Sunday 16 March 2008

Moon struck

I went to an art workshop yesterday. I go to them regularly and always get something from the experience. The tutors are different in their approach and subject matter but they're invariably happy to pass on tips about their painting techniques. This workshop was no different. The guy who did it though, was worried that if we didn't all follow his demonstration painting, step by step, and didn't go home with a clone of his painting, that he wasn't doing his job properly. It took quite a bit of persuasion on my part to get the point over, that whilst I could understand that the way to learn his methods was to copy them BUT for ME to ENJOY the experience, I had to put my own artistic input into it, or else I would feel TOTALLY frustrated and uncreative. I know for me to feel happy within myself I have to create, it's what I do. So, with what seemed to be against his better judgment, he let me do it......

The painting he wanted us all to copy was of a white waterfall, with a deep blue pool below it, tall brown rocks all around, bright green trees and bushes, all done on a nice sunny day with a pale blue sky. If we'd chosen a turquoisey blue sky the waterfall would have looked like it was on some tropical island, if we'd chosen a duller blue it would have looked like it was in a North American or European forest. When the guy started painting his picture, I was instantly interested in the technique, as it was done in oils, and a wet in wet approach (the wet paint is applied to a wet surface and creates a different effect because of it - particularly ideal for water effects in painting). He painted the sky, then the waterfall and pool below it, then the rocks, then added trees and bushes. But as I watched him, the thought came to me as to how I wanted to paint it, and what I wanted to add to the painting.......

So, here's my version of it, with my creative input. I painted the sky at night, and added a large moon. I painted the waterfall, and kept the colours of the pool dark, the reflected moonlight showing in the ripples of the water. This meant most of the rocks would be kept dark as the pale moonlight wouldn't highlight them, and the trees were kept dark too. But then, I needed a focal point to add interest to the painting....... and the obvious thing to me would be a unicorn, standing there pale and mysterious in the moonlight. And that was when the title of the painting came to me - "Moonstruck"! Yay, I like that, it summed the whole thing up for me. And the lovely thing about it, was that there were a lot of other people there on the workshop and everyone who stood and looked at my painting smiled broadly and said "Oh, how lovely, a unicorn!" and one person even asked me if unicorns had ever actually existed, which I thought was a lovely idea......

And then the tutor saw it, and said "Oh, Pegasus" and I explained, that no, it wasn't! Pegasus is a horse with wings, this is a unicorn, different thing altogether!

But after the workshop I had a chat with the tutor, and by then I'd seen more of his work, and realised that he was actually a very accomplished artist, who might be turning out cloned paintings for the demonstration, but was very talented in his own right with what else he could paint. I was impressed! I told him that I'm an erotic artist, and he was immediately interested in that (why am I not surprised!!!) and said he'd look at my website. I told him that normally I would be adding a naked woman or erotic couple to the type of paintings he produced, and infact want to do that at some point, there's something very erotic about waterfalls somehow. I don't know why, they just are!

And, then he showed me some more of his art and it turned out that he liked erotic art too! But was concerned that on the level he works at, that he might get complaints if he showed paintings like that.

So, I came home a very happy bunny, I'd produced a dramatic and mystical painting I was really happy with.

I'd got friends coming for dinner three hours after I got back from the workshop. And it struck me, as I chopped onions, added them to the frying pan, chose my herbs and spices, peeled mushrooms, added tomato puree, and all the delicious aromas fused together, that cooking is all part of the creative process for me too. It's a very pleasurable, sensual experience for me. My friends obviously thought so too - since they commented on how nice it all was, and wanted seconds!

So, I just need to find someone who wants to buy a unicorn painting now....................

24 comments:

Indi said...

That is totally awesome Jackie, you've captured the element of the whole thing..I love it..! Clever girl

Jackie Adshead said...

Indigo - Thankyou! I'm really pleased with it too!

Utter Basketcase said...

ABOSLUTELY AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Thats AMAZING!!!!! :-) Wow you are soooo talented!!! xx

Jackie Adshead said...

vi's biggest fan - Wow, you like it then?!! Thankyou!

Vi said...

Very nice work my dear!

Yep, cooking is my creative art. I adore it.

Anonymous said...

Love the picture Jackie - once again you have gone your own way with style and flair!
Sounds like you have inspired yet another person too. I bet your tutor is working on an erotic picture - even if it may perhaps be for his own private gallery.

Spiky Zora Jones said...

jackie...you are such a turn on. When you talk of your art...it excites me.

I love the colors of the night. The moon and unicorn bring balance. Water falls are sensual...I agree.

You ever notice how the moon looks larger when it's nearer to the horizon and smaller when it is high? It actually the sma esize, but as artist we make that moon larger to stay with what the eye thinks it sees.

later babes...I love your painting...it rocks.

Bittersweet said...

i'm sure everything you put your hands to is a creative outlet :)

Willsibob said...

A superb reflection, and water movement, as always a great painting, might say the unicorn horn a little long, but it is a magical horn, so I have to sway on that one.

Can't wait to see the painting in daylight, perhaps with a naked figure in the waterfall, certainly complicated, but I'm sure you will enjoy the challenge.

Hope the technique you learnt gets plenty of use, I think water and reflections when done well are so absorbing. Taking that a little further , eyes can be very erotic, especially the one's that make your heart melt, question is could the technique be used to create a painting containing a pair of eyes that you could melt in?

Jackie Adshead said...

Vi - thankyou. Cookings very artistic I bet in your house!

Jackie Adshead said...

racy redhead - thankyou, style and flair, I like that! Mmm... I think you may be right regarding the tutor!

Jackie Adshead said...

spiky zora jones - glad to hear I excite you! I love the colours of the night too and as an artist I love to make the moon seem larger than it actually is.

Jackie Adshead said...

bittersweet me - I like to think it is, what ever it is!! lol

Jackie Adshead said...

willsibob - Thankyou, your comments as ever are informative and helpful.

I like complicated in my paintings, as well you know, and would love to put something erotic in a painting like this.

Eyes are very erotic I agree, but capturing them in a painting would be a huge challenge, this technique may well work as a way of doing it though.... interesting idea!

Anonymous said...

Hey, great painting, I especially like the way the water is hitting the pool below, looks very believable. Great atmosphere too, painting the scene at night!

Thanks for posting!
- Lee
drawninblack.com

nitebyrd said...

How beautiful is that? I adore unicorns. I'd better go buy some lottery tickets.

Jackie Adshead said...

Lee - thanks, I`m glad it looks atmospheric and believable, and I prefered the night time scene to a daytime one - it makes it far more interesting I think!

Jackie Adshead said...

Nitebyrd - I`ll gladly paint you a unicorn you know that! Infact I`ve got a book on that very subject to illustrate very soon!

DJ Kirkby said...

One more day, till it's Chopper's birthday, lalalalala! I am excited!

Joanna Cake said...

When you put the food onto the plates, do you get a bit obsessive about it?

nitebyrd said...

Jackie, I know you would paint me the most fabulous unicorn but I need to refill the coffers first! LOL

You'll let us all know about the book, won't you?

Jackie Adshead said...

dj kirkby - can't wait to hear what he thought of his painting!!

Jackie Adshead said...

Having my cake - not at all - it's only food. I get pleasure from the sensual preparation of it, the sights, smells and feel of it, but not at all obsessive over putting it on plates, no.

Jackie Adshead said...

Niteybyrd - ok, well I'll gladly do it for you whenever you want it, you know that!

And sure, I'll let you know about the book when its published!