Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Young Liz


12 x 12 x 3 gallery wrapped canvas

I initially prepped and textured the canvas with black gesso.
A while back I had found a magazine image of a woman who
reminded me of Frida Kahlo. She didn't really look like Frida,
but her face spoke to me and I was determined to create
a Frida because I am enamored by this artist, her work and
tenacity.

I transfered the image to the canvas and began to paint my
Frida. She was coming along quite nicely and I was beginning
to think how I might embellish her hair and her neckline.

Somewhere along the way I decided to divide the canvas into
6 sections by painting 3 random black lines, right through the
center of her likeness. I gave each section a sheer transparent
color wash of it's own. I had created unique multiple sections
of Frida and was delighted by the outcome and then... as if I
had gone mad, I reached for the unthinkable- a black
permanent Sharpie marker and began to sketch feverishly
around the painted image.

Now I had done it, gone too far, and hated it.

I immediately reached for the titan buff acrylic paint a tried to
go over my permanent markings and to no avail, my
permanent marks remained. What was I to do next?

I ran for the sandpaper, coarse, knubby sandpaper and began
ferociously sanding away at the entire canvas.

In the reveal, parts of initial black gesso were coming forward
and parts of the image transfer were vanishing away. There
were more light washes of titan buff, more sanding, canvas
scrubbing and then I stopped, canvas in my left hand while
brushing the paint dust remnants away with my right, I looked
at the canvas and decided that I was happy. I stared at my
canvas I saw a new familiar likeness, but this time, it was one
of a young Liz Taylor.

My Frida never evolved, but I was happy working tenaciously in
her spirit. This was to be my happy ending, a ressurection of my
artistic accident.

"The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I
paint always whatever passes through my head, without any
further consideration." -Frida Kahlo

As always, I thank you sincerely for your kind words and visits!

My other blog locale: "The Way I See It"

35 comments:

Erin said...

This is beautiful!

How did you transfer her? I'm sure all the altered artists know, but I have no idea, it's a mystery for me!

In any event, lovely art piece you have here.

K Hutchinson said...

This is just gorgeous! I love the effect you got! Lovely artist accident!

Trijnie said...

wonderful painting Andrea.

Erin said...

thank you so much for leaving me the directions!

Mauricio said...

Really nice!

cheers

John M. Mora said...

I thank you for the stroke by stroke instruictions.

I see Liz on a hot tin roof. But it also reminds me of a mural of Pompeii.

My best.

San Diego looked beautiful on US Open golf tournament.

patty said...

love this! sometimes accidents produce the best pieces.

Unknown said...

I love hearing how your painting evolved! Thanks for visiting my blog today and the nice comment. I notice you are also in San Diego, what part? I live in N. County (Escondido).-Shonna

Ron Eklof said...

Yes!
GO MAD!
Often
Ron

Irene said...

I had to move my blog. I hoe you'l come by and see me. I'll be back later for the art, promise! Love, Nora.

http://brightandsunny.wordpress.com/

Bev said...

A happy accident!

I think you have caught the intensity of her eyes and the painting has something of a lavender tinge, and I think that is her favourite colour, because it matches her eyes.

Bev said...

I think this could also be a picture of Anne Bolyn, another famous temptress, but from another age.lol

Irene said...

So that is how you do it. You mess it up and recreate. Aha, you do it the hard way. I suppose that is called real creativity, sort of like crash driving and coming out alive. Phew!

Muriel said...

Gorgeous!! I love it.

Janet Kincaid said...

Wow! I love this! If I saw this at an art show, I'd buy it. It's great to know what your process is and how you're inspired. Very well done, Andrea!

Treet said...

Lovely! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and process! Just discovered your site and I am so touched with your creations, quotations, words---I suppose, just you- Being-. Thanks again!

Treet

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

I love Liz Taylor. I think she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
I have always loved her purple eyes..
Wonderful work!
Sending you love, Nita

Sanja said...

love you canvas.stunning work again!!:-)

Rob said...

