Friday 3 March 2017

Abstract Art - 001 - Soaring high and All Aboard at AVJ

So it's the third of March and we're celebrating our third birthday at A Vintage Journey and for this special challenge I have created something completely different. Our theme is called 'All Aboard' which leaves it completely open for entries and Creative Guide samples.

At the beginning of the new year I decided I wanted to do more 'art' and what I really mean is looking at my mixed media style and extending it, I needed to do some research and try to create some abstract paintings, which is where I really began my artistic learning back at teacher training college all those years ago. So I'm getting into 2017 with some abstract canvases - yes hopefully there will be some more to see how I get on - but this is the first. I'm looking to soar and fly high and enjoy this new part of my artistic journey.


- Layers of gesso applied with a palette knife and dried between each layer.


- Rub with a wet wipe and brush some thin layers of paint over the canvas and when dry brayer over white to touch the high points of the textured gesso.
- Rub some brown paint around the edges with a cloth.


- Stamp numbers randomly using permanent black ink.


- Now here's where I went 'off piste' and picked up the DecoArt chalky finish paint and using a palette knife scrape two different colours randomly on the canvas.. (I mixed the vintage rose colour using smitten, relic, whisper and cameo).


- Stamp again, this time use letters randomly and permanent black ink. In fact add some words if you like the look.


- Using the a palette knife again apply another colour still leaving previous layers showing through. I chose the cameo.


- At this point I was unhappy with the serene blue so I had another go with that colour and the palette knife - notice the straight lines appearing in these top layers and I remixed some pink too to lighten up some areas.


- Finally I mixed some whisper. and rustic to highlight a few spaces.


- When completely dry I rubbed coffee archival ink round the edges.


Here's the colour inspiration I found on my Pinterest 'colour palette' board.


So there we are, I'm not 'unhappy' with this 20 x 20 cm canvas but I can see I have lots to learn. I'm just gonna run with it and see where my muse takes me when I get a chance to experiment.

So hopefully you will be able to pop over to the AVJ challenge blog to see what else there is for your delight and certainly the Creative Guides have lined up some very magical creations and maybe you will share you art with us too. You never know you might win the £20 voucher being donated by Country View Crafts this month.

Take care and listen to your heArt.

hugs Brenda xxx

41 comments:

Jackie PN said...

Great canvas Brenda! I love your goal and that you have set right to it! this piece and your palette are beautiful! Well done! xo

maria's knutselplezier said...

Beautiful colours!!
Have fun!!
MAria

Dortesjs said...

gorgeous canvas so in love. the colours are fantastic ;O)) great work you ;O)

Valerija said...

Absolutely stunning canvas. Love the colours.
Valerija xx

Astrid Maclean said...

A great new step on your creative journey Brenda. as long as we keep learning we keep growing.... So many things to love about this, the different layers of texture, the palette, the interest the stamping adds, and of course a brilliant step by step like always. You are the born teacher and you have just totally inspired me to dig out those chalk paints!

Nikki Acton said...

My sort of painting... I love abstract and a great pallete. I could imagine this very large... Perfect on my wall! X

Ruth said...

LOVE your canvas, such a beautiful, textural piece of abstract art and the colours work so well together. Inspiring Brenda xx

Redanne said...

Wow Brenda, this is totally inspiring and so beautiful! I love how you built up all those wonderful layers and when you added the darker rusty colour the whole piece just came to life and the stamping adds so much interest. A truly beautiful textural, abstract piece of art!

Thank you too for all the things you do for us at AVJ, it really does not seem like a whole three years! Hugs, Anne xx

Annie said...

Happy AVJ Birthday wishes to you Brenda xx hard to believe it's 3years since this fabulous challenge blog began and I am proud to be part of it xx this is a wonderful abstract piece and so kind of you to share the step by step xx

Huge hugs Annie xxx

froebelsternchen said...

I love your abstract canvas Brenda! Great to see the progress!
Happy weekend!

Words and Pictures said...

Great steps on this new avenue of exploration. The layered colours are so exciting as they interact with one another - love the dynamic straight line "interference", and the weathered look still feels absolutely like "you". Looking forward to following your abstract adventures.
Alison x

Suzanne C said...

Wow! 3 years! Happy Birthday to AVJ. Love your abstract canvas! Beautiful mix of colors, texture and the abstract numbers floating amidst the paint.

Pamellia said...

What an amazing canvas Brenda! I love the colour palette you chose, it's unique and fits so perfectly with an abstract design like this. The texture is amazing, all those layers of mixed media products built up to create wonderful depth and dimension. What a fun design, I am loving how this turned out! sending hugs :)

Monika Gulyas said...

Awesome abstract canvas, Brenda!!! It's great that you challenge yourself!!! Big hugs

SewPaperPaint said...

