And now for something completely different....

Dear readers,

Today I had again very little time (I know it's always the same), that I did not even have time to unpack all the bottles of paint, so I decided to try something that already has been on my mind for a while.

I used old journals, white paint and Indian Ink, and I really like what came out. No bright colours, but just white/grey and black.

Something that I will continue working on later again.

For now: have a wonderful weekend!

Simone

Hier klikken om te bewerken.

Dear readers,

Today I worked at the same size, with other colours. Still thinking about it... I had very old pink paint - almost chewing gum... Did not make the painting process very smooth ;-)

I think by myself: those same shapes again! Isn't it boooring? But I try to let the whole process and development take its own turns, and not hurrying it up.

Below I post the process:


Thanks for visiting!

Dear readers,


Today something new came in: another size. This time I painted for the first time on 50/70 cm. (20/28 inch).

A whole new experience. More paint and more time to get all the paint on the surface.
So again: it's much more a sketchbook-day  today (but than a very big sketchbook!) - a rough kind of painting. Which I like anyway.

Also the 'composition-process' is different. I always have liked square shapes as surface. So this is the first rectangular background, and I like the new experience of it.

Okay! Enough for now.
I wish you all a wonderful day, and I hope you enjoy your own painting...

love,
Simone Gwenda


p.s.: below I post the process:

Dear readers,

Today I had really little time, so I worked really quickly. It was more like a 'sketchbook'-day.

And: as you see another colour is coming in! Thought it would never happen;-) Welcome, Ultramarine Blue!


Here below I post the process.

Thank you for visiting,
Simone Gwenda

Dear readers,

I have been away for a week - I went hiking with my family in the Belgian Ardennes. Wet, muddy and stunning autumn colours. Absolutely wonderful.

So, but now back to painting!

I am still painting on the same format (50/50), the same colours. I hope and trust that kind of things will develop along the road (or: when I go to the shop and buy other colours ;-))

Below is the development of the painting. It is fun to take pictures along the way.

Thanks for visiting and have a lovely day!

Simone Gwenda

Dear readers,

Today a kind of checkerboard came out. With big black circles on it.

I was inspired by some artists who use grid/checkerboard-like shapes. For instance Lari Washburn, Therese Murdza, Scott Burgey, Wendy McWilliams.
I like the repetitiveness of their paintings.


Since the paintings I paint these days are a lot bigger, I don't use my sketchbook so much. I simply don't have extra time left to do it.

But I have taken pictures this time from the process. I like to watch in unfolding.

next week I will be on holidays in the Ardennen in Belgium.
So no painting these days.
I will take the watercolor crayons with me, though, so let's see if something comes out!

Have a wonderful week with lots of painting!


Thanks for visiting,

Simone Gwenda

Dear readers,

I am enjoying all this painting so much!
I really sit down, am not worrying about how things turn out. Just wait until I get an idea or an urge to do something.
I just really like this way of working.

I also really like working on a larger scale.
Now I am working on 50/50 cm.

I can cut the wallpaper in pieces of 50/70, (or even 50/100 or something like that).
But from that point I probably have to switch to canvas, which makes it all more expensive and more difficult to store.
And I will have to buy an easel or something like that.
Which does not fit my room.
So: I wonder how that is going to solve...
For right now: the paper is just fine.

What I actually like so much about paper, is that I am not worrying at all about spoiling material.


Above I put my new painting. It was a delight to paint it.


Thanks for visiting!
Simone Gwenda

Dear readers,

Today another 50/50 cm (20/20 inch).
It turned out to be relatively 'quiet' on the centre of the painting.
Eventhough I could not resist putting all kind of scribbles on it.


Below I post again the whole painting process. I like the way it unfolds!


Simone

p.s.: I find it difficult to photograph the paintings. In real this one is a lot greener. But anyway: you get an idea...

Dear readers!

Today I experimented with a (much) larger size. Before I painted on 20/20 cm (8-8 inch). This time I tried 50/50 cm (20/20 inch). Still possible on the back of the wallpaper.

And I really liked to do it!

It is really nice to work bigger. You can use bigger brushes, make larger movements.
I wonder where this road is going to bring me. I will certainly go on with experimenting on a larger scale this week.


I did not work in my sketchbook, but started preparing a new piece of paper, for tomorrow. Putting already a layer of red and orange on i.

Also: the sketchbook feels a little bit little after working on 50/50 cm. Maybe I should find a way of working on bigger cheap sheets of paper. Or something like that.

The measuring and cutting of the wallpaper is costing me lots of time. I guess it's time to BUY some paper ;-)


Here below I poste the painting process of today.
Because it was the first time painting bigger, I enjoyed taking pictures in between.