OK, I must ask; are you an art teacher? The reason I ask is that the only 2 people I have ever met were my high school art instructors. Ummm, strike that, there is a third, the brother of my close buddy since kindergarten. but I digress. Curiosity is my reason for asking. Both art H.S. art teachers held a high impression on me,and most of my classmates. When we get together, we often talk of our art class and instructors.

We all respected them so much that these art classes were about the only clases we didn't mess around in. We simply didn't want to disapoint them. In fact, we skipped a few other classes just to learn more in the art studios.

One painted with such creativity, your photo here reminded me of him. The other was more into photography. I think I can take pictures, but I'll be darned if I can paint, other than by numbers that is. Pottery was my art medium when not in the darkroom.

Anyway I have rambled on too much as it were. just thought I'd share that tidbit that your work reminds me of my H.S. art classes.

Artists With Artitude said...

Andrea, you made me laugh so hard because I recognized myself in your tribulations. I used Ajax and a wool scrubber one time to take off the Sharpie markings. They turned blue and like you, I was pleasantly surprised at the end of my efforts. I love it when you explain the procedures because I can actually imagine you in your art room, experimenting with gusto. Bravo, my fearless friend. It is the true mark of an artist who can jump in and not play by the rules..

For me, she looks like a mix of Kahlo and the Mona Lisa. I especially like the white shroud-like section.

Hugs

Debi said...

Gorgeous!

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” -- William A. Foster

...and tenacity :)

Unknown said...

come visit.
pleez

~sue from the north

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

I've been looking forward to coming back here to visit. This piece of art is fantastic. I love that you shared the ups and downs too. I've had those "OMG what on earth have I done moments" when working on impulse and suddenly had to spend more time fixing the mistake than it took to make it! The room clears when I am in that space though! lol. Like many of mine yours has turned out to be a happy accident, an integral piece of the art work itself. It is important to let the paint direct us and I am glad to read that instead of forcing Frida to come out you were happy to find Liz.
Really awesome work Andrea! I'm inspired (and holding the thought, still not painting!)
Oh and yes please...I would love a tutorial on the polymer clay! I'd loooove to try it!
Take care and thankyou for your visits, it's nice to know I am gone but not forgotten!
L;)

Martin Stickland said...

Hey! I like you work, what a clever little sausage you are, very arty!

Today it is sunny in my little English seaside village

Yipeeee!!!!

Sandy Maudlin said...

Your painting impresses me as a message of what it was like to be a woman/wife/mother in the 50's - so hidden but so wanting to be able to be her own person, like my mom was. Great job of reconstruction!

Deborah Truesdell said...

Hi Andrea,

I haven't been here for a bit and imagine my delight when I popped in and saw your wonderful painting!! I love the story! We have all worked on something, only to take that one step too far and then not liked what we have in front of us any longer. What an excellent save! I would never have guessed this wasn't the look you were going for all along. Kudos my friend!!!

Heidi said...

Andrea,
She is beautiful!!! Try as you might, I find it hard to beleive anything you create would be anything less than wonderful in my eye's :) I see Liz and Freida - Gorgeous!!!

I am hoping you are safe and well away from the recent fires? I see this post is a few weeks old so please let me know you are ok?

Joy Logan said...

Fabulous piece!

Virginia said...

My first visit here. I was enthralled with your process and the lovely result. I ALWAYS go too far, but guess I give up and throw down my brush too soon. I am on my way to buy some sandpaper! May I add that your mysterious lady reminds me of Vivian Leigh as Scarlet O'Hara.

Ann Christine Dennison said...

Thanks for sharing your 'adventures' with this and I really love this piece of work. I know the feeling of going overboard and retreating again, the downs and ups of the process. The results can be quite amazing when worked upon and this painting is a celebration of this :-)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! What a lovely story, and what a great result!!! I just love it! Thanks for sharing it! I won't despai as much next time everything goes wrong on my canvas, something even better might come out!!

Anonymous said...

My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!

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