Saturday, April 18, 2015

When Things Go Wrong on Your Canvas


When you are sitting at your art table, do you ever just think..."this is NOT where I want this painting to go" or "this is crap"? Well, some days are just like that.  I put paint down but don't like the direction.

I had a vision for this painting, it was going to be so spring-like in color and form with lots of abstract flowers and layers.  I kept putting paint down, but honestly just hated what I was seeing.  I didn't like the composition at all.  I didn't like the way the colors tied together. It just wasn't my vision.



I pulled out an old hotel room key and spread the wet paint all over the canvas in different directions.


I was actually please with the result. I briefly thought of leaving it like this but once it dried, I was back at work and came up with a very loose, not completely abstract bouquet of spring goodness.


 Here is a second picture.  The above is outdoor lighting.  The one below is indoor lighting. It's amazing how much they change.


This piece will be available for purchase soon!

Share in the comments below what you do when a piece isn't going your way.

Thanks for stopping by!


7 comments:

  1. Love seeing the steps in this beautiful canvas! I totally keep adding more when I don't like the way something is going!

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    1. My philosophy...if you don't like it you can always paint over it! :)

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  2. I'm afraid that I get discouraged and end up putting gesso all over the canvas and start over. Sometimes I just know that a painting is not going to end up well and hate to waste a canvas, so it's just better to not waste the energy to see if it will pull together.

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    1. I often find my "mess up" layers end up adding so much more to the finished piece. Next time don't gesso ~ just start painting something new and see what happens!

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  3. Gosh, I loved the painting with just the paint spread around on the canvas.
    I often smoosh on more paint when it's not working, but if I don't like the progress, I may set it aside until later. It depends on the medium I'm using.......

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    1. I know, I sort of liked it all spread around too. An abstract perhaps?? :)

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  4. Sometimes I gesso over it or just put it away and go on to something else till I can look at it again!!
    Your piece is gorgeous Kirsten- it looks like fresco! xx

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