of Dina Wakley’s Out of the Journal Challenge, Paint Party Friday , Art Journal Every Day and Frilly & Funkie’s canvas challenge so I needed to get painting.
Started by gluing down old newspaper that protected the table when I was spray inking something. Don’t remember what I inked but you bet I saved the scrap paper.
A layer of gesso because lately I think everything needs a layer of gesso. Then I froze. I began over thinking what to do next.
Stuck for an idea, I started rubber stamping around the edges. The stamping got the canvas moving. At least I wasn’t stuck anymore.
No inspiration on what to do next so I just started randomly stamping all over it. Then I started over thinking again. To thwart that I decided this canvas was going to be finished today- it is just a canvas. Why did it feel like there were lives hanging in the balance?
A few globs of paint on my fingers and now it was all coming into perspective – all it is a canvas. Absolutely no idea where this is heading yet but it didn’t matter because there’s paint on my hands.
Painted in a temple with stencil cut on my Silhouette. Thought it would look different here. Just as I started obsessing about this I was reminded that the fate of mankind did not hinge on this painting. Just add more paint.
Green usually works but I just had to laugh at how it did NOT do what I expected here. No worries- that is what a white oil pastel crayon is for- to push that green way back. Still not popping off the background enough for me- so I added more color.
Still didn’t do enough for me. Finally it hit me. I didn’t have any words or text. Out came the marker. Now it felt finished.
I love all your layers and to read your thoughts as you go. The piece below is super fun too – cheerios are definitely doughnut seeds, now that I come to think if it;-)
Carolyn this is FANTASTIC. What a great idea and what a clear tutorial with the pictures. You have made a marvelous canvas. Thanks foor this examples.
Have a nice weekend and lovely greet
Marja
Great canvas, I love it! Architecture is a good theme! Love your layers, too – Monika
Hi Carolyn, found your blog through AJED. I love the way you’ve broken down your process, reading things like this always help inspire me when I get stuck in a rut! I’ll definitely be following your steps next time I’m feeling horrified by a blank canvas.
D x
P.S. I LOVE your first layer, the inky newspaper looks so cool!
this is plain FABULOUS….and thanks for the tut along the way…totally enjoyed it 🙂
A lesson I need to learn too. Thanks for sharing the process. 🙂
Fun creation and loved how you shared how to put it ‘all in perspective’ for the creating process ~ (A Creative Harbor)
What an amazing transformation! I love the finished results. The colors are perfect. And I love the green, purple and turquoise together.
Thanks so much for sharing your process! I love your title too “Dont Take a Canvass too Seriously”.
love all the layers you have built up on your canvas. hopped over from dina’s blog to see what everyone has created this week. x
You ended up with a great piece. I did not know gesso was such a necessity! Makes me think about why I don’t use it more.
I love this canvas, and thanks for sharing your inspiring creative process!!
Beautiful! Love seeing the progress!
I love how you are thinking as you are doing the steps. Really a great job. I was surprised how it all came to be, that’s very creative. I don’t know how to do this, but I should give it a stab some time. Thanks for sharing the process, I loved it and your work.
Beautiful! I love how you overcome doubts/creative-blocks by just working through them. I believe that’s the best way to handle them too. Blessings!
Great message and beautiful result. I have to say, I kind of liked that green, though. 🙂
Terrific fun. Happy PPF, Annette x
Beautiful! I’m always so impressed by the number of classes that you take. You’re an inspiration!
Love <our journey through the canvas! Valerie
Oh, Carolyn, you make it look so easy…just a few steps back when you’re stuck, then several forward. Love that you never just give up! I have a canvas that I have never used….maybe I, too, can do this! My mother did, and I so very much want to…..
When I saw this, I was impressed by the old temple and the graffiti. Looks like something you might actually see on one of these buildings now days. This is lovely and so well put together, too.
BTW, I loved your men. They were darling, especially the one asking the question about the fishing pole.
Yes its just a canvas. Why do we over think everything. I know I do. Even my journal pages, when I let go it comes out even better. Fun piece and good advice to follow. HPPF.
very creative work this week!
What a joy to see your process with your paintings!
I especially love this work with its incorporation of text and it reminded me of Greece right away!
Gorgeous colors!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
🙂 Loved the process shots, I suffer from overthinking as well! Thanks for sharing.
I always feel like i have gotten a little mini lesson and inspirational spurt along when I come here… love seeing your process …xx
I love seeing the process, and love the final result here, very loose and free looking!
Cool. Thanks for sharing your process. Very creative. Happy painting.
I absolutley loved your commentary of your artful journey on this painting! I chuckled and nodded in agreement the entire post. I’m glad in the end that you feel finished as this one took a bit to come together. Great for you for not letting it get you stuck. Happy PPF
Wonderful, fun canvas! To over think:EASY, to NOT over think: HARD! But very good advice and demonstration.
Carolyn, this is just wonderful! I love how you handled the canvas and love the colors too. I have one I have been working on for a while and am stuck…it is sitting off to the side of my room…thanks for your encouragement, gesso has become one of my new best friends! 🙂
Carolyn I love it!! The colors and process!! All wonderful!! Thanks for sharing…I love the message too!! I needed it!! I’m often way too contrived!!
Hugs Giggles
Isn’t it funny how a work of art can be…work? And then when we remind ourselves to just chill and play…well then the kid comes out and has a ball.
