Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Edgy


"Redhead"
8" x 10" Mixed Media

Every now and then, I need to take a dive into something different and push myself beyond my comfort zone. The Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society is sponsoring a collage workshop in August by Derek Gores. I plan to sign up for it and as leader of the society, I can go for half price, the idea being that I get a chance to know more artists in our society. I spent some time looking at this young man's work and I just love his collages and his mixed media work. The collages are done entirely of paper, no painting. The mixed media looks like there is gesso involved and line work, and very little color.

So yesterday I bought myself some very heavy gesso and covered over a failed painting on 300 lb. Arches paper. I went back through my life drawings and found some I had done of a favorite model, Christine. She was actually nude in my life drawing, but I preferred a simple dress. After the gesso dried, I painted the background with acrylic paint and liquid gesso. I then did a free-hand drawing on this surface using vine charcoal. It was nice knowing I could paint over the lines if necessary. I stuck with the white, grey, and black palette, with red being the featured color of her hair and lips. I used a dab of blue on Christine's eyes.

5 comments:

Autumn Leaves said...

I love hearing of your experimentation. This is a striking piece with the minimal colorization effect. 300 lb paper...I'm going to have to try that one day.

Christiane Kingsley said...

This looks very nice and a lot of fun, Mary. I think the collage workshop will be super...I can't wait to see what you will creating after.

hw (hallie) farber said...

Derek Gores' work is definitely interesting.

And what a redhead! Her pose reminds me of the Oscars. Does she have a leg someplace?

Celeste Bergin said...

good job of "repurposing" an old painting..!

Mary Paquet said...

Hi, Sherri -- 300 lb pounder is super strong.

Christiane, thanks. In fact, I am playing with a small collage on my own now.

Hallie, chuckle.....

Celeste, I learned repurposing from the best -- Myrna Wacknov.