abstract painting fused with realism Archives

Painting Out of My Funk – Mixed Media Demo

October 30, 2019 By Carol McIntyre

How do you get yourself out from under emotional challenges? Do you use your creative outlets and/or something else?

As most of you know, starting late summer I took a sabbatical for several months because I needed to Prevent a Train Wreck. This time was followed by our much anticipated vacation to Barcelona. Unfortunately, it was rudely interrupted by the theft of all of our luggage from inside of our rental car as described in Thieves Among Geniuses-Miro and Gaudi. As a result of this traumatic experience, I have been experiencing periodic mild anxiety attacks. This was a surprise me and continues to confound me. Consequently, I have not been inspired or motivated to paint, much less anything else work related.

I had intended to return from our European vacation all charged up and ready to get back to work. Ha! My psyche wasn’t ready, so I have been patiently listening to my body and trying to take care of myself. Meanwhile, what about my art? As I mentioned in my last blog post, I asked a good art friend to push me to start a couple of paintings. I did and that was Okay, but not satisfactory.

This week, after a few mornings of mild anxiety attacks, I decided that I needed to do something different. Painting has almost always served as an emotionally grounding activity for me, but I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to paint! This is not a common phenomenon for me. Feeling lost like this indicated that I still needed some healing time. However, sitting around watching the snow fall (quite the snow storms this week in Colorado), wasn’t working for me.

When in a conundrum such as this, I often pose challenges for myself. I decided that I would use existing painting materials and try something I have only watched on YouTube. I would paint multiple paintings on one sheet of 22″ x 30″ watercolor paper. Here is the step-by-step process of my mixed media demo. [Read more…]

How a Wine Painting Evolved From an Abstract Painting

May 9, 2018 By Carol McIntyre

Have you ever put lots of time and layers into a painting and it just didn’t work out? And, to add to the frustration, you convinced yourself along the way that it was a good painting and that you like it? I call these paintings “problem children.” I do so with affection.

Recently, I experienced one of these challenging paintings and thought I would show you the evolution of an abstract painting into a wine painting.

The original abstract painting started out on a textured panel 24″ x 28″ x 1.5″ board. First I applied several colors, different textures and collaged a napkin (do you see the tulips?). There are probably 4-5 layers at this point.

wine painting, abstract painting, painting lesoon

Step 1.

During the beginning stages of my abstract paintings, I always turn the board around, trying to find where and when I might begin to connect with it. Below you can see it in a vertical orientation. I am liking the drama of it and the mysterious layers that give it depth. The bubble-looking shapes were created with rubbing alcohol.

wine painting, painting lession, color theory

Step 2.

As you can see in Step 3., a few more papers have been collaged, as well as the dripping of paint and circle shapes. I painted in the clouds to create a sense of drifting and more drama. My husband titled it “Carnival Dreams,” which I liked.

At this stage of the painting, I am trying to convince myself that I like it. Actually, I only like a few sections of the painting because it is way too busy. I began wishing I could cut it into a couple of paintings, but that isn’t possible with this panel board. A tad perplexed, I put it aside and moved onto the next painting. It needed to go into hiding for a while.

Step 3.

After a couple of months, I decided it was time to let “Carnival Dreams” go and to see if I could do something different with it other than sand it down to bare wood. I wondered if I could turn it into a wine painting. To do this, I applied strips of green Frog tape to my panel, and then applied light layers of white paint to imply Venetian-like blinds. I confess, emotionally it wasn’t easy to cover up all of my previous layers. .

wine painting, oil painting lesson, color theory

Step 4. Click the images to see a larger view.

When the tape was removed and this was the result.

Step 5.

I am liking this but wanted to continue to see how I could transform this abstract painting into one of my wine themed paintings. The edges were softened and more thin layers of paint were applied as seen in Step 6.

Step 6.

I still wasn’t sure about my goal, but decided to go for it and so I took on the wine painting challenge. In this next image you can see the charcoal drawing of the wine glass, bottle and a hand. I have also applied a little paint.

Step 7.

In Step 8., the forms of the subject have been painted in. I am wondering whether to keep the bottle vague because I want the wine glass to be the focus. Color wise, it was a challenge to not let this wine painting get muddy, so I had to be careful how I applied the purples over the oranges. As you know, purple and orange mix into a brown, which is fine but I didn’t want it too brown/burnt sienna. Learn more about mixing orange and purple in my post What is the Correct Definition of Tertiary Colors?

I do enjoy the problem solving of painting glass, because it’s not easy. It is all about using values – the lights and darks – in the correct places. The layers also need to dry in between before I applied the last white highlights. It is not quite finished in Step 8., because I want the glass to pop more.

Step 8.

Are you thirsty looking at this wine painting? Ready to have a glass?

Step 9. “Let It Pour!” finished 24″x 18″ mixed media on panel painting.

You now have a unique view of the evolution of a wine painting or rather, a painting that was not totally satisfactory, and how I tried to resurrect it. This digital photo is not able to reveal the layers below, but you know they are there! Where might you have stopped during this process? Or would you have continued as I did?

I hope you enjoyed seeing the development of this wine painting and my problem solving along the way.

When have you experienced something similar? Have you documented it? Or perhaps you have a painting you might want to resurrect? Tell us what happened in the comments below.

Please share this post with others if you found it helpful or interesting.

Grateful and colorfully yours,

Carol

New Downtown Studio Opening May 4th

May 3, 2018 By Carol McIntyre

You are INVITED!

On Friday, May 4th, my new downtown studio is opening during First Friday Art Walk, from 5pm-8pm. If you are in the area, please stop in. Several other art venues in the neighborhood will be open during this art walk. There are several wonderful restaurants near-by.

