No Picasso!



I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

- Pablo Picasso



My first attempt a blending colours
and featuring a feather
... because I like feathers... 



As the title to my post may have informed you, when it comes to free hand painting I am certainly no Picasso, in fact I am sure there are many Kindergartners with more ability than me. However, as the great man himself has said, how can a person ever expect to become better at something if they don't at least attempt it?!

So, essentially this post will stand as my starting line. My first steps into what I hope will one day be a hobby I can literally be proud to hang on my wall. My fatal plunge into the world of painting!

And what a colourful first step it is! The very definition of the saying 'less is more'!

Given the general content of this blog you may have gathered that I am a fairly creative person at heart, even if that doesn't exactly translate into creative ability!









Stretched canvas, paper, acrylic and pen

A large mixed-media piece inspired
by my love of fairy tales and
Once Upon A Time



An acrylic painting I did for my sister as a
birthday present - she is an Audrey fan as
you may have guessed!

  

 As a kid I was always drawing, creating things with play dough and clay and building things, but it was only a year or so ago that I actually decided to try my hand at painting and only in the past couple of weeks that I have again picked up the brush and decided to have a more serious attempt at this form of artistry. Previously I had only ever played with the safety of acrylics but for whatever reason I have suddenly been drawn into the magical (and incredibly frustrating at times) world of watercolours!

Clearly I was in a cheerful and not at all depressed state when I painted these charming little pieces...

*Ding Ding* Oops, don't mind that it's just my sarcasm detector....

So the above are some of the first paintings I ever did on canvas. I felt like such the little artsy poser going to buy my materials at the time but I have to say I am quite proud of how they turned out. Just a few quick Google lessons on painting and I dove right in, Picasso would be proud!

In truth, the real reason I actually began these painting was as a private means of expressing my emotions and releasing some of the sadness, anger and frustration I had been feeling with life. Enter the paintbrush. Without sounding like a complete sociopath, I vividly remember how the precise and careful action of each brush stroke instantly gave me a sense of calm and allowed me to transfer at least some of the hurt I was feeling onto the canvas, hopefully leaving room inside me for a little more sunshine.  

Fast forward a year and I have decided to again tackle the canvas, this time in watercolour! 

I still feel like I am using the process as a therapeutic tool, but this new medium has also given me the chance to channel more positive feelings into my art and I find I am actually enjoying the challenges of controlling bleeding colours and warping paper. So, behold some of the pieces I have churned out in the past couple of weeks and try not to judge me to harshly... they are, after all, my starting blocks!    





London Calling!

A horse of a different colour



An overcast stroll on the beach

Regina Mills - I wish I had been
braver with the colours but... next time!







Evil Regal On











Lyrics from 'On the Brightside' by Never Shout Never





 

"I keep seeing faces... so many faces!" - Anastasia (always time for a Disney quote!)



"I sing myself a quite lullaby and then you go
and let the lonely in to take my heart again"
- Christina Perri's The Lonely







Emma Loves her Yellow Bug... yet another OUAT inspiration







The definition of my childhood! Love you Simba!



 So there you have it! As you can see I have a ton to learn and i;m sure many mistakes to make on my road to becoming a better artist, but at least I'm headed in the vaguely right direction!

Hopefully some time in the future I will be able to look back at this post as see that I have developed my own style (I am clearly all over the place at the moment, from Simba to sedans, oh my!) but for now,... I guess theres not much else to do but keep on painting!

xo