Abstracting.

Hello and a big hug! All your comments about my paintings in my last post, were just brilliant, thank you so, so, so, so much! Not only were you constructive with everything you said, you were very kind too. I want to have another read of them, to take in everything you said fully. I value all your comments ENORMOUSLY, you know that, don't you?

I wonder what you'll think of these abstracts I've been doing................ I showed you the beginnings of a painting, in the photo above, in a post last week, and you seemed intrigued.

I don't know why I'm doing these abstract watercolours, it's just happening. I would love to know why I'm doing them. I do know that I enjoy using watercolour like this. Building them up in layers shows off the possibilities of watercolour beautifully. And doing different forms, and layering those forms makes for some exciting colours.

They make my mouth water a bit.

This is the first painting I did, before taking the abstract thing more seriously, and doing more. It's small, and I like the bottom half of the picture the most. I think there are possibilities in that bottom half.

One of the things I find a bit odd about my doing abstract painting, is that it's the polar opposite of my illustration work, and the still lives, and I don't know where the abstracting is coming from. Having said that, the jewellry I'm working on is abstract and colourful, so maybe that's the link.

I have tried to link the abstract watercolours, to my still life paintings, by doing sort of abstract still lives, or very simplified still lives, you could say.

I was attempting simplicity with the picture above, which I never finished. Watercolour is a medium where, if you make a mistake, that's pretty much it, picture ruined. Often, trying to cover up a mistake in watercolours, leads to a muddy looking mess.

Watercolour paint demands that you be confident.

So how, may you ask, did the picture I showed you (above), earlier in this post, turn out?

Quite different from those beginnings, in the end.

Like this!

I had to check it carefully, to see if it really was the painting I showed you, in it's beginning stages.

Yep, it is, definitely.

I worked on some of the paintings I showed you in my last post, over the weekend, but haven't photographed them yet. And there are two more abstracts, that aren't quite finished, to photograph, and show you.

The fair isle scarf I've been working on was finished off this morning, while I was drinking my cup of tea, in bed.

I love that first cuppa, accompanying my knitting or crochet, it's a great start to the day.

It is amazing how those sneaky moments add up, and contribute enormously to finishing a project.

Now I've finished that scarf, I'm looking forward to my next project. (I will take photos of, and give you more detail about yarns and colours used, and reference material, soon).

Actually, my next project is something a bit different for me, in that I've not done something like this before, relating to knitting or crochet.

But, that will have to wait till Wednesday's post, when I will reveal more detail.

I'm very curious to know your thoughts on these abstracts I've shown you today, if you have any........................... Looking forward to our little chat on Wednesday! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Rattling On]

Love the abstracts. Both before and after. The before minimalism was quite effective-looked like pebbles.
Looking forward to seeing the scarf. It goes very well with the last watercolour picture...

[Kate Bruning]

I am the first - wahoo!!! I love the abstracts, they are right up my alley and adore that they are in water colour which to me freshens up the whole genre completely. The softness of the colours combined with the precision (ish, they are still lovely and soft) of the shapes makes for a visual feast. Paintings I would spend a long time admiring and loving if they were on my wall. Yayyy for Vanessa and her new world of magic. Love Kate xxooxxoo (your very greedy friend).

[sumea]

I love them....so Pretty and delicate. You have a marvelous eye for colour. Am going to look at the paintings on Your previous post now xxx

[Siobhan]

I'm not overly a fan of abstract - unless there are shapes and patterns and (nice) colours involved (so the red triangle in the top left corner of a white canvas, or 3 primary colour stripes at the bottom of a huge canvas are not for me). These paintings though have lovely curved shapes - (that do remind you of rounded off smooth pebbles) and transparent colours. I love how the layering of paint means we can see the shapes underneath, and how the process builds new colours. The pictures I love are the one at the top of the page, the one you did first and finally my very favourite which I totally love is the last picture. What makes these pictures so alive is the colour red/pink and is noticeable in the last one especially, where you have the colours change through pinky reds. I have a soft spot for the little boat too!
Maybe you are enjoying doing them because it is all about colour and form but it doesn't have to BE anything? You can just enjoy the process and see what happens. Anyway, I love them very much!
Your scarf is beautiful and its going to be so warm too, being doubled. Can we maybe see picture of you wearing it at some point?

[wonderwoman]

i think your abstracts are lovely - gorgeous colours, very relaxing and soothing to look at. Your scarf is brilliant, have never attempted fairisle!

xx

[Anna]

I love the colours in your abstracts. I'm really attracted to pastel colours at the moment and these showcase them beautifully. x

[Mrs Bun]

They work for me Vanessa as my taste in art veers towards the simplified and often quite dreamlike scene. The layering of colour works really well. Your leaf and vase stand out to me the most. Hope this helps as sometimes I know I like a thing, but it can take a while to disseminate why I actually like it.

Lisa x

[ali.b]

I think the colours are great - I prefer that style than the really bright abstract you can get - does that make sense???

[Lucille]

You would make a great fabric designer. I wonder if you could paint on silk?

[melissa]

This is what I love about watercolors. Everything seems just a touch translucent. It's like looking at a tissue-paper world.

[Anita]

I love the translucency - they remind me of looking through glass or perhaps raindrops. The colours are so crisp and bright (not at all muddy!) and very refreshing.

[Gingham Sarah.]

