Another Inspiration Avenue challenge under my proverbial belt. Maggie chose the theme for this week as “Stormy Weather” and it flooded my brain with such rich possibilities! I could do rain or umbrellas or darkened wet streets or the ocean or a meadow in a storm… I could go on and on! I trolled the internet for photos I could use for inspiration and came up with like ten! I finally settled on the ocean but I’ll be painting, drawing and doodling all day on other “stormy” artworks.
What fun this painting was to do! As I’ve mentioned before, I’m trying to learn to relax my style by doodling and it’s working, yippee! This is my first attempt to truly loosen up and stop worrying about perfection. I allowed the highlights to be “scratchy” instead of perfect, I mean, it’s supposed to be tempestuous waves in the ocean so it shouldn’t be neat & tidy!
Title: “Ocean’s Turmoil” |
I thought for the first time I’d take a page from my friend Tracey and include some close ups of this painting. I knew it was a great piece for close ups. I love how the waves look like they are cut out and pasted one on top of one another. What I did was sketch out generally where I wanted waves, then I inked it out using a Micron 01 archival ink pen. (what would we artist’s do without these, Tracey said she was totally envious that I got a 36 count bulk order of Microns. I know what she means, it just feels so “safe” to have so many back ups. Since I use these pens on cold pressed watercolor paper I tend to go through them quickly. The paper sucks up ink like a sponge! Tracey keeps trying to get me to try hot pressed Arches but I haven’t found any as of yet.)
Then I wanted the thickness of the lines to change and I had a Pitt sepia brush pen so it got a work out! Now I know I need to get some brush pens in black. Up until now I never liked them because they weren’t as accurate as a fine point. Ya, that perfectionistic streak again. But now I see their value. I guess I’m going shopping again, lol. After fleshing out the thicker lines I took handfuls of my new Prismacolor markers in all colors blue, green & purple and I started coloring in the waves, trying to keep a balance of color across the paper. I didn’t want symmetrical, just balanced. I found it difficult to find many light colors as the color darkens significantly when added onto cold pressed
paper, one point for Tracey, lol. ;o)
Anyway, I used the Prismacolor markers and filled all the waves. Then I took light taupe and two slightly darker colors and started adding strategic shadows to the bottom of the waves. Finally, I got out my trusty white gel pen. (unlike others, I really like Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip white pen instead of the Sakura Gelly Roll that’s highly touted by so many artists and crafters.) I added highlights on to tops of waves and then found that it wasn’t enough so I added white highlights above the thick sepia lines, that worked wonders for giving the waves dimension. What a fun piece this was. Next time I’ll do it larger, it’s only 5×7, I think this general pattern would look spectacular on a large scale.
I’ll talk to you all soon, I’v got lots of posts in the queue, just ready for an empty day and Blogging 101 Part 2 is coming soon.
Stephen Hayes
Aside from the dramatic composition, I like the careful orchestration of colors chosen to reflect the moody ocean.
Lisa Richards
This is a really unique "ocean" painting! I love the shadows and 3D effect. Great job!
Craftymoose Crafts
I really enjoyed reading how this piece came to be–it is wonderful! I'm still working on mine for IA and hope to have it up soon.
Thanks for the invite to join your APR…I'm always a little intimidated since my skills are still being honed, but when I read the line, "Remember, you don't have to be great, just create. :o)", I felt I could benefit and have fun with this inspiration. My "letter" piece will be finished hopefully today & I'll try to post it tomorrow, too!
Diane ~
Oh Jenn, this is awesome! i LOVE it! your entire creation is spot on, color, composition and depth… just terrific!! i like too the description & info about your materials. Terrific post Jenn!! 😀
hugs!
WrightStuff
Is this what they call a roiling sea? It's magnificently done – your shading makes the waves pop like 3D. I am expecting a sea creature to pop up any second!
Lou Anne
I would love to put a mermaid into your beautiful ocean. It looks three dimensional and the colors are beautiful. You've captured the tone of a stormy tropical sea.
kirstin mcculloch
I love how you've depicted this weeks prompt. I love your colour choice and composition. It totally looks like the turbulent sea. Love It. x
artangel
Your swirly waves are beautiful – abstract yet very precise in their flow and pattern.
And Gary's weather forecasting stone is ingenius, made me laugh 🙂 x
Bleubeard and Elizabeth
I am in awe of the swirls from the ocean. For some reason, I initially thought it was an assemblage, then realized you have said often that you don't make collages or assemblages. So I knew it was just a well drawn painting with lots of shadows drawn in. Great piece for the IA challenge.
And of course, I LOVE the rock forecast. Too cute!
peggy gatto
I love the movement and the color!
Shelinwa
Love the 3D effect of the waved!!! very cool could just look and Stair!!
Claire
i really like the depths of this… and the movement… not to mention the scrummy colours!! a great entry 🙂
Gloria
This is really cool,Jenn! I just ordered some products from Luminarte, through your site, so should mean more hazelnut coffee for you!