Experimenting with colours and patterns

In the summer of 2010 I started experimenting with new patterns and new acrylic paint. I used very bright colours for my first layer, the background, to create some organic shapes. After finishing the first layer I nearly stopped, but I just just felt there would have to be some dots on this painting.

I have inserted the photographs of he first layer and one of the finished painting. As you can see, I kind of let myself go during my layer of dots. I tried all this different patterns and used different colours, to break up the large chunks of colour.

In the end I went a bit overboard and created a painting that’s a bit disturbing, as in not calming at all. So while the process of making it was very relaxing, the end result is not, It’s a bit much of everything: too much colour and too many shapes. But still, every time I see this painting, it makes me smile. Because I remember how much fun I had creating this.

Disturbing

The thing that was most disturbing to me, was the quantity of the colours I used for the dots. And I really pushed the experimenting phase by applying lots of different patterns. I just pushed a little bit too hard. In retrospect. But hey, it was an experiment.

It did show me that evidently I would rather work with less colours and patterns. Or that I maybe have a natural tendency for resisting something new.

I did like some details of the painting. Especially the green circle with the bronze patterns on it.

The bronze acrylic paint appealed to me so much, that I used this colour straight away for a new painting. With less colours and more straight lines instead of the organic shapes. Kind of like a self inflicted correction. Isn’t it strange how I can remember this ‘decision’ even though it was five years ago?!

As I haven’t painted for almost a year, I realize that I’m missing it. Having an idea, starting with the creation and finishing a piece that is not exactly as I envisaged it. And how your mind can’t help thinking about a new painting, while you’re still working on this one.

Time to start again.

While I was selecting photographs, I saw something that I had forgotten. While I’m working on a new painting, I take photographs of the entire process. That’s how I remembered that I put my children’s names in the painting and then covered them with lots of dots. Maybe that’s the reason why the painting makes me smile happily.