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Am I Dreaming of Pink Spiked Hair?

Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube

A forgotten piece of play grabbed my attention and before I knew it, a visitor showed up. This bright, and quite silly, character came to life all because of an O.O.P.S.

I started by stenciling the word dreams with acrylic paint and my Vintage Typewriter stencil on a canvas board that had been hanging around the studio for eons.

Was this word significant to this piece? Did I have a plan for where it was going.  Nope.  Just had the impulse with that word, so I went with it.  By the end, I knew why that word popped into my head.

Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube

The impulse to use inks struck me, so I pulled them out and started adding color willy nilly all over the canvas board.

Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube

While the inks were drying, I noticed Thing 1 showed up. Only Dr. Seuss knows for sure if this was actually Thing 1 or Thing 2, but my money is on 1.

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Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube

Once it was dry, I added white spray ink.  This white, by DecoArt, is slightly translucent.  That piece of book text is protecting the goofy face I suddenly saw in the layers of color.

Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube

After spraying it, I had the impulse to smear white around, so I followed that impulse!

Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube

Impulses had been leading me along on this until now and I almost got stuck here.  I started thinking and when I start thinking, there impulses are far and few between.  I am more cautious.  But luckily, I had an impulse and followed it.

Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube

O.O.P.S.  It did not turn out the way I expected so it is just an Outstanding Opportunity Presenting Suddenly. Not a mistake but an O.O.P.S.

A video posted by Carolyn Dube (@carolyn_dube) on

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This was just a face before the pink oil pastel spiked hair, but now he has personality.  He has the attitude that comes with pink spiked hair the doubles the size of your head. And I love him even more than what I was trying to create!

Why the word dreams?  Because dreams don’t have the same filters that conscious thought does and this canvas was all about not filtering my impulses.  Now what to call him…

Colorful mixed media play by Carolyn Dube
{ 11 comments… add one }

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  • Sandee Setliff November 4, 2016, 5:58 pm

    willy nilly…now see, this is why I love you! lol And his name is Spike…:)

  • Sally Gordon November 4, 2016, 11:24 pm

    Frosty the Snowman with Statue of Liberty complex!

  • Corrine November 5, 2016, 5:10 am

    I always dream of pink spiked hair or turquoise or orange. Another splendid video…xox

  • Sharon Rawson November 5, 2016, 2:15 pm

    This one was great fun!

  • Mari November 5, 2016, 5:49 pm

    Hi Carolyn, I am a new art journaler, and while looking for some gelli printing tips, came across your blog and videos quite recently. I just wanted to pop in and say THANK YOU SO MUCH! I binge watch your videos whenever in need of some creative energy and optimism and trust in the Muse. It is fun and a privilege to get to play with her, and I love seeing how you do just that – in spite of the nasty inner voices that we all battle at least occasionally! Keep up the play!

  • Barbara November 6, 2016, 9:40 pm

    I wish I knew how to send you pictures — my almost-70-yr.-old brother spikes his hair often and sprays it orange or green or yellow, depending on which basketball game he is going to see. He knows how to play with paint (and hair)!

    • Sandra November 14, 2016, 1:58 am

      Hi Barbara
      Now he sounds a fun brother. Try taking a screen shot, and then sending that by text or email

  • Charity V November 10, 2016, 4:31 pm

    The pink punk hair, haha! Love it.

    Finding faces and shapes, etc in art is one of my favorite things to do, kind of like finding shapes in the clouds. 🙂

  • Jo-Anne Falconer November 12, 2016, 3:41 pm

    Love it, I think the name could be dream thing 1. He’s so cute. Very Dr Seuss like.

  • Donna November 14, 2016, 9:06 am

    To me, this has The Statue of Liberty written all over it! Adding “dreams” makes it even more so. Isn’t that what Lady Liberty is all about? Thank you!

  • D.Ann C November 18, 2016, 4:14 pm

    You see pink spiked hair… I see an exploding planet! I love the splats on the upper left!!