Abstract Art Study 2015 - Exercise 11 Monochrome Color

The instruction for Monochrome Color was to mix the colors gently on the canvas (paper in my case).

Abstract Art Study 2015 - Analogous Color Pink

Here is the next exercise I did for analogous color.  I actually monoprinted this one in the last stages.  Paint was lifted from the page on a small card and pressed back onto the page in another area.  I really like this process and the result....well - I guess I am really much more of a printmaker than a painter....

Abstract Art Study - Exercise 10 Analagous

 I began with a blue underpainting, followed by analogous colors  

Year of Abstract Art - Exercise 9 Black and White

This is a follow up exercise for working with black and white.  This time, beginning with a colored underpainting.  I chose red. 

Year of Abstract Art Exercises # 9 Black and White

Exercise 9 - working in black and white.  Rough brushstrokes were called for.  Instructions to begin with a black underpainting and continue with white and gray.

Year of Study Abstract Art - Exercise 8

This is the second exercise on the use of pure color.  Using only black and white, mixing the colors.  It began with a black underpainting. 

A Year of Abstract Painting Exercises - Mixing With a Palette Knife

More color blending.  This time - dropping three primary colors on the page and spreading with a knife......

A Year of Abstract Painting Exercises - Color Blending

I have finished all the exercises exploring shape and have moved on to COLOR.  The instruction for this exercise is to apply large splashes of color - using two primary colors next to each other, and to experiment with blending them.  

Painting Spontaneous Shapes - Year of Abstract Painting Exercises

 As I mentioned last week, the guide book, Painting Abstracts by Rolina van Vliet offers suggestions for further study.  The first one I did - I worked from dark to light.  This time, I did the reverse, building the colors on the paper from light to dark.  I used iridescent paints on the underpainting (above), then added darker colors over the top (below) . 

 I was not so thrilled with the result, so I went back in again with lighter colors (iridescent) mixing in with the darker colors of paint.

 It seems a lot more spontaneous with that final reflective layer of paint added.  A final image below:

This Week's "Year of Abstract" Exercise - Spontaneous Shapes

 This week's exercise in Painting Abstracts by Rolina van Vliet involves painting with spontaneous shapes.  The instruction is to begin with an underpainting (above).  Let it dry, then apply splashes of the next color and repeat, adding more colors as each dries.

Here is my final piece following the instructions for "Spontaneous Shapes".

A Year of Abstract Exercises - Free Shapes

 One nice thing this book of exercises does is provide suggestions for variations.  This time, I used both black and white oil pastel crayons to make marks on the page before adding the fluid acrylics. 

Below, the finished piece. 

For those who missed it, I am doing a year long / weekly artistic discipline for 2015 - following each of the exercises (one per week) presented in the book Painting Abstracts by Rolina van Vliet.  

Each weekend I am posting the week's project on my blog. 

2015 Abstract Exercises - Free Shapes

 The instruction for this exercise is to make scrawling movement on the paper with an oil pastel crayon, which will resist the fluid paint.  My first attempt above.  Below, the finished piece.  I outlined the crayon shapes with black marker in the one on the right (my idea).  Better?  I am not sure.

Year of Abstract - GEOMETRIC SHAPES - Lesson #3

Here is the same piece I showed last week, but with some more layers of paint.  Below, the same painting again, with more adjustments to the colors.  (not sure this is an improvement!)

Year of Abstract Studies - GEOMETRIC SHAPES

 Exercise #3 is an exploration of GEOMETRIC SHAPES.  The first lesson involves drawing rectangular shapes on a page.  The instruction is to underpaint the entire page with a dark color, but I just painted the lines......(above).

I filled in the geometric shapes with primary colors of paint.  I like this one, although I do see that my technique needs some help....or maybe I need some better paint brushes! 

Abstract Painting Exercise - Variations in Shape #2

 Last week, I showed my VARIATION IN SHAPE exercise piece, but here is another version from the same exercise.  This time, the instruction was to work with larger shapes and cover the page......

I don't know what to say......!

Abstract Painting - VARIATION IN SHAPE

 The next step of this exercise is to outline all the shapes on the page with a dark marker.  The instruction was to then paint between the shapes.

 

However, I decided to continue with the marker and draw lines between all the shapes.  The finished piece is shown below:

Abstract Painting Study - Exercise #2 SHAPE VARIATION

 This exercise involves exploring variation in shape.  The instruction - begin by covering the page with splashes of color in various sizes and shapes. 

Year of Abstract Painting Study - Exercise 1, Part 2 / SHAPE

I was happy with the result of the first exercise, so I thought I would try a variation. It is suggested to try the same thing using more neutral colors.   OK, so here are the colors I squeezed out:

And here is the result....... Much less successful, I think.

Too much scribbling / scratching - I know, but it was really just too dark to begin with and the composition - nonexistent.  Ah, well.  This is a learning process.......

Year of Abstract Painting Study - Exercise #1

 The first group of lessons in the book addresses working with SHAPE.  The instruction is to cover the paper with a number of large expressive shapes .  Then, when the paper is covered, scratch into the paint while it is still wet. 

 

I am working in a spiral notebook of mixed media paper that can take wet medium.

The size I am working with is 11 x 14" . 

I don't have very much experience working with paint on paper or canvas, but I like the effect of this first exercise.

2015 Abstract Art Study

 

 Over the past several years, I have committed to some kind of daily or weekly artistic discipline for myself.  2014 was a daily mixed media junk mail postcard - and I happily created 365 mixed media postcards.  This year, I am going for a weekly abstract art challenge.  I plan to use exercises from Rolina van Vliet's book:  Painting Abstracts as my inspiration and guide.

There are 65 exercises in the book, more than enough to do one per week.  I will plan to do at least one per week, if not more, and I will post my progress each weekend through 2015.