I seem to be getting everything done late, lately. This is what I was working on for Illustration Friday last week. It's also my submission for Kelly Light's
Ripple blog. But I got it done, so better late than never. I'm practicing working in a less realistic style. I'm not comfortable with it and it shows. I have to fight myself to not try to paint everything the way I think it is supposed to be. I feel like my imagination is stifled and everything comes with difficulty. That's why I am making myself do it more and possibly/most likely, why everything is taking me so much longer. Maybe I will even find time to do Illustration Friday this week! There are so many possibilities with the word Paisley. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your comments so much. You all are so supportive that you give the courage to try and work out of my comfort zone and actually post it for all to see!
Beautiful painting. Better late than never!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, I saw this on the Ripple blog too. Lovely colors!
ReplyDeleteI like the rich, textured background colors. Very nice!
ReplyDeletethanks guys, it's another one that I am just not in love with. I seem to be doing a lot of those lately. Oh, well, it's all good practice and part of it.
ReplyDeleteKaren, Beautiful illustrations!Based on a difficult issue, but beautiful
ReplyDeleteKaren - I hear you..sometimes you have to push yourself into areas that are difficult in order to get to the other side and I, like you, have a tendency to want to paint it exactly as I see it..realism...it's tricky! I really applaud you for stepping back and looking at your process and determining that this is something you want to pursue - a new direction that you will challenge yourself with and I know succeed in. Though you may not love this piece, it's really quite well done and very touching for the subject as well as content. The colors are rich, inviting, and though a sad topic, the mermaids are sweet characters and the jellies are very nicely illustrated. It's ashame there is oil on them, isn't it? Keep on creating..it's great to see this and I look forward to your next pieces! Yay for getting things done! : )
ReplyDeleteOh, Karen! Not comfortable with it and it shows??? Are you kidding me? Your mermaid is beautiful! And the colors are so rich. I love the fuzziness of the jellies, and the fact that the mermaid's hair is fin-shaped. Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm SURE that if you had tackled the pelican bath, you would have done a MUCH more inventive perspective than I did.
Here's to demolishing that comfort zone! Woohooo!
Roberto, thank you! Shirley and Bella, I love you two ladies, thank you so much for making my night!
ReplyDelete..i love this one karen..wonderful imagination and colors..great contribution..
ReplyDeleteKaren sweet, you know what? I think 'comfort' for artists is a hidden abyss. I've been too comfortable with my work for too long and by the time I woke up, I felt like I've missed out on so many things! But I suppose it's all in the process... We are each equipped with this ever expanding elastic boundary of a mind, what you're doing now is one solid proof of that!
ReplyDeleteThese mermaids are glowing, and they're 'your' mermaids! :)) (hugs)
OOOH Lady Bug!! You have just blown me away with this wonderful illustration. Oh how I love it! The mermaids are beautiful and the jellies are excellent! This is another to add to your wonderful collect! This is gorgeous work my dear. I had to laugh at your comments. You guys have really been so imaginative and funny..no... Hilarious! Thanks for sharing and I love this fabulous work you have done.
ReplyDeletehugs to you
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ReplyDeleteya'll are so sweet thank you!
ReplyDeleteHeya Karen
ReplyDeleteIt's good to leave the comfort zone - and then run back into it again with what you have learnt - ready for the next foray into the unknown. You know, I really like your 'realist' style' but it's great that you are trying something else.
The jellyfish in this are just superb. So are the mermaids. Perhaps there is a stylsitic difference? The jellyfish are 'in' the water. The mermaids are 'on' the water. Maybe that is why it doesn't settle with you?
For me it's a wonderful work.
cheers
andrew :)
Love your color choices... the blues and greens are great!
ReplyDeleteI like the mermaids, too. Just keep playing with the style til it suits you!
Thanks for stopping by Dabbled... and your nice comments on mine, too...
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Hello Karen! I'm so happy to see you again on our blog! :D ohh.... I could not experience the suggestions that you have given to me yet, I'm having a lot of exams and presentations in the university now... this weekend I will try to do some watercolors, I want to show you something, dear teacher :D (oh, can I call you teacher?)
ReplyDeleteYour mermaids are so kind! And I love jellyfishes! (this is a digital watercolor?)
ReplyDeleteoh! yes :) Amalia is so sweet and kind with me... I call her my sister tree! I'm the rizome, she is the wise tree
ReplyDeleteI will send you and email :) !
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I'm honored that you would call me that. It is digital, you can do the same type of background with salt, but it looks better in real watercolor. I'll be around when you get finished studying and get ready to play around with it.
ReplyDeleteKaren, this is a very beautiful piece! I was surprised to read that you weren't happy with it! I understand about moving away from your comfort zone and how that can create some self doubt. But doubt not! This is a very wonderful, imaginative piece! I also applaud your pushing yourself. As far as I'm concerned, it is REALLY working for you! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteI love the jellyfish! What a beautiful painting : )
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen, I'll be waiting for your next work!
ReplyDeleteI just love those colours working together. I think sometimes we get too involved in our own work to be able to stand back and see it as others see it. It has a different quality (as in 'feel'/'style' NOT standard) about it to some of your pieces, but it is just as beautiful and captivating. x
ReplyDeleteKaren! Thanks for the empathy re: my computer..I'm finally getting over it! I hope you get that external hard drive for your new mac...it'll save a lot of tears! Hope you're having a great weekend!!
ReplyDeletelovely!:)
ReplyDeleteLovely work- would make a great mural, too.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we are our own worst critics. This is lovely! Those jellyfish are fantastic and the mermaids are enchanting. I'm glad you posted it. I think it is hard to switch from a realistic style to a more simple style. We have a tendency to work it and rework it and before we know it... it's back to our own style! God bless you for giving of your time and talent toward the gulf disaster.
ReplyDeleteNow where is that whip? Thanks for the hair/no hair comment :) see you
ReplyDeletethanks for the push Andrew, I promise to post something tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteVery very cool!! Dreamy...
ReplyDeleteGreat of you to swing by, Karen! Wow, you met Susan! I hope all is well with her, and I can't imagine how surreal it must've been to have met in person. I hope you had a great visit. I am in re-build mode now with the computer, which has been a process of days working on the tech/computer stuff, and then breaks with illustration. I just can't sit for too many days in a row rebuilding files and such..it just makes my brain mushy. But all is good and I am plugging along..the website is coming along too but I have a few more illustrations to do before really launching it. I'm not quite happy with some aspects of the site, but I'll get there! : ) Hope you've been well and have had some time to enjoy this summer so far!
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