Innovative Art

Bless my heart. This week’s painting adventures included some methods I would not suggest you follow. I told you about my failure to put down a drop cloth. I’m still using a Magic Eraser to get the paint from each tile. I can’t work for long each time as that kind of work is done at a very awkward angle! But even with a drop cloth, I would have tracked paint. Somehow, I also forgot to change into my regular paint shoes.

I didn’t forget exactly. I just didn’t think I would be splattering paint here and yon like I did. I should have known. And dern it! These are my good pair of orthopedics shoes! And no, I did not try to paint with my toe. But after tonight’s experience, I may try that as another of my innovative techniques.

I repainted four canvases that had turned out too dark. I also splattered four wooden cutouts of the word JOY with leftover paint. I had a spurt of brilliant creativity that will make me smile every time I see the amazing vignette that will grace the wall by the front door. I will alternate the cutouts with the dirty pours. ‘I’ve got the JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY’ will run through my mind several times each day. All I needed was the ‘down in my heart’ part of the song.

I have blogged about my pink flamingo on the center wall.  

   Another dirty pour was fashioned to coordinate with a hint of pink. To finish out that side of the great room, there needs to be a hint of the same color in my new vignette.

I looked online for a metal sculpture, but there were no pink hearts that suited my fancy. I had one more dirty pour I wanted to add to that wall and decided to paint a pink heart on it. I studied several sites of clipart and found a few I tried to replicate on paper.

Finally, I drew an outline with pencil and began to paint with a pointy brush. Somehow and however it happened, the sleeve of my robe swiped through the very wet paint. Actually, it looked pretty cool until I tried to replicate the look on the other side of the heart – using a paintbrush instead of my sleeve. Then it needed some more. Then the swipes were at the wrong angle. Then it ended up looking like a centipede. Since I shiver every time I see anything that even vaguely resembles a bug of any kind, I decided that attempt needed a redo. I filled the whole heart in.

I’ll try again tomorrow and hopefully be able to jazz up the heart to portray just the funky look the picture needs.

‘Leave well enough alone’ is an old saying that is sad but true. Chad R. Allen, a writing coach,  asked his acquaintances for their thoughts about editing their work. I told him of my experiences with my Dirty Pour Meets Bob Ross style. As I keep trying to edit my novels (for the 29 millionth time), I hope my editing there turns out better than revamping my dirty pours. Whether it’s my writing or my art, I’m going to keep on keeping on. Mostly because it’s fun.

Our spiritual walk requires even more dedication and determination, but most of our challenges or life redos are Not Fun! But James gives encouragement.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.     James 1:12 NIV

Blessings

KB