Flash Mob

“Flash Mob”

11x14” acrylic on canvas ($150 unframed)

This is a very different style of painting for me.  I rarely paint abstract, but decided to take a break from animals yesterday.  Not sure why I don't do it more often because it is fun.  It was just the distraction I needed and a blast to paint. 

I had done the first 2 layers of this painting, set it aside and started something else.  I was looking through my paintings this week deciding what to take for the sale at the Loft Gallery in Occoquan, VA. and I found it.  It was too busy and too red.  I looked for areas to block out as quiet spots and added more shadows for depth.  

If you think you'd like to give this method a try, I recommend checking out Mary Todd Beams' “The Creative Edge”.  I had the privilege of taking one of Mary's workshop a few years ago.  She is such a talented painter, delightful, lovely person, and very generous about sharing her techniques in her workshops.  My favorite was Mary's "spreading" technique which I used it to paint "Mob Flash."   

Use a mix of fluid acrylics to bead and blend colors on your choice of white surface.  Drop color along the top of your surface, 2-3 colors work well.  Then use a "Spreader" to spread the paint which stains your surface.  A "spreader" can be any hard plastic tool with a straight side.  I like to use small grout spreader or credit card.  Then the magic happens.  You can pull the paint straight down or move your spreader back and forth to create pattern.  The width of the spreader will not be the width of your surface so you will make multiple pulls.  That makes the stains more interesting.  After each pull, wipe/clean off your spreader and pull again until the entire surface is covered. If you have some white showing that is OK.  Once you've pulled the paint, let that first layer dry.  Now look for shapes and figures.   You will be surprised to see birds, fish or figures.  You bring any of the shapes you want to keep to life using opaque paints.  

The staining technique works on canvas, crescent board or any type of fabric. Black fabric looks great.  If you are using fabric pull the fabric tight over a piece of cardboard.  You may need to tape in to keep it tight.    

I hope you try it.  It really is fun.  

 

Art Tip - Ideas for Hanging Your show on Panels

As I was inventorying my paintings for the ValeArts Show I quickly realized I needed a plan. Each artist was allotted 4 (four) 3'x6' flats/screened hanging panels for their work.  I needed  to figure out how many paintings could I hang and what paintings worked together.  I also needed to figure how to get my paintings up quickly.

In group shows, you usually are allowed 2-4 paintings so selecting and transporting aren't a problem.  Those shows are usually hung in a simple line or doubled up.  In the past, in a show with a lot of artists, we've leaned the paintings up against the walls as they were dropped off and rearranged them so they worked together, then hung them.   For groupings of multiple rows of paintings on a large wall, I've laid out paintings on the floor so they could easily be moved around until they worked as a group.  With 9 artists in a small space, laying them on the floor or along the wall wasn't going to happen.  

I always do some pre-planning to get a layout in my head before a show, but that usually changes to some degree once I start hanging.  This time, I fell back on my Bu training and decided I needed to create a written ops plan. 

I had a couple of ideas

Idea #1 was to get a cloth the correct size and lay it on the floor.  A cheap solution for that is to cut an old shower liner (heavier than cloth, so easier to work with) that you didn't toss out because artists don't throw away stuff they might be able to use in an art project!!  Once you get an arrangement that fits, take a picture with your cellphone and off you go.  

I learned quickly that I couldn’t hang

by theme or color, although I 

started each panel that way.  I had to 
find smaller paintings to fill empty spaces

Plan #2:  I thankfully finally remembered I have 4 panels stored that I don't use, but loan out to other artists.  I volunteered to store them for the Springfield Art Guild so my good deed was about to pay off.  If you don't have panels and have time you might be able borrow one.  I set one up in the climate controlled comfort of my studio.  I lined up all the paintings I was considering along the wall and floor.  Then I went to work deciding what worked together and more important... what fit together on the panel.  

After I got an arrangement done, I took photos.  Since I 4 panels, I also assigned each grouping a number and wrote the group # on a piece of blue tape on the back of each painting.  Then I boxed up the paintings for each panel together.  Since most were 20" or under I could get them all into a box.  It worked like a charm!   

FYI: Whenever I transport a lot of smaller paintings, I take a sturdy box or large plastic container and place a piece of cardboard on both sides of every painting.  Once the box is full, but not too heavy, I use bubble wrap or something light to fill in the rest of the space so the paintings do not flop when I'm transporting them. I found that instead of laying them out flat, boxing them saves me a lot of trips. 

Even though I had the photos on my phone, I also printed a working size black & white copy (1/4 page) which allowed me to also have room make notes.  I hung a sheet on each panel (much to the amusement of the experienced artists!...Although they hid it well) so that I didn't have to keep pulling out my phone. 

It was a bit more work on the front end, but it turned out to be a life saver for someone who hadn't hung on panels in a long time.  My 27 paintings went up fast.  

 

Tutu Much Fun

Tutu Much Fun

11x14” oil ($325)

Who can resist painting little girls in a tutu?  

My great weekend with ValeArts has come to an end.  Many thanks to all of the ValeArts artists for the opportunity to be in a show with them.  

Being in the show provided me with the opportunity to meet and get to know many wonderful local artists including fellow guest artist Sangeeta Prasad.   She is a children's art therapist by day and artist by night.  It was Sangeeta's first show and her excitement was contagious.  I wish her the very best for all of her future shows.  

The lovely weekend was made even better with some really nice comments about my work from visitors at the show, including an artist who asked if I give lessons who she liked my "lost and found" edges.  I've been working really hard on edges so that was a wonderful compliment.   
  

Another aspect of the show was learning a number of great tips for hanging a show like this one which I'll share in a later blog or two.  

Shady Meeting

Shady Meeting

12x12” oil on RayMar ($300)

My husband titled this painting for me.  He's usually good for a catchy titles when I draw a blank.  If you know my background, it is even better.