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Friday, March 13, 2009

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

And I did!

Did a quick ATC using mostly colored pencils with a touch of pastel. I wanted to try out a different support for cp's so, having various colors of Mi Teintes on hand (left over from last year's experimental sessions with pastels) I selected a blue and went for it.

The only thing I drew was a quick horizon line, then got out the cp's and played with color. Was quite relaxing, I learned a few things, and, got an ATC out of it too!

Here's what I learned:

1. I don't care for Mi Teintes as a support for cp's. The paper texture is too difficult to cover.

2. Next time I use a colored support, I'll choose the color based on what would work best for emphasizing the focal point of the piece, not the overall tone. In this piece the focal point was the setting sun and the glorious yellow-orange-red haze it created in the sky. Problem was, with a blue/grey background it was difficult to get a vivid yellow for the sun (that's where I caved and pulled out the pastels). I had hoped that a white cp base for the sun would give enough opaque coverage that I could get the intensity I was looking for, but that was not the case. Knowing cp's are translucent (evidently my brain was on hiatus at that point) I should have known better. Lesson learned!

3. Occasionally it's good for me to set aside a demanding piece (i.e. a portrait) and let my inner kid just "color"! Sometimes this girl just wants to have fun.... and if I learn a couple of things in the process that's even better.

17 comments:

Laure Ferlita said...

There is a painting by the old masters that comes to mind when I view your ATC. I did a quick search but didn't locate it. This is lovely!

Interesting comment about the focal point vs. the overall feel being the basis for color support choice. Never would have crossed my mind, but makes a lot of sense.

You should get out and play more often!! ; )

simoart said...

Hi
This it a nice piece and the best part is that you let yourself create this wonderful atc.

: ) said...

i love pastel !

Teresa Mallen said...

I am not a fan of Mi Teintes either. For a coloured support, I prefer Colourfix paper. Using white first for your sun would probably have worked to your satisfaction with Colourfix. Pigment really grags onto the surface well. Congrats on having fun, it is a lovely piece!

Cathy Gatland said...

This is a lovely little play-piece Teresa and valuable to learn stuff from. You've reminded me to do some playing too!

Lin said...

Good job Teresa!!!! Love thecolors and blends -- and yes, with the demands on us all, it is GREAT to stop a moment and 'splash' a bit!

Lynne said...

I think it's lovely.

Jan said...

Ooooh, this is just beautiful! As for what you learned - I have to agree totally about using Mi Tientes. I don't like it for any medium and one of the reasons is that it fades so badly so even if you have the perfect color, it won't stay that way for long. Well it might, but only if it's hidden away in a light safe, totally archival environment.

Perhaps you can seal this in some manner as it's too lovely to have anything happen to it!

Felicity Grace said...

I'm not a fan of the paper either but this is lovely and fresh! It's useful to learn something, even if it's that it's not for you!

Michelle said...

Hi Teresa, Your sunset is beautiful! How great to let your inner child have some play time. I'm not fond of working with the mi teintes paper either.

laura said...

Beautiful little scene! And hurrah for lesson 3! I think that is so true--and I needed a reminder!

Ann said...

This is lovely! I have to agree about the Mi Teintes, not my favorite either. But I do hope you try more of these, maybe with a different support, it looks like you're on to something here :)

SG said...

Lovely pastel... very beautifully blended colors. absolutely love it!

The Weaver of Grass said...

I think this business of leaving something you are working on and having a playaround with things applies to all art, don't you? If things get too intense it becomes hard work - your playing around has produced such a free floating piece that I can feel the joy in it.

Jo Castillo said...

Hi there, this is just lovely. :-) We got some sample pieces of Mi Teintes and Canson at the reception the other night. Just the size for ATC. May try a few. Also some book mark size. See how it goes. Thanks for the lesson about what not to do. :)

Tresses said...

We're always learning as artists! Isn't it great fun to play at the same time!!! I love ATCs such fun to make art soooooooo tiny!
Teresa

Michael said...

Hello Teresa, the recent conduct of my busy, do not have access to your blog, I enjoy your work, I wish you a healthy and happy!

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