Friday 22 March 2013

How fragile is the heart

Yes! I finished my painting. For a long time it looked like it wasn't going to happen. I struggled immensely with some small details that I normally have no trouble with at all. And when school was out, it wasn't ready. But I picked the kids up and then just continued until I was satisfied. Man, that feels good! On to the next one now ;-)

I'll show you all the in-progress shots from the very beginning.

This is how it all started: a canvas that I used for my left-over paint (I left some foambrushes in water, and was amazed my how much colour was still in there. It gave a nice watercolour-kind-of-effect):

More leftover paint from the next paintings session:

Yummy colours! I really liked it at this point ....
Then I started the dripping process:

And then I went overboard big time with my whites and blacks ....

UGH! Where are all my lovely colours ...?
Get some colour on there fast! Where would I be without my drips and my spray-inks ....

starting to make some random marks

Painting around the marks and looking for figures to jump out at me

Saw several figures on there, not sure which ones to go with yet

Yes, definitely want to go with the figure in the front center. And of course the bird leaning over her ....

I decided to put a tree in there, and I must say I really like it. Expect lots more trees in my next paintings ... ;-)

Working out the top figure, still not sure about the head next to the tree (can you see the eyes?)
Bit too dark for my liking, so out comes the spray ink. Oops, pretty yellow everywhere ...

Decided that I didn't want another figure on there, so I painted a bird instead.

This is where I got to last week:

Starting to work on the details

And no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the bottom figure to look at me ....

Went over the eyes several times, but she refused to look at me. So in the end I just left her there, and worked on the rest of the painting. But it kept bothering me. I thought she looked like some kind of drugged-out addict, and I didn't like it ....

I didn't mind that the other one didn't look at me. But the bottom one HAD to!
So I just kept working on it, got the kids out of school, and started again ....
And in the end, YES!, she finally made contact! Phew! 

This is the finished painting:


I'm glad I kept working on it. I can't finish a painting when something keeps bothering me. And it was definitely her eyes that were bothering me.

I called this painting "How fragile is the heart", because both figures look a bit melancholic and sad, despite being surrounded by beautiful colours and birds. That's just the way life is, sometimes you're high up in the sky and feel as if you can tackle the whole world, and just as easily you come crashing down to the ground and have trouble getting up again. Here's a quote from Neil Gaiman that fits this painting perfectly I think: "There are so many fragile things, after all. People break so easily, and so do dreams and hearts".  

I did a discovery with this painting. When I was making the random marks, I used those little plastic bottles with a very small hole on top. I mixed some acrylics with water and filled them up, and then squeezed the paint out of it to make the marks.

And now they make a really nice texture on the canvas, despite the paint being mixed with water, it was still thick enough to be a bit 3D. It gives a lovely effect. Look:



I just used it to get some marks on there, and now I have added texture without even trying! I love it when unexpected things like that happen! 

Okay, this post is getting a bit long. Just a quick heads-up on my big Etsy-promotion-idea. Since I forgot that April is also Easter-school-holidays, and we might be going away for a few days, which means I would have to close my shop, I decided to postpone it to the month of May. Somewhere next week, I'll put up a separate page on this blog, with a list where you can link your Etsy-shop. The list will be open for signing up for the whole month of April. And then in May, everyone on the list will be promoting 4 or 5 shops on her/his blog/Facebook/Twitter, and will in turn be promoted on 4 or 5 blogs. 

So this is your chance if you have been neglecting your Etsy-shop. Plenty of time to dust it off again and try to get some new visitors there. And of course everyone else (with a shiny sparkling non-neglected shop) who would like to get some promotion is welcome to participate. I'll try to write a decent explanation next week ;-)

I'm linking this, as always, to Paint Party Friday. Hop on over there to look at all the other artists!

Thanks so much for visiting me! Hope you're having a wonderful Friday, and that your weekend will be filled with lots of fun, warmth, love and creativity! ♥ ♥ ♥

59 comments:

  1. absolut great- I love the white against the colors..
    and how fantastic to se the progress! Thanks fpr sharing!
    gorgeous!
    Happy PPF

    Susi from the monthly challenge
    ART-JOURNAL-JOURNEY
    with the current theme:
    special moments!
    you are invited to take part!

