Gaye’s Studio News

Playing with collage, rectangles and a new monthly give-away

Participating in an online artist retreat recently lead me to realise that I have not been experimenting as much as I would like; something that I really enjoy even if it leads nowhere.

About twice a year I feel the printing bug and recently spent a day gel printing on heavy cartridge and also tissue papers. Quite enjoyed it but couldn’t see where to take them so they became another pile on the floor waiting for inspiration.

Some interesting textures and marks achieved.

A different tangent with collage came to mind. I had two large sheets of cartridge paper prepared with two layers of warm neutral under painting for another purpose but decided to use these to add collage to; just playing. None of the papers I had seemed fit for purpose for a large collage so instead I created two full sheets of tissue with lots of random marks; one in blues and the other in reds.

The red tissue paper

Collaged shapes

A red(rose madder and magenta) glaze all over with some dark stencilled shapes

Masques with a neutral layer over’ then more shapes stenciled on in transparent and opaque paint

And the blue one which I am liking most. I like this because the collage pieces and masques were torn randomly, whereas on the red one the shapes were mostly based on circles and ovals. There will be more layers.

These are an extension of work done in my shapes series and I am pleased with where they are going.

Rectangles

Before starting these two I had set out to do some rectangular work, possibly abstract landscapes as the format is more attuned to landscapes.

The motivation, other than just doing something different, was to use the large supply of 35 x70cm paper off-cuts I have accumulated. I show here an early stage in each of five and (possibly) the final stages. What marks and shapes appeared on the surface lead to the intuitive placement of further layers.

A vaguely structure in thirds.The same palette was used for them all, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, Indian yellow, white and a touch of black.

Hints of landscape

Very loose abstract feel to this

Losing the plot with this

I really liked the colours and tones in this one. It needed only 5 layers to finish whereas the others has 8 to 12 layers.

Here are the final images:

The first and fourth were just a lot of squarish shapes; nothing landscapy at all. I hung them on the wall to look at later. At the same time I was reviewing an intention from the recently mentioned retreat (to create some abstract still life florals), a recurring favourite of mine and the solution jumped out at me. A light bulb moment! Use a negative shape process to define a vase shape then overlay with loose flower shapes.

The two landscapes after some tweaking

And finally the pure abstract. I loved this one from the beginning

Exhibition news

I have two paintings in the Clarence Open Art Prize exhibition this month; one in the barn and one in the large school room. Lovely exhibition spaces.

Force field is a 60cm square work mounted on a cradled wooden board

River of light is also a 60 square work mounted on a cradled wooden board

4giving

My competition this month is open to any subscriber who reads my news. It is a small original painting mounted in a mat board and ready to frame, valued at over $100. The lucky winner will be announced in my next studio news. There is a choice from a selection soon to be on my website under Series titled 4giving.