Thursday, February 14, 2013

Imagination, Sperm Whale and 29 Faces

 
She Had a Whale of an Idea
oil and paper on hardboard - 9 x 9
Face #13
Things have been getting serious around here.  Seems that I've gone on some bird tangent and what better way to mix things up than to bring a whale into the picture :)
 
I also decided to mix things up a bit and try some different kinds of faces.  I was feeling a bit in the need to cut loose and be more imaginative.  I was talking to an artist friend a while back and asking what she does with her left over oil paint after she works on her portraits.  Her answer was that she plays - she paints some fun, not-for-real, imaginative stuff.  I thought that sounded great - but really I had noooooo idea how hard that is for me until I tried it.  Honestly, I've been feeling like I have no imagination at all - give me something tangible and real to paint like a portrait or a specific animal - a photo to follow... but to dream something up?  Total painter's block - like zero, zip, nada - nothing comes to mind.  Its been stumping me for a while on what to do about this - because art is fun.  Its imaginative (or real) or whatever - but it shouldn't be difficult.  So, I've set out on a side trip along the artful journey and that is to try some silly, imaginative, make believe things - just for fun + I've really been wanting to paint a Sperm Whale :)
 
Face #14
oil on paper
Spring
oil and paper on hardboard 9 x 9
Face #15
With these, I'm half way through 29 Faces.   I did a little research on framing oil paintings done on paper - it really didn't look good.  In fact, it sounded like less than ideal and difficult is more like the answer.  Oil paintings can't have glass.  So, I'm experimenting with first mounting paper on hardboard - then painting oils on it.  Does anyone know anything about this?

 

45 comments:

  1. The whale painting is fantastic (I absolutely adore everything about it!!!), the expression on the second girl is so, so, good (she looks like she's up to something), and I love the texture of the last one! These are all so much fun!

    xo
    Kristin

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  2. I LOVE THESE! The last one is my favorite! WONDERFUL!! BOING!!!!!

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  3. I too struggle with loosening up and just playing - it seems counterintuitive to force yourself to do it! But these are so great - we're always our own worst critics, but clearly you have plenty of imagination. I love the whale, but that last one is fantastic! Really clever...

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  4. I love all of these, the last one is wonderfully imaginative, so I don't think you have anything to worry about. When I have painted on paper I use very thick 200gm paper and gesso it before painting so that the oil doesn't affect the paper. Then frame it by making sure that there is a hardboard backing, glass is not needed. I have one on my wall that was framed 12 years ago and it is still going good. okay.

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  5. I, too, love all of the above paintings. You are doing a great job of letting loose in your art escapades! The whale paiting is fantastic.

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  6. love all of your paintings this week, and wish I could help with the mounting oil on paper thing... maybe try framing them in a shadow box??? would that help with having the big gap between the paper and the g;lass... xx

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  7. I found the whale so charming... and I love your new imaginative pieces...they're so much fun....you really must try more of that!! They are awesome!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  8. Well, these surely are imaginative! Love them! That background in the first looks awesome, and the last one is my favorite!

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  9. The whale is fantastic. I like all of your art pieces.HPPF

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  10. These are all so cool! I especially love the Jill in a box!

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  11. Wonderful paintings! I love your whale particularly. Keep following the creative mojo, you are on to something.

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  12. Fab works Marji...love your color compositions. Spring is too good!
    HPPF :)

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  13. Terrific works Marji, loving it all.
    Happy PPF, Annette x
    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  14. well, for someone who said they had a mental block when it came to creating things purely from your imagination - you certainly broke through that block - these are fabulous! I love the title of the whale piece- so perfect and as for Spring - wow - I LOVE THIS!! (had to capitalise to emphasise just how much!!)
    I don't use oils so I can't help you with that, sorry.

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  15. Wonderful and creative faces ~ so well done ^_^

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  16. Marji, great paintings and well done with using your imagination. It looks like you are doing really well. Have a lovely PPF and thank you for sharing.

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  17. Wow! Wonderful paintings! The whale of an idea is my favorite! So whimsical, and I love the play on words!!
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  18. The whale one is my fave! Love your new blog look! Valerie

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  19. What fun these are! Great faces and love the fanciful aspects.

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  20. Original paintings with a projection in space very personal. Saludos

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  21. Love them all the the Whale of an Idea is my favorite, what a great image! HPPF!

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  22. La balena azzurra sulla testa della ragazza... adoro la tua esplosiva immaginazione!
    Bellalullo

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  23. so many wonderful faces
    and pieces
    a joy to see

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  24. oh how super sweet are your faces and the piece with the whale...love it!!! so creative!!!!

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  25. Fun and imaginative - and beautifully done! <3

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  26. I love it! The title is just my kind of title!

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  27. Excellent. Love that whale of an idea. Perfect. thanks a lot.

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  28. Even your "fun" work is awesome, Marji. One of the faces looks like someone I know! Love the whale painting.

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  29. Funny and charming paintings, very sweet faces.

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  30. great job on the faces, and I like the idea of including the sperm whale.

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  31. your imaginative paintings are great! I love the whale and the girl springing out of the house is fun!

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  32. Your post is about lacking imagination and yet it ends with that highly imaginative image of woman springing out of the house/box -- a jill in the box? I think it's just a matter of playing and you prove you have an imagination the size of sperm whale. LOVE it!

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  33. Hello Marji, your paintings are just great! Full of style and flare, sometimes we can get caught up in all the possibilities or lack of....it's just so fun to take brush, pencil whatever in hand and let loose, slowly something appears, ideas emerge...quite magical really! Thanks for sharing your wonderful art with us!

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  34. Your paintings are filled with imagination and creativity! A job well done for just surrendering to the process of creating without limit and having fun! Love the spring the most!

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  35. What brilliant IMAGINATIVE paintings! I LOVE them all.

    I made a decision recently to stop trying to 'make art' and just have fun! It seems to be working for me so far. I read a quote to 'let go of the end result' and it resonated with me.

    Thank you for visiting :)

    Karen x

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  36. For me, imaginative has been the main journey so far and I figured I would benefit from some formal learning!
    I guess, ultimately we should love what we do. :-)
    I do so love what you painted! The whale made me think of all the symbolism associated with Moby Dick. It looks awesome.

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  37. Beautiful art work this week! And I love the piece with the whale. Just gorgeous x

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  38. OMG I don't know which one I like best! Fantastic pieces! The one with the whale is great but the one with spring is beautiful too

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  39. Your faces are absolutely stunning Marji... have loved scrolling through your gorgeous work... and challenge faces... adore the one with the whale... utterly amazing...

    Jenny ♥

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  40. Well it looks to me like your imagination is alive and well! These pieces are great! I especially love the way you render faces.

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  41. Love the whale´s texture! I´d like to be friends with these women, they have an intriguing personality. #14 certainly has a mind of her own and #15 is open.

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  42. Love it! :) And sperm whale makes me giggle. :))

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  43. oh your faces are so fantastic...and the whale painting really made me smile! enjoy your work so much...

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