Friday, September 21, 2012

Layers, Tapestries and Shine


J
detail of a larger piece
encaustic
In my intuitive art class that I am taking, one of the big lessons I am learning is the beauty of the underpainting.  The layers beneath the surface are deep and broad.   In our class we are learning to let the underlayers build and weave a beautiful fabric of color, happiness and play.  There is no thinking in the early stages, only painting, layering and mark making.  No critiques, no analysis, no standing back - just paint.  When I find myself standing back to analyze.. I quit, stop.. and wrap up.  The layering process is a warm palette followed by cool and so on.. with bold strokes and freedom... put on the panel using the beat of music and different tools.  The colors intertwine and intermingle to create an amazing story behind the final work.  As the painting progresses it is up to me to bring to the surface, the story of what lies beneath.  I'm looking forward to this final step.
It really makes me pause when I think of a painting in this way.  I'm usually, so focused on the surface and how it looks that it didn't occur to me about this underlying tapestry of layers.   As the artist of a multilayered piece, I am the only one who really knows the mystery of what lies under the surface of my artwork.  In the end, its my job to bring all that to surface and let it shine and tell its story.   
I've been reusing old panels. the paintings that I made in the beginning of my encaustic learning.  I'm finding, because they hold the story of the beginnings they make the paintings so much deeper and richer.  Its not about starting over with these, its about building on the roots that are already there.  I didn't white them out or scrape them back.. I just built upon them.
 
All of this is making me think of how it relates to us as individuals.  We all hold an amazing tapestry that we have created through our lifetime.  How do we bring to life and let shine the beautiful multicolored layering that lies under the surface of each of us?  We, as the artists of our lives, need to think about how bring all this beauty within, tell its multifaceted story and let it shine, baby... Let it shine!
Happy Friday everyone...  hit the button and see some amazing artwork.

PS.. we're still working on layers in class.  I really don't have anything to show yet.  Stay tuned... I'm getting closer. 




38 comments:

  1. wow Marji your painting is fabulous, loving all the depth to it. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  2. What a beautiful bird. I love colors and the texture. I want to reach out and feel it with my fingertips. Everyone seeems to be taking classes...I need to get on it!

    Happy PPF!

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  3. Wonderful post on art, creativity, process of building 'art' and life ~ Painting is excellent ~ looking forward to your new creations ~ (A Creative Harbor) ~ thanks for coming by and commenting ^_^

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  4. Layers are especially awesome to work with in watercolor. They shine through and make exciting colors. Can't wait to see what you are creating next!

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  5. beautiful piece! Enjoy working with your layers!

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  6. So beautiful! I have an affinity for birds..yours are stunning and carry a poetic soul that is translating through powerfully...and like the one last week..this one too feels like "a spirit guide"! Spectacular... and just what I needed in this moment today! Thankyou for your beautiful art and letting your soul fly through this piece!!
    HUgs
    Victoria

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  7. I'm finding having patience with the layering to be the hardest thing about Flora's class. I just want to do it all...now! Your encaustic is beautiful. I always love seeing your work. Happy PPF!

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  8. Lovely painting, and this post is like poetry!
    Really love what you wrote about reusing old panels and how that makes new paintings so much deeper and richer by building on the roots that are already there.

    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  9. I really enjoyed this post Marji. I find I don't think of the initial background as important as the final top result, and like you, when I look back and analyse it I will quit. Usually discouraged. But this was a good post for me to read....very encouraging for me. Thanks for sharing!

    Margo @ Legacy of a Single Girl

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  10. This is a beautiful post, love how you can relate what your doing at the moment with your art to life.

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  11. Wow Marji really fascinating post especially as all this is a completely different way of painting compared to my watercolours. Thanks for sharing how you achieve your layers. Love the painting btw.

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  12. Very nice painting in encaustic, excellent colors.

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  13. This is a beautiful encaustic painting!

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  14. Hi Marji, What an interesting and thought provoking blogpost. I think you are right about everybody's experiences effecting their work, looking at all of our fellow painters no two images are the same. Everybody is individualistic! I suppose that all part of the adventure. Andy

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  15. Wow, Marji, wonderful post! I had not considered that about the layering. Your work is so beautiful and the colors are so vivid.

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  16. great post ... I am all about exploring my everyday world and experiences and celebrating them in paint and pen... makes me take stock of the moments as they happen... xx

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  17. I love your detail
    and also your words, thoughts on layers and life
    i also thought about relationship, of any kind.... layers of richness and color and foundation... create beautiful light and shadow with time.... or can

    thank you for a lovely and thoughtful sharing

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  18. Love your post and that part of the painting you've shared is fantastic!!!

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  19. Oh, that Steller's Jay is beautiful! Like the layers and texture!

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  20. So beautiful! I love the painting and your words. I think it is so wonderful to build upon your older work...not start over. Love that!!

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  21. I like this very much. The background layers are spontaneous and they positively glow! Great work!!

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  22. I love visiting you here, your layer work is very beautiful and so rich, you're so right, it's the wonder and magic in painting when you can just let go and enjoy the pleasure of it all without thinking too much, it's such an important part of the process!

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  23. This whole post had me mesmerized, it is so lyrical! It read like a beautiful poem, or sonnet, or a piece of music!! I could imagine music behind it! Wow ...very moving how you shared layering with intuition! Wow I am so impressed with this post! I haven't even got to your amazing art work!! Wow just gorgeous, so much depth and beauty! Thanks for sharing!! Excellent post!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  24. You are so right about the layers- even when the layers are completely hidden from the final top layer they add so much to the quality of the finished piece. I have taken Flora's class and am loving seeing it through your eyes!

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  25. I like your description of Flora's workshop! Your painting looks wonderful, really yummy colours!

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  26. a beautiful painting, and i love your words about how we need to let our layers shine!

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  27. Awe! It's absolutely beautiful! Both your art and your post! LOVE the connection ;) xoxo

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  28. I really like your layering (or building) process and how you relate that to relationships!

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  29. It seems a work in three dimensions, the depth you've given is incredible. Saludos

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  30. Lovely! The colors are so beautiful!What a gorgeous piece of art..

    Duaa

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  31. I love your gorgeous paintings. Such richness and so much detail. Beautiful x

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  32. Lovely post. I love making lots of layers and hiding things in them. Valerie

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  33. The Jay is so beautiful! I really love this post about layering. Is encaustic wax the same as wax used for making candles? What kind of paint do you mix in it, or is it already painted and covered in wax? You can see i know nothing about how to do encaustic! It is so beautiful, and has so much depth, that i think I would like to try it. Thank you for sharing your journey.

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  34. High impact image. Love the 2/3s composition and different colour feeling.

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  35. Your post is beautiful and the way you have spoken about layers ...I feel we also ,over the period of time build so many layers of joys and sorrows in our heart but what is actually visible is absolutely different...love your painting!

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  36. Marji, this is such an inspiring post and something everyone can relate to. We all create in layers at some point and some build up more around it but what is beautiful is the surfacing up of these layers... fine delicate colors.. subtle ones. And it's only the artist who knows the mystery work behind. And yes may we all shine showing what we already got--our real self. Wonderful WIP painting!

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  37. Love the Blue Jay. Love your colors too. I had an Art teacher that used to prime her own canvases because she said it helped her fall in love with the canvas and she could do better work. All about the layering. HPPF late.

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