Hello Vanessa. The first time I have stopped by your blog today. I love it! I will add it to my list of favourites and come back to see you regularly. ( I have read 'Bringing Down the Moon' to my 5 year old daughter, so feel familiar with you already). The abstracts are very appealing and I would certainly be happy to hang them on my walls. My favourites are the leaf sprigs in vases and the finished abstract, the last one. They are calming to look at and have the simplicity of pebbles. They are very soothing to look at. Thank-you for sharing them with us.
Take care and enjoy your week,
Sarah..x

[Aubrey Cotton-Stapleton]

I love the shapes and the freshness and your latest ones remind me of the shapes in crochet and in the fairisle scarf [which I really love.] There is a lighness in spirit and I agree with Kate, they are right up her alley! A floating and rather drem-like. Keep painting!!!!!!!!! And sharing your lovely colours with us, Love Aubrey

[marina]

I loved all of them!!!but my favorite is the last one. Its perfect. Congratulations!!!!!

[driftwood]

looks like you are having fun with the abstracts xox

and the scarf is divine x

[Gerry]

I've no opinion on your wonderful art as I am in awe in anyone's talent.
But I can tell you the pastels work for me.

I LOVE YOUR FAIR ISLE ! !

Now I am pondering what you will reveal Wednesday. . . . . . . I've not done something like this before, relating to knitting or crochet."
What, oh, what can she be up to????

[lindaschiffer]

I really like the abstract overlapping shapes picture!! Those colors are utterly luscious and the overlaps are exciting and alluring.

:) Linda

[frances]

Vanessa, I have always enjoyed working abstractly with watercolor. It's a medium that always surprises me, and I love to begin a bit of watercolor with not much in my mind besides a restrained color range, and perhaps a starting gesture from the brush. It's fun to just let the medium lead the way with no particular destination planned.

Have fun. Looking forward to your next post!

[maryanne]

I love the translucence of your abstracts, too. At her Steiner school last year, my daughter was taught a technique of gradually building up layers of watercolour called "veil painting"(not sure of the spelling). It's gorgeous.They also do "wet-on-wet" painting: again, beautifully ethereal watercolour abstracts.
I love your paintings; you have such a delicate touch.

[Lynne]

Hello Vanessa,
I did start to comment on your last post, but then I was interupted by the dogs who wanted their walk, and it had disappeared from the computer, (and my mind) when I got back! I wanted to say how much I appreciate you taking the time to visit as I know you are so busy.
I love all your work. I particularly enjoy your still lives, but I also like the newer versions with the added interest. What I think I like so much about your paintings is the simplicity of them, but also the detail. I'm amazed at the detail on the cotton reel and the cup. Perhaps the overiding element that draws me to your paintings is the choice of colour. I think the abstacts are nice for that same reason.
Have a great week!

[Katja]

the new abstracts make me experience: soothing calm, a wonder at reflections of life, cups of tea, early mornings in winter with snowy mists....I reckon you are doing a fabulous job!
The Fairisle looks great project and i think you are so lucky to take the calmness of a morning cuppa and your needles - what a start!
MOre on abstracts:
Can't wait to see your jewellery you are hinting you are working on.

[maggie]

That very first photograph of an abstract made me think you could do a brilliant collage of different papers using that as a template. The bottom half reminded me rather of a landscape.... a wooden paling fence in the foreground looking out to fields and beyond....just a thought!

[georgiapeachez]

Your abstracts are so refreshing and lovely. It must be the color palette and the medium. Something so soothing and peaceful about them. xo, suzy

[Heather]

Your abstract Still Life with the leaves is beautiful. I love leaves :)

[sofy]

uhh wonderfull scarf! Looks soo complex, but I guess it helps making the result so much more better:) Though I always love to finish projects!

[Julie]

I love the abstracts - I really liked the first one in its original state and also in its finished state - they are like two completely different works to me. I like the fluidity, the translucence, they are very restful and calming, and I think, something one could have on the walls and look at for a long time - just letting the mind relax and drift, rather than focussing on an image as one would with a still life. Would definitely like to see more, and am now looking forward to tomorrow to see what else you have been up to, you're definitely making the most out of this non-blogging time eh ? x

[Helen]

Hi Vanessa
I love your abstracts (sounds positively suggestive!). I love the colours in the last one - reminds me of watermelons, pink candyfloss and fresh lemons. That is why I love abstract art, it can be anything I want it to be. I get very bored with still life pictures - they just stand still and never get anywhere.
Helen

[Laura]

The abstracts are beautiful! They remind me of a favorite cotton Madras tablecloth I used to have that was in pastel colors. I like it that everyone who sees them your abstract is reminded of something different.

The colors in my cloth were similar to these:
http://threechickadeestextiles.com/product.asp?id=1005

[deborah]

I love your abstrakt paintings. I like the way the colours shine through. :-)

[Tracie]

I am crazy about the colors in your Fair Isle scarf. It is lovely. As for the painting, I'm impressed because I can't draw or paint or anything!

[casapinka]

Maybe you're doing them because they're gorgeous! Creating for the sake of creating - so lovely, thanks for sharing.

[Pipany]

Vanessa that scarf is gorgeous! Well done you and for the lovely abstracts too xx

[Julia Davies]

Your scarf is gorgeous - and seems to be echoed in the colours of your paintings. A great combination.
Can you say where you got the scarf pattern from?