Red Leap
November 7th, 2010
And now for something completely different! Or at least it feels very different from what I've been up to this month so far.
For day 7 of Art Every Day Month, again, I began with an intuitive/spontaneous approach. I took a piece of rice paper and roughly traced a leaping figure in sharpie marker that I found in a magazine (changing a few elements...I gave her flowing hair.) Under her, I wrote the word "leap."
Later, I took a piece of 6"x12" canvas paper, and squirted paint directly onto it, red and golds, then sprayed some purple-ish spray onto that. When that dried, I used gel medium to put the rice paper over the painted piece. It wasn't quite as transparent as it has been with past experiments, but it made a cool effect. I let it dry, tore away the excess rice paper and voila!
The shapes in the rice paper make it look like she's leaping through a forest to me. Although all the reds make it feel like she's leaping over or through fire.
Sometimes it amazes me the things that will come flowing out, if given the time and space to do so. This piece is just right for me today.
25 Responses
Leah, what a beautiful piece. Fantastic texture and I love the line drawing. Have a nice week, Evelyn
Posted by: Evelyn | Nov 7, 2010 at 5:17 pm |
awesome! i can see lots of shapes in the background texture – looks like there is a big tippy toe in front, and a huge paw right behind it – and a butterfly toward the top. what a fun piece!
Posted by: aimee | Nov 7, 2010 at 5:36 pm |
I know what you mean, Leah. There is something wonderful about playing with materials and seeing where they take you. It’s a kind of “leap”!!
Love it!!
Posted by: Judy Hartman | Nov 7, 2010 at 5:58 pm |
I just love the movement of this.
Posted by: Angie | Nov 7, 2010 at 6:05 pm |
Cool process, came out very loevly, I really like this.
Posted by: Melissa Liban | Nov 7, 2010 at 6:11 pm |
nice. I have no idea what I will do next.
Posted by: rowena | Nov 7, 2010 at 6:24 pm |
Wow, awesome, it does look like forest.
Posted by: Anya | Nov 7, 2010 at 6:41 pm |
Very cool – it reminds me of a canyon.
Stay inspired!
Posted by: Michelle | Nov 7, 2010 at 7:10 pm |
I love that red Leah. The effects of the rice paper are really cool. Thanks for sharing your process.
Posted by: Leah Virsik | Nov 7, 2010 at 7:20 pm |
It’s nice, Leah. You are so inventive! I’m gathering ideas.
Posted by: Susan Reep | Nov 7, 2010 at 7:38 pm |
So very lovely, Leah.
Posted by: Sandy/Creations by Coleman | Nov 7, 2010 at 8:19 pm |
Great technique, the texture is wonderful. I love the spots where the reds and golds sit together too.
Posted by: Dave | Nov 7, 2010 at 8:44 pm |
This is fabulous – so well captured
Posted by: dthaase | Nov 7, 2010 at 9:50 pm |
Leap – and the net will appear!! YES!!
I did blog today, but didn’t finish the art journal page I was working on. I’ll post a picture tomorrow. I promise!
Posted by: Trece | Nov 7, 2010 at 10:33 pm |
love it! i really like the fact that some of the rice paper is more opaque and gave you the whites, and the texture & patterns revealed by tearing the excess away. fun thing about mixed media- you never know for sure how things will look, but it’s always fun to find out!
Posted by: marianne | Nov 8, 2010 at 12:36 am |
way kool! i create something even if its small and takes only 5 minutes just to start the day and to see some insights! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Roberta | Nov 8, 2010 at 1:43 am |
oh wow! What an interesting outcome. I like all the shapes that are formed.
Posted by: Jehanne | Nov 8, 2010 at 3:24 am |
I feel like I am that figure in your painting. I’ve been taking lots of leaps this year!
Love it!
Posted by: Kathryn – Collage Diva | Nov 8, 2010 at 7:07 am |
i love it!
Posted by: andrea | Nov 8, 2010 at 9:00 am |
Now that is a very interesting texture. Thanks for sharing it and how you made it.
And thanks also for your lovely comments on my blog today.
Nutty
(up late)
Posted by: Gumnut | Nov 8, 2010 at 10:14 am |
I love the surprises in the mixed media process too. The red and gold is great together. I’m a sucker for gilt anything. I have to be careful or my inner tacky comes flying out with abandon.;o)
Mari
Posted by: Mari | Nov 8, 2010 at 10:37 am |
Leah, I love the figure. The background is neat, but I just love how there is some shape and detail to the clothing of this leaping figure and it looks like she has some boots on.
Posted by: kara | Nov 8, 2010 at 12:27 pm |
I LOVE THIS PIECE! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
Fellow leaper, LEAP ON! Week one has been amazing. I am blogging about it now. Living Life as ART! Thank you so much! Art Everyday is great Inspiration and Invitation!
Posted by: gabriela | Nov 8, 2010 at 1:40 pm |
We all ‘leap’ into the unknown everytime we begin a creative project and put our heart and soul into it. Scary but exhilerating. In the same vein of thought – the red could symbolise the firey passion so many people on here feel about being creative.
Well that’s what it meant to me. Lol.
Thanks for sharing your techniques again.
Kat X
Posted by: Katina Wright | Nov 8, 2010 at 3:55 pm |
Love this technique. I’m thinking the tracing would be wonderful to scan and used as a digital brush…
better get to making some art!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Regina | Nov 8, 2010 at 10:11 pm |