I love seeing and hearing how you made your progress. You are so right. I’ll just have to keep reminding myself that it’s only a piece of paper (haven’t used canvas yet) and it doesn’t really even matter if I totally ruin it, for goodness sake. 😉
Love your thinking. I’m an over thinker but I like how you deal with this. I’m inspired.
love your candor! I posted some similiar thoughts! I used to work in an ER, you are right, no ones life is hanging on our next move! love it!
cheers, dana
Love your piece, awesome layers and colors!
This looks like so much fun! I am very tempted to join in with this Out of the Journal thing but I just don’t have the time right now. Darn! This makes me want to get out my paint and play.
Love to see the progress of your painting and your thoughts that accompanied it! So true!
Scrap paper is always my favorite go to. Love your process and your emotional push into what you are doing always. xox
AWESOME! I especially love seeing your process. As an art journaling newbie, I love seeing how other people approach their pages.
I think it is so interesting that one can glom on so much STUFF to a page and then in the end only tiny parts peek thorough and you wind up with such an interesting and beautiful piece of art! amazing journey! Fantastic outcome. HPPF!
I love it–the fate of the world does not hang in the balance–it is just a canvas. Yay! I’ve been working to loosen up and remember that I can paint over anything (go gesso!) and just have fun.
I love this canvas and adore the fact that you panicked/put things into perspective all the way through. I just do the panic bit, but will now follow your lead. It’s not life and death! It’s a craft project! Thank you for the reality check, your crafting inspiration and your lovely comment. Hugs, Buttons x
Canvas scares me as well…I am forcing myself to work on one here and there so I’m not afraid anymore!
Carolyn, this is fantastic! I love the way you built up the layers and colors, but I love your rationale even more. We DO tend to get so caught up in things and I appreciate your reality check… thanks for the giggle and look in the mirror! So glad you shared your beautiful work with us at Frilly & Funkie this week.
This is lovely Carolyn,
I love the way you encourage yourself and carry on with the layers and painting. You don’t let it stump you, just stamp or whatever may come. That is what is so inspiring about reading your posts. We get to see a bit of the inner artist and how it weaves its way around the obstacles. A pleasure to read and makes me want to break out the paints.
I loved hearing you talk your way through this! The canvas came out beautiful- very serene in my eyes. But the commentary was priceless!
It´s like being in the studio with you, chatting over coffee (and being careful not to wash our brushes in it 😉 ).
love the title to your post – I agree! And I love the look of gesso on top of clippings & such – I also really like saving the coloured newspaper
great work Carolyn:) Love your attitude on working on paintings and for creating in general. It should be like that. Just surrender and trust as you create. Listen. Looking forward to many more paintings from you!
Wauw this is great! love muted colors in the background! Stunning piece. hugs, Sandra
Love how you’ve taken us thru your process here. Very inspiring!
WOWzer! I love it!! Love the addition of the writing and love the step-by-step pictures. Always an inspiration 😉 xoxo
Great work. Love how you explain each step.
Heck yes you saved that paper–me, too!
Your canvas turned out fantastic. I have tons of canvases, but you know what–I take them too seriously. Something about them being a canvas, instead of just a piece of paper, you know? But you have definitely inspired me to break on out and have a go this week, Carolyn, thank you!!!
🙂
I just love seeing your process, it’s so fun to see!! It turned out great!
I love this!!!! wow!!!! amazing work…..Wishing you a super amazing week!!!!
Wow, I love those blues and purples! It is a wonderfully vibrant piece. It was great to see your step by step!
AWESOME!
Oh wow! I just love all your layers. Beautiful canvas.
Fabulous canvas, love how you’ve used the strips of paper you’ve worked on ! Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Sue C x
Thanks for your reaction to my resin adventures. Glad you could laugh with me!! I love this post. It is so true that we treat canvas differently than anything else. So often, I have to remind myself to breath because I’ve been holding my breath and my body is so tense. So silly. I, too, like each thing I make to be “good.” I was even starting to get into that frame of mind with my art journal. Sometimes, to get out of this, I work left handed (I’m a righty)… It’s a good reminder. xo
wonderful message, so very true!
Good grief I loved your thoughts as you went. I don’t feel quite so alone now. You are so wonderful at teaching how brilliant we can become. Thank you for that. Blessings, Janet PPF
I too felt like I was right in the studio with you. Carolyn, you have a gift for teaching. Thank you for sharing it with the world.
Oh my, you made me giggle – why do we always feel like our lifes are on the line when we make art. I’m glad you could let it loose, and thank you for sharing the story in such a humorous way… I think I can paint now. You ‘saved something’ here, thank you!
I love this – the temple is such a cool image and the background is fab 🙂
Thank you for commenting on my blog. I really like your post on creating a canvas. It is really interesting to see how others work process. Yes I agree we can all over think artwork generally. Andy
Came here via Marjie Kemper’s blog and I’m so glad I did!! Love your page but most of all love your tutorial and your advice is really pertinent to me at present!! I shall be back and I’m off to find somewhere to link up with you.
Have a great weekend.
Juliax
Oooh just made a mess of posting but will try again!
I love it but even more I love being reminded it’s ONLY canvas – I am not cutting diamonds here!! thanks – I actually may make a sign to hang over my work station – no diamond cutting allowed
I love it but even more love the comment it’s ONLY canvas – I need to be reminded often I am not cutting diamonds – it’s only a canvas – thanks
sorry thought first comment didn’t go through –