This is the first time I will have my poured paintings available for sale.

Location:

Michael Garman Second Floor Studios

2418 W. Colorado Avenue

Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

Entrance is in the middle of the block of Colbrunn Ct, just north of Colorado Avenue. Note: There is no available elevator to the 2nd floor. There are 22 stairs with two landings.

I am in Studio “T.” Each studio is identified by a letter and its own door color. Of course I had to paint mine purple.

studio opening, oil painting lesson, color theory, acrylic painting lesson

The hallway view of Studio “T.”

PS If you want to come before the main door opens at 5pm, please call me at: 719-510-0006. I am sure I will be there from 3pm on.

I had fun jazzing up the “T” for my door. I even poured some paint on it.

I look forward to seeing you Friday!

Alcohol Obsessed Painting is Not For Drunks

March 4, 2017 By Carol McIntyre

What is ‘alcohol obsessed painting?’ As a creative, do you sometimes find yourself obsessed with some technique or skill that you would like to learn? My latest obsession is alcohol. No, not the kind that comes in a whiskey bottle, but the rubbing or isopropyl alcohol that you can purchase in any grocery or pharmacy for about $0.79.

Below you can see the under painting for 3 different paintings where I used alcohol to create amebae-like shapes. You can probably surmise that I am, in fact, obsessed with this alcohol technique! LOL! Many would say that I have gone overboard.

How Do I Create These Alcohol Obsessed Paintings?

Please let me start out with a qualifier: I have only been experimenting with this obsession for a couple of months, so I know I have more to learn. Your suggestions and experiences are welcomed.

These are my basic materials:

[Read more…]

Surviving an Emotional Tailspin After a Show Cancellation

August 17, 2016 By Carol McIntyre

For nearly a year, an opportunity to create a new body of paintings for a one-person show had been on my calendar. The opening date was only two months away. Then I received an email that no one wants to receive. It told me that the venue was going out of business. Hence my show had been cancelled!!

Oh, WOW! Mentally and emotionally I went into a tailspin for about 24 hours.

For several weeks I had been painting intensely about a new concept for the show. The title was going to be, “Celebrating the Art of Wine & Spirits.” I love a good glass of wine and I do partake in a good martini periodically. This venue taught classes on wine and spirits, as well as hosted a number of different kinds of events. The subject was perfect.

Ladies Night Out, 24×30 mixed media on canvas. Click image to purchase prints/cards/bags, etc.

This emotional tailspin after a show cancellation took me for a ride. Where did I go?

A huge wave of disappointment flowed through me. Ideas for paintings had been swimming in my head for months and I was excited about putting them into paint on canvas. For nearly a year, I had been collecting images and taking photographs, sketching ideas, etc. Already, I was liking the results of my concept.
Then I got angry. Interestingly, I was more upset with myself than I was at the business owner who had failed me. My negative brain chatter started beating me up with, “Why do you choose venues that are not successful for you?” And little of the poor me stuff rambled through my brain. I literally paced back and forth trying to grasp what had happened.
Next, I got upset again because I had altered my entire Fall schedule to accommodate the date of this show. For example:
- The opening date prevented me from participating in a local regional artist studio tour;
- I also had to turn down another opportunity to show my paintings at a conference;
- A friend had written that she wanted to visit a couple weeks before the show and I said, “No,” because I knew that I would be too occupied at that time to enjoy her visit;
- My husband’s work was taking him to Dublin, Ireland at the exact same time, and I could not join him because of this commitment.
- I don’t think people realize how our lives are impacted when we artists schedule various events.
Then I wondered, “What was I going to do with these paintings about wine and martinis? Was it a waste of my time?”

Visions of Paris, 20×20 mixed media on board. Click image to purchase prints/towels/bags/cards, etc.

I know myself well enough to know that I have to go on this emotional and mental roller coaster in order to process it and get to the end. I need to feel what is going on and acknowledge these feelings. Perhaps it is not really an end …it’s a resolution. Denying my feelings is not helpful. Writing in my journal also helped in facilitating the process as well a talking with a compassionate friend.

I want to mention that I have never liked nor understood the statement, “Things happen for reason.” Why? Because it negates the feelings and thoughts of the person who is experiencing the unfortunate event. It is also another form of denial. Denying my emotions leads to festering and my body – particularly my stomach – does not like to fester. I also find the statement offensive because it indicates that the person making the statement is not willing to experience the fullness of humanity.

emotional tailspin after a show cancellation

It’s in Vogue, 24×30 mixed media on canvas

Finally, I arrived in a space where I had empathy for the venue owner. I knew her slightly and realized that her dream had not come true. She had tried for over 5 years to create a profitable and positive business. It was the bigger picture. Rather than responding to her via email, I called her. Fortunately she answered the phone. We had a wonderful conversation and shared a few tears. She told me at the end that she appreciated my “being gracious with her.” Down the road, we may connect again. I am glad that our relationship was maintained.

When I began surfacing from my emotional turmoil, I was able to realize that my subject matter had universal appeal.

There are potentially several opportunities to explore with my wine and spirits paintings and concept. I have had to ‘turn my ship around’ and begin to look beyond my original plan and start creating another. As in other similar similar situations, I began making lemon aide.

When something comes along that feels like a slap in the face or is totally unexpected, how do you react? How does it impact your creativity? Your artistic journey? It happens to all of us. Please feel free to share.

P.S. If you like this post and find it helpful, I’d love it if you’d pass it on via email or social media. You can use the buttons at the top and bottom of this post to share it.

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