I’ve had a bit of fun using Photoshop’s ‘smudge’ and ‘brush’ tools to transform a slightly blurry photograph of a little kingfisher (see below) into a digital painting. It’s an interesting way of working because the photograph provides the colour palette and basic composition, but you still have to know what you’re doing to turn it into a painting (if you have you ever tried using those artistic filters, you will know they’re very frustrating and no substitute for being able to draw). And the best thing about painting in the digital world: no mess and no need to clean up afterwards.
Flinders Street Railway Station, Melbourne — ink and digital colour, 2016
“Drawing makes you look at the world more closely. It helps you to see what you’re looking at more clearly. Did you know that?”
I said nothing.
“What colour’s a blackbird?” she said.
“Black”
“Typical!”
Fiery succulent — ink, watercolour pencil and gouache, 160 x 210mm, 2016
“I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart.” Vincent van Gogh
I’ve set myself a mini challenge to produce something arty every day for the next two weeks ~ this is art for art’s sake, art for fun ~ studies, experiments and what have you ~ things I’ve been meaning to do but something else always seems more urgent, more important. This is day two.
Ebb and Flow – acrylic on canvas, 150 x 305 mm, 2015. SOLD
“There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.” Pablo Picasso
I have just finished a large abstract painting commission (this isn’t it ― I’m saving that post for another day). I love commissions. It was, however, quite an intense experience. I don’t know why but I find abstracts a lot more challenging than painting landscapes or birds or flowers… I guess that’s because the painting itself is the frame of reference rather than a photograph or something you can see in front of you. Which means that anything is possible. And I find that difficult, possibly because there are too many options. Some people are happy to start with an idea, a mood, a colour, a texture… I guess I’ve discovered that I like starting with an image. Of something. Anything. Anything at all.
Nugget Point, original photograph, 2013
Nugget Point, reference image (cropped, edited and flipped 180°)
So I decided to work on a little abstract just to move some paint around : ) and used a photograph taken a couple of years ago on the Otago coast as my starting point ― a photo of waves crashing against the rocks. It’s an image I’ve been wanting to paint for ages because the place left such an impression on me. I’ve called the painting ‘Ebb and Flow’ and it will be available for purchase in the very near future.
“The most joyous painting is not done for the art world, it is done for the inner world.” Michael Leunig
The quote is from Holy Fool, a wonderful book crammed full of Michael Leunig’s art ― not his cartoons but his playful, colourful, joyful paintings and drawings. Highly recommended.
On the Road Again – acrylic on canvas, 455 x 610 mm, 2015. SOLD
Here is the final painting (click here to see the original post). Yes, the colours are a little unusual ― it makes me think of old photographs and also the way memories can play tricks on us.
Anna Cull ~ Art & Music 