Inspired by Erté

Hi There

I discovered Erté in art class last week.  My goodness, what can I say?  This man sure knew how to design, draw, paint, colour, inspire and create beautiful masterpieces.  I must confess to just a touch of awe looking at his creations and feeling a hint of jealousy upon seeing a photo man who looks better in a frock than I do.

Seriously, if you love clothes, interior design and all things art-deco-ey and fantastically over the top, you *must* check him out.  

In honour of this artist, I offer you today's 'masterpiece', inspired by one of his gorgeous designs:

This painting was extra fun to create because I'd decided that I wanted to try something new in art class and Ms Kathy suggested that I try using ink.  

Mmmmm, this medium was absolutely delicious to use.  (Hmmm, that last sentence was odd.  Maybe it is because I'm feeling a tad peckish.  No, in case you worry, I didn't actually drink any ink.  I don't tend to consume odd food-stuffs.  The weirdest thing I've ever eaten was a piece of chalk and a tub of perkins' paste when I was a kid.  I can recall it being very chalky and paste-y (in that order).  Word of warning - don't try this combo if you happen to be suffering from constipation is all I can say!)  

Sorry I digress - back to the artwork!  The ink colours are bold and I liked the way the medium doesn't run the way water colour does.  This was really exciting for a novice like me.  The only thing that I found to be a bit of a negative is that the inks are quite a permanent.  Once they go down, they're down and not going anywhere (kinda like bubble-gum). I had my heart in my mouth as I painted her and I truly felt butterflies in my stomach.  I sighed a big sigh of relief when I finished her.  She wasn't perfect, but she'd do.  Phew!  

Thanks very much for stopping by and seeing what I've been up to.   I'm off to bake dinner!

Kate

x 

Finding Beauty Amongst the Mud

You must be a lotus, unfolding its petals when the sun rises in the sky, unaffected by the slush where it is born or even the water which sustains it! - Sai Baba

Thanks ever so much for stopping by and seeing what I've been up to!

Today's post features another variation of wash and pen, substituting black ink and a very delicate brush for the pen. (I petrified I was going to spill the ink on the paper, on myself, or on the floor.  Or muck up the brushwork, making a massive mistake, thereby destroying the painting.  Trust me when I say trying this technique is not for the faint hearted.   This experience has taught me I do like to create with my heart in my mouth - does this make me an artistic thrill-seeker?)  

I'm actually pleased with how my lotus flower turned out.  I had a vision in my mind of the effects I wanted to created and how I wanted it to look.  I think it actually kinda worked.  Yippee!

[Yes, in case you were wondering, my previous sentence was deliberately worded that way, for I am actually quite surprised this painting wasn't a disaster.  I created this lotus flower only using images as a source of inspiration and then drew my own flower based on what I thought looks "noice" - so it is completely drawn free-hand.  That always is a challenge for me.  I'm just so relieved that the flower actually looks like a flower!]

May you all find beauty this weekend, no matter how much mud surrounds you.

I'll see you next week.  Wish me luck - my children started holidays for six weeks yesterday.  Eeek!

Kate

x

Ebb and Flow

Today's creation features another first for me - an application of Indian Ink!

Ebb and Flow, is a relatively abstract work of art featuring a watercolour under-painting and then a liberal application of ink over the top.

I loved the density of the ink and felt very arty dipping the brush in the little pot and then gently stroking it onto the paper.  It made me wish for the days before the biro was invented!  I must confess however, that using this medium was a little scary, knowing I was just one ink-splot away from ruining the entire painting.

In the end I'm quite pleased with the painting and I must say I really like the fact that it has enough structure that it makes hopefully visual sense, but is "open" in terms of content that it enables the viewer to interpret its lines in different and a personal ways.  How do you interpret it?  Let me know, I'm curious!

Anyway, thanks for coming by and visiting me!  Stay tuned for some pastel creations over the next few days in honour of a special gift I received last week. :-)

Kate
x