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  2. I love this and want to learn this style so badly! I can do "backgrounds", mark-making - cristy tomlinson/mindy lacefiled, etc. what I want to learn is how and where to paint the acrylics to find a shape/image. (for example, is it dry brushed acrylic paint?,,,etc)
    Its just gorgeous! :-)

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  3. Great to see your painting finished and all the progression shots show the images emerging and the painting come to life! I know what you mean about not being able to leave somrthing if its bugging you. I often find the eyes troublesome too! have a lovely weekend and HPPF

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  4. This is gorgeous! I'm glad you were able to figure out the eyes, I know how frustrating it can be to be stuck.

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  5. This is lovely. I love the 3 D look of it! Great idea about the texture marks.

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  6. I love the colors. Powerful orange and green in "opposite" which are going hand in hand. It is so expressive and deep. Love the name also.
    Hugs
    Erika

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  7. Beautiful! Love how your beautiful colors blend softly! Otherworldly! <3

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  8. the painting has undergone a wonderful journey with terrific results Denthe. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. This is gorgeous Denthe, I love how the central figure appears to be looking right at you. HPPF and Happy Spring!

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  10. Prachtig gedaan en ze kijkt je inderdaad aan nu!! Geeft een goed gevoel als het af is... ik ken dat. Heel fijn weekend, Denise!!
    xxx Marianne

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  11. Wow, this is gorgeous. Fantastic colors and painting

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  12. I love this and seeing how it progresses always amazes me. I will endeavour to get my Etsy shop ship shape so I can take part in this. It's a bit of an embarassment at the moment!

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  13. I love your work and really wish you did online classes, I would happily pay for one to see you do this step by step.

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  14. Love your palette...it has a unique effect on your canvas! The images have emerged beautifully!
    HPPF!
    Deepa
    http://deepazworld.blogspot.ae/

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  15. WOW! Just as I posted my comment I saw yours in mine...What timing! :D

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  16. This is simply amazing. Your process is brilliant. Thanks for sharing how you work.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  17. Wow! This is stunning! I'm amazed at how you pull images out of the paint splatters and turn them into gorgeous works of art. I LOVE the colors! Great job.

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  18. This is so cool! I love getting to see your process. I took Flora's class and could never really get the hang of this wonderful technique. Reminded me that I'm an illustrator and not really a painter, but I LOVE getting to see the work of others who can really get into the intuitive painting! Beautiful!

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  19. Fascinating to see the process of how your works evolve, the end results are fantastic.

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  20. it is such a pleasure to see your painting coming to life and all the stages you took to do it. wow!it really is gorgeous!

    i think May will work for me. wonderful idea to try!

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  21. You are just fantastic!:) It's ery lovely and so fun to see all the pieces.. I scrolled back and forth to figure out how you've found the them. I too saw a different other figures.. Very exciting and I love your colors! :)

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  22. Watching this painting emerge through the progress shots is remarkable. I'm so glad that you document the steps. Great colors, great everything.

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  23. Loved the process and your finished piece is just awesome. Beautiful work!

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  24. I love seeing the process of your painting, which is awesome! Thanks for sharing! Happy PPF!

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  25. Love seeing the process and the figures emerge!
    What a wonderful use of left-over paint. And the colors are yummy, too!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  26. Love the new painting!!!!! Thanks for sharing the process too I love seeing all of the details and how it all evolves into your wonderful art ♥♥♥♥♥

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  27. Your new painting is wonderful, thanks for showing all the steps again! Valerie

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  28. Denthe, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the step-by-step progression. I probably would have stopped with photo 6 as it makes a beautiful abstract. But by seeking the images you have made a marvelous painting to illustrate that the heart is indeed fragile. Lovely work.

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  29. Watching your process is amazing! You have a gift. Thanks for sharing and happy PPF

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  30. Beautiful, thanks for showing your process!

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  31. You blow me away with your visions and art each time I visit here!!! How I'd love to be a little bird looking over your shoulder when you paint :) Happy PPF!

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  32. thanks for sharing the process, i loved the painting

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  33. Fascinating to see how you get from A to B, I've always admired a painting that takes a dozen layers before it gets to the final stages. You have to have a lot of faith in what your end goal will turn out to be. Good job, can't wait to see more.

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  34. Well done!!!It is a beautiful painting and you put beautiful quote by Neil Gaiman. It is so true and so nice. Thank you very, very much for sharing.

