"Joy!"

"JOY!"
Acrylics and Mixed Medium
Birch Panel

24" X 24"
(SOLD)
 

This painting began (again) with a prepared background 

that I had composed quite a while back.
As I said earlier, I do Backgrounds  and set them aside until the right idea comes to mind 

for what I have to work with.
I realize this seems to be a slap-hazard way of creating any type of art, but it works for me.
(What can I say?)
When I thought of a whale breaching in the Ocean 

In my Minds eye I was picturing joy and freedom.

Firstly I set out deciding the positioning of the Whale

and what part of the Breech I would portray.
I drew a small sketch
(Yes, believe it or not I have now drawn a Bird a Fish and a Whale )
I knew (again) that I wanted to portray water and an immense span of it.
So I set up the boundaries of the level of the water.

(the white goop shown below)

and

 that determined the positioning of my main focus.
I poured the Liquitex pouring medium just below the top 1/2 of the board and it did not pass my barrier (thankfully)
I (at this point) just had one line of pouring medium

(as shown in the below photo)

Again, please understand that I am working by the seat of my pants here.

 I do not know any tried and true way to do this so I improvised with what I had on hand.
And luckily for me, it worked.

 I then penciled in the Whale with a water colour pencil and painted it in.
above and below what was now the water line

Close-up of painted water/wavesThis photo shows how the Pouring medium makes the water realistic as in a splash!

 

Detail

I hope this kinda gets you all into trying new techniques and products.
Yes, I know Pouring medium is not a new product, but it was to me.
I love working with new ideas and methods.
Yes I fail at them as well, but it sure is fun  trying.

Sometimes it is well worth trying to use a new art product without really knowing what it can do.
I knew that Pouring medium dried crystal clear and looks like glass.
With this work I used the medium in layers letting one level completely dry before adding another.
I wanted the water to look and feel like actual waves.
I think I achieved what I set out to do!
Later everyone
~~Kathleen

Sky Ice Water series continued

Sky Ice Water #2

Sky Ice Water #3

"Sky Ice Water #4"

The above paintings are Acrylic on Water colour paper
11" X 7"

These three little lovelies took me over a month to complete.
As I have said before, there is a certain beauty in the starkness of the ocean in the Arctic.
The sky and water seem to be one with only the ice separating them.
The ice takes on the blue hues of the water, and under the dimness of the midnight sun
the colours are breathtaking.
I hope you do enjoy these.
I was in rapture while I painted them.
~~Kathleen

"Sky Ice Water #1"

"Sky Ice Water #1"

Acrylics on canvas
8" X 16"
Kuujjauk, NWT

Still on my Winter series.
The sky and water seem to be one, while separated by ice flows
in the Arctic.
~~Kathleen