Wednesday, August 31, 2016

When art has a mind of its own

A few days ago I wanted to play in my artjournal and this time I felt like making something abstract: no pretty faces or flowers or even a jumping dolphin. I just wanted to get  some colors on the page and maybe add few marks. Everything about this page would be playful and intuitive. So I started to paint with hues of red, yellow, orange and brown.  

After the first few layers had dried, I noticed the shape of a cloak behind a tree and immediately all my intentions with this page where gone, like dust in the wind. The painting took my hand and guided me into a darkening autumnal forest where a little girl and her dolly came across  a cloaked woman with a lantern in her hand. .. I added some oil pastels to enhance the shapes which were eager to be found.


Then the only thing to do was to add some details and this is the final result:

Although I really enjoyed working on this page, the next one might be an abstract. But then again nothing is certain when you start playing in your  artjournal

16 comments:

  1. This is fantastic Ellen! And maybe your unconscious mind came out in your art as a way of showing you in your search and explore mode. :)

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    1. Thanks Bev! Being in my search and explore mode" now that is a perfect way to describe the old lady":)

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  2. Really lovely. I am with Bev, your art is expressing something and it grabbed a hold of you and took you into the forest to explore deeper.
    I think your longing for the cooler weather of Autumn is also expressing itself.
    Hang in there girl.

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    1. Thanks Carolyn! Hopefully I won't get lost there :)
      Can't wait until Autumn arrives. luckily the early mornings are getting cooler but that is about it.

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  3. Beautiful! I love the colors! Amazing what the mind can come up with from the simplest of images.

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    1. Thank you so much! Yes the mind is a miraculous thing.

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  4. Oh my! Your use of colour is tremendous. I love each iteration of this work. Do another abstract!

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    1. Thank you very much!! If this continues I'll never get another abstract done :D

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  5. That is gorgeous. I love the colors, and I love how you took us through your process.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Annette ! :D

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  6. I love it when you let your heart and intuition lead like this, Ellen. A beautiful, powerful piece.

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    1. Thanks Rose. It was hard for me to let go of my initial plan but now I am grateful that I did

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  7. I love your art Ellen! It's truly beautiful..simple, elegant, calming. And layered..one can look at these simple images and lose all track of time. I wish you'd design a tarot deck some day :-)

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    1. Thank you very much. A tarot deck.. Mmmmm... 78 cards... I think not. :)
      For now an art journal and an occasional painting feels jus about right for me

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  8. Finally back and have been reading everyone,s posts. This is so lovely, thank you for stepping out of your personal comfort zone and sharing with us

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    1. You're welcome Sharyn! It was a perfect example of how we often cannot control entirely what we are creating

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