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  35. so fun to watch the layers build up. They create such beautiful texture in your painting. Happy ppf!

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  36. It is great watching it grow and change and become the finished product... very cool process and still so perfectly your style... love it...xx

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  37. Love watching the process here! In the eighth painting I saw a large dog and a small one poking his head in...Funny how all our intuition works different!! Good job...and the eye thing was eery. Now she actually seems a bit perturbed at you! I wonder why,...because you took her out of her funk maybe? Thanks for sharing this fabulous post!! Amazing.... Wonderful painting!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  38. I have loved spending time here letting you take me through this painting process, wow! Fantastic painting, so full of plenty yummy colors and shapes for the eyes. I love the bird you saw and your ladies faces, well worth sticking at it, she is looking right at us now, truly inspiring work, thanks so much for sharing! xx

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  39. So much to observe and learn from you, Denthe! There is so much flow in each of the figures. Good luck with your ventures!

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  40. Oh, oh, oh! I am so in love with this painting! Thank you for sharing your process photos all at once. It is so wonderful to watch the piece evolve. Also - I can so identify with having to stop and pick up the kids. It can really break your stride, can't it? Of course sometimes I come back and realize I really needed to get away and get a little perspective. Always an adventure!

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    Replies
    1. Also - I meant to say I think the title you chose is just perfect. It really completes the painting.

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  41. Denise wat is dut weer mooi Ik ben zo onder de indruk en vol bewondering wat er stap voor stap te voorschijn komt. Wat je uit al die lijnen en kleuren haalt is zo knap en daar kan ik tijden naar kijken. Dank jewel voor al dit moois.
    Fijn weekend en lieve groetjes
    Marja

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  42. WOW,this painting is wonderful, i love the bright Colors and the figures in it.
    very fantastic art work, love them.

    Hugs Jeannette

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  43. Ah! It's lovely! I love to see the stages of painting and I totally relate to the eye difficulty, I nearly always have to re-do eyes again an again, they change so easily and the mood changes dramatically with the slightest change doesn't it? You've hit on the perfect expression. :)
    I'm doing a double giveaway on my blog you'd like to pop over.xx

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  44. Happy PPF Denthe! Any boxes coming soon? Love the idea about promoting the etsy shops. I just hope I have some time to get some new stuff in there. Love the painting and thanks for showing the process.
    ManonX

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    1. Thnx Manon! Yes, I just received my order with magnets for my boxes, so I'll be starting pretty soon on painting some again ... If only I had more time ....

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  45. Denthe I always love to go with you from beginning to the end of the painting...so funny how the black and white goes big and after the colors come back, the black and whites are gone, hihi...it is so interesting how the muse works and how the paintings emerge xox Conny

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  46. Denthe, these progress pics are awesome and your final painting... omg!!! Just beautiful. i absolutely LOVE that you chose to play with more than one figure. The process you take is so captivating. Lovely work. So nice to visit here again... xox

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  47. As always, I loved seeing your process and I really love this painting. I think the title is perfect. Even your beginning stage was pretty - it reminded me of Helen Frankenthaler! Happy PPF (on Saturday!)

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  48. So love your gorgeous painting Denise... beautiful colors... and wonderful to see the progress steps... and love how you persisted and made contact... it truly does make a difference...

    Jenny ♥

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  49. The transmission is just is so enchanting...love the way your work progresses...the colors are so blissful and amazing ...love it :)

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  50. I love how your freedom translates into imagery....

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  51. I totally love your paintings an the progress you're showing. :)

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  52. Cool find! I love the raised texture that you were able to achieve with that bottle and I love to see all the progress of your work. Thank you for sharing all your steps and tips! It's really generous of you. Count me in on the Etsy promotion - great idea :))) xo

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  53. I just love how you develop your paintings ... it's so fun to share the process....

    Karen x

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  54. Thank you for this fascinating process post from start to finish. I love reading how artists make their work and it makes the finished painting so much more interesting. Great artwork result, I like it very much.

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  55. Love how your painting evolved in the past weeks.The eyes add so much life to them.
    Wishing you a great week.

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  56. Funny that you started by using leftover paint - that's how I do almost all of my backgrounds.
    I always use a spare canvas as a palette, you can get the most amazing textures that way :)

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