texture play: violet, September 2011Surface Treatment Workshop
I few months ago, I purchased Darlene Olivia McElroy and Sandra Duran-Wilson’s book, Surface Treatment Workshop: Explore 45 Mixed-Media Techniques. I stumbled upon it while aimlessly wandering through the vast world of amazon.com. Since I received the book, I’ve looked through it a few times, noting techniques I’d like try. I’ve attempted a couple.
However, I have not yet let myself take the time to really play with the various textural surface possibilities.
I’m often too focused on the final image, or influenced by how whatever I am currently working on could later be utilized for another work—I never simply play with the materials to fully explore their potential. I don’t allow myself the freedom to create purely for the joy of the process.
For this week’s artist date, I blocked off two hours and played. I didn’t care how my paper looked or what it could be used for later—I simply delighted in the process. It was liberating, fun, and inspiring. I din’t get too concerned with how the colors worked together, if the layers were becoming too chaotic, or if something I tried didn’t quite work right–ultimately, it was two hours very well spent.
texture play: violet, September 2011 (detail 1)texture play: violet, September 2011 (detail 2)
texture play: green, September 2011 (in progress with my adorable little assistant)texture play: green, September 2011texture play: green, September 2011 (detail 1)texture play: green, September 2011 (detail 2)
Carly Swenson is an intuitive painter originally from northern Montana. She spent more than a decade working primarily as a mixed media artist before shifting to acrylics. Swenson received a BFA in Visual Arts with an Art History Minor from Bemidji State University. During and after university, she traveled and lived abroad, this included studying in China, traveling throughout Europe and living both in England and the Azores.Swenson’s work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions throughout the US and internationally. Her freelance writing and mixed media journals have been published in nationally distributed art magazines. She has facilitated art workshops for various age groups. Swenson’s work is also included in the permanent art collections of Angra do Heroismo Museum and Bemidji State University (Bemidji, MN). Currently, she lives in St. Paul, MN with a smart little dog and a weird little cat. They’re nice.
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14 Replies to “artist’s way, week two: artist date”
That’s lovely, Carly! I can almost feel your creative spirit freely flowing through the piece.
Excellent idea for an Artist’s Date. I’m going to try it with a book on Image Transfer techniques just received. And your images are stunning – they remind me of coral and seaweed.
Sounds like a good book – I will have to check it out too. I also find it hard not to focus on the end result. I can get quite frustrated with the painting process if the piece looks too dissonant, but I’m getting better at remaining calm :)
I think it just takes time and slowly changing your train of thought while you work to remember there is fun and beauty in the process as well. But it can be so easy to forget that.
Carly Swenson • Intuitive Artist 
That’s lovely, Carly! I can almost feel your creative spirit freely flowing through the piece.
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Thanks so much! I don’t know what I am going to do with it–but that doesn’t really matter, I guess:)
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fabulous results must go and look at this book
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I would recommend it–lots of step by step photos, and various examples of how the techniques have been applied. I keep going back to it over and over.
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Excellent idea for an Artist’s Date. I’m going to try it with a book on Image Transfer techniques just received. And your images are stunning – they remind me of coral and seaweed.
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I have the image transfer book too! I got it after the surface one because I loved that one so much. I plan to try it with than one eventually too.:)
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so glad you stopped by my Magpie’s Nest…thank you for your nice comment
your blog and artwork are so rich and inspiring
greetings from Virginia USA
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Thanks for taking the time to check out my work too. I wish you all the best!
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I like the bubbly bits! :)
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Thanks! Me too:)
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Sounds like a good book – I will have to check it out too. I also find it hard not to focus on the end result. I can get quite frustrated with the painting process if the piece looks too dissonant, but I’m getting better at remaining calm :)
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I think it just takes time and slowly changing your train of thought while you work to remember there is fun and beauty in the process as well. But it can be so easy to forget that.
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