Have a wonderful day, and thanks for visiting!

Dear readers,

Today I experimented further along the line: red background, blue/green/white/black foreground.
Sometimes I think: should I keep on painting with the same palette, the same size, etcetera? Shouldn't I do a totally diferent piece everyday?

I feel encouraged by Jane Davies, who says that she wants her students to work in series. She likes it to really get to the bottom of a serie, until you have really worked it through. So you don't run over things too soon, and don't get too 'precious' about what you are currently painting. Tomorrow you will make another one!

But of course: my question is: will I ever enter another serie? That's the queston ;-)!


I also experimented in my sketchbook. See below.

It came out not to be so experimental and quick: I worked on it quite long.
My idea for this time was: making more layers. So: warm colours, then cool colours. And then warm colours again, and finishing with cool colours.
Just trying out.
Makes the process a lot longer though.

Another thing I discovered. I like working in layers. But sometimes the layers become 'stronger', by really painting other parts opaque, so you can not see any of the layering through. In that way you also create contrast, which is interesting for the eye!

So I'm travelling along!

Below I have put an image of the sketchbook of today. Always difficult to photograph when there is a lot of blue in it. It looks a lot colder than in real life.
And: below that I have put a picture of what I did yesterday, when I didn't have so much time: I prepared a whole bunch of backgrounds for later use.


Have a wonderful day!

Simone Gwenda

Hier klikken om te bewerken.

Dear readers,


Today I encountered some really interesting things.
I had made a piece. I wasn't really satisfied. So I thought: let's get it over with, just post it, not everything has to be a 'Masterpiece'.
But then I remembered Jane Davies (very interesting artist whom you can find on internet, can tell you really a lot about all kinds of technics, makes beautiful paintings). She says that often her students come to her and tell he: 'I have 'overworked' it, I did not stop on the right moment'. Which always has sounded very understandable to me. I recognize the feeling that things look all right and then you 'spoil' it.
Her answer was: you haven't worked too much on it, you have not worked long enough on it!'

I found this a very interesting response.

It makes you less of a 'victim'. You just work until the paintings speaks to you and says: 'I'm done'. (Of course: we are never really 'done', but you understand what I say...)

Today I had this really interesting experience with that 'not so interesting painting'. Thinking about Jane Davies I thought: 'I'm not going to bore myself with this painting, I'm just going to work on. (Like: getting myself in trouble again, and painting myself out of it. Not stay on the safe site, like making a 'nice picture', but going on, until you feel:" 'click'. It's okay for now."

I don't know if you recognize this all.
The struggle between spontaneity and just working until things are good.


Okay, that's for it now.
I worked so hard on this piece, that I did not have time for my sketchbook!

have a really nice day, and thank you for visiting!

Simone Gwenda

Dear readers!

I'm happy to still be painting. It is a little bit more difficult after the 30-days-challenge is over. It was fun to post things on Leslie's website, and see all the others do the same. Made me feel connected to all those other painters all around the world.

I'm also really happy to virtually have met some really warm and supportive people!

Can't tell you how helpful that is for me.

(I am sometimes really slow with answering blog posts, due to all my other 'duties' like work, family and all the other things - but I really hope to answer everybody).


Today I painted a small 20/20 cm little painting. Experimenting with more contrast between black and white, and the grey in between.

Same is true for my sketchbook below.

Hope to see you tomorrow!


With love,
Simone Gwenda

ps: another thing that I recognized, that this 'all blue' painting looks less good on the screen compared to in real life. It looks relatively 'cold'.
The last painting (more green in it) doesn't have that effect.
Wonder why.

Dear people,

Finally: the collage of the past month!

Thanks for Leslie and her challenge!
Simone Gwenda

Dear paintingfriends (and of course others!)

The 30-days-challenge is over, and now I would like  to keep this rhythm of everydaypainting (not when other work is getting too busy though, and also in the  weekend I will just be with my family, clean the house, go walking etcetera).)

But: I really intend to keep this everyday painting-thing alive!

You can always remind me!


Today I bumped into the same 'problem' as a few days ago. Yesterday I made something that I liked, and today I wanted to take that idea further. But then I lost a little bit my freedom and carelessness.

Still:; I liked it. Also I like that I am more and more throwing myself in it. Creating visual problems that I don't know if I can solve them (like painting a big red stripe through the whole painting).
But that makes it fun also! And gives me more and more trust that nothing is ever lost.

It is really hard by the way, all this writing in English....


Below my sketchbook.

Really funny how much easier and quicker this one went....
I just went really quick, maybe 10 minutes or so.
Experimenting with more black in the painting..

Okay, back to other work, thanks for visiting!


Simone Gwenda