“I simply do not distinguish between work and play.”
― Mary Oliver.
Yester-post we looked at first layers. Now I’m building on those foundations with some variations of these themes.
These are the techniques I use in my art journals and mixed media pieces. Whatever I’m making I like to work quickly and without any planning. It’s even easier without the distraction of choosing colors to use:
The first piece I pick up + the first paint or ink that comes to hand + the first tool I grab. It always surprises me how serendipity brings new combinations of patterns together.
While color is restricted, mark making tools are not. I don’t limit myself to paint brushes and *proper* art tools (although I like using these too).
Like a lot of folk these days, I’m trying to opt out of plastic use as much as possible, but it still turns up uninvited through packaging and whatnot. We know that re-use is more efficient than recycling.
For all that is bad about plastic, the up side to its indestructible nature is it makes very durable art making tools that are easy to keep clean and seldom need replacing. I’ve had some of the stuff I use for years and you’d never know.
These are a few of my favourite mark making things:
- A hair comb.
- Plastic cards – old bank cards etc.
- Bits of bubble wrap, plastic bag and packaging.
- Plastic netting – the type you get oranges and lemons in.
- Plastic forks, knives, spoons etc. (especially forks)
- Old pens that have run out of ink (ball points, felt pens, markers) – and their lids for perfect little circles!
- Knitting needles.
- String, feathers, elastic bands.
You’ll likely see all these things (and more) come up in my process videos over the coming weeks and months, they all make their own characteristic marks, some more predictably than others.
I’m beginning to combine these pieces now with collage, fabric and stitching, They’re evolving from scrappy bits of paper with smears of paint and scribbles into curious little pieces of art.
This heap of part done bits and pieces is on my desk right now.
My adventures with yellow finishes at the end of the month, when I skip round to the next color in the wheel. Next post I’ll show you the *finished* {for now} stage, and explain what I mean by this too 😉
Every month this year I am making a series of pieces in just one color, so at the end of the year I can combine them into one big multicolored work.
I’m sharing my process throughout this adventure in this blog.
I’d love for you to join me. TWELVTY is open to everyone, and better yet, it’s free! Sign up for my newsletter to find out more and get your free TWELVTY guide ebook.
Mixy's Art Blog 