Isn't it fun to just let go and play for a change! This is something I've been wanting to do as well, create a large abstract painting for our living room. Since we had a leak and repainted I have yet to find the proper artwork and know that I just need to go crazy on a canvas! ;0 I really love your layers of colors and the gorgeous scrape marks/texture. Congratulations on the successful 3 years of AVJ! Hugs, Autumn

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

This is gorgeous Brenda, I love how you applied the Gesso to create texture to the background and then applied the Paints . The colour combination is particularly striking as is the whole concept. Love it. Have a lovely weekend. Tracy x

Maggie said...

Love the textures and colours In this canvas thanks for sharing the how to looks like great fun😊

MaggieH

S@ndy Diller said...

Your canvas is great Brenda. Always hard to start something new and put it out there for the world - you are a brave one. Keep up the good work and keep us posted on your progress. S@ndy xx

Paula Cheney said...

wonderful piece - I love it!

Craftyfield said...

Very brave to experiment but you have to try new things in order to progress, don't you... All I can tell you is, to me, your canvas does have visual appeal. Well worth exploring further!

rachel said...

I love that you are experimenting in this way and clearly enjoying it - wonderful Brenda xx

Unknown said...

Wow - what a super color inspiration and amazing abstract canvas result Brenda. You know... I love all things 'canvas' so this is a HUGE TREAT to see. Can't wait to see the next one!!! Xj.

Meggymay said...

It looks a fantastic canvas to me Brenda. I also leave many things to go back to at a future date.
Yvonne xx

Lisa said...

Oh wow, Brenda, this is absolutely stunning!! I love your layering of colors and the stamping!! It's so artistic and gorgeous!! I love it!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Patty O'Malley said...

Awesome work, Brenda.

Julia Aston said...

What a lovely start to your new artistic path Brenda - love the colors you chose and all your scratchings and stampings - a beautiful piece to celebrate the AVJ 3rd year! Julia xx

Kaz Hall said...

I LOVE this Brenda! All the layers!! Yum xx

sarascloset said...

Brenda, I am delighted to see your art take wings and I so enjoyed seeing how this abstract canvas came together! I think you are going to love this kind of artwork more and more! I can tell you enjoyed making it, and the end result is really gorgeous! I love the effect of the texture poking out through the layers and your colors work perfectly together! Gorgeous, and a painting I would certainly hang in my home! Hugs!

PS Thank you for the sweet intro and the opportunity to be on board at A Vintage Journey! Happy Birthday!

Scrapintheattic.com said...

Wow, love your new venture. I feel like a bird soaring high across countryside when I look at the canvas. X

A Pink said...

Its so great that you have decided to pick up the roots of your artistic learning Brenda. I am sure you will, without doubt, soar and fly high if this canvas is anything to go by. It really is fabulous. It has a wonderful simplicity amalgamating with depth , texture and detail . Just love the rough, grungy feel of it and the way the stamping between the layers of paint makes the viewing eye (well at least mine) want to delve deep to uncover whats beneath.
I share your passion to do more 'art' but unlike you I have yet to get out the starting blocks . Yay for you for doing so .
Thanks for letting me share the AVJ creative journey with you. I really do feel so lucky to be part of such a fantastic team.
Happy AVJ Birthday Brenda .
Have a lovely weekend x

Gina said...

Fantastic end result! It has that weathered and peeling paint look you get on old shed doors :D XXX

Jane said...

What brilliant art Brenda. I love to see how you continue to challenge yourself and evolve. Fabulous. Many congratulations to you over at AVJ I have loved witnessing its fantastic journey. All aboard indeed...I'm with you. Happy Sunday my friend xxx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

I absolutely love this Brenda, I always find doing abstract is actually quite hard to get right and you've nailed it perfectly here....hopefully you'll be doing loads more so I can drool over it ;)
Hugs
Donna xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Fabulous layering Brenda, really loving this. Hope you enjoy the new challenges you are making for yourself. Happy arty Sunday with hugs, Angela xXx

Deb said...

Brenda this is fabulous and I so admire your exploring abstract art, it is an art form that I've never attempted and one that I find very intimidating so I applaud your exploration of this genre! Thanks so much for sharing it with us and also a big thank you to you for taking me along on your Vintage Journey, I feel so very lucky to be a part of our wonderful team at AVJ. Deb xo

pearshapedcrafting said...

This really does look amazing! Loved seeing the process! Hugs, Chrisx

Nora said...

Amazing! Loved to see the process!

Nora said...

Awsome! Loved to see the process!

Nora said...

Awsome! Loved to se the whole process!

Carol said...

Fab canvas - to me it's like a map just beginning it's creation xxx

Jenny Marples said...

To be totally honest... I LOVE this to bits Brenda! LOVING your abstract side xx