With a Little Help From My Friends

I started this new piece last week on a whim. I had been missing painting on a large canvas and I was each day working on many things having to do with the business of art but never on art itself. And you and I know that all work and no painting (or writing, dancing, singing, filmmaking etc) makes Jane a miserable bitch artist.

So here are the first steps of my new and as yet unfinished painting. Painting in acrylics, I have given it the working title of "Helping Hands". These last 4 or 5 years I have been into more spiritual subjects. I felt the need to add a little magic to my reality and find some kind of meaning for things to be the way they are. After reading boatloads of books on Buddhist philosophy, a few hours of meditation and a lot of hanging in Topanga Canyon I slowly morphed into a classic New Age Cali girl with a French twist.

Well it turns out New Age might be the opium of the people because I am starting to imagine hands coming out of the clouds...

**please click on each image if you want to see it in it's entirety**

I love to paint fairy-tale maidens with animal friends and I decided this one would be watched over and helped by a mysterious being in the clouds. Of course the creepy factor of hands coming out of the clouds is not lost on me but creepy and pretty together have always been my cup of tea.

 

And these hands are not accusing, or threatening, they are helping her to tie her hair in a pony tail, how sweet is that??? The bear she is hugging symbolizes kindness and a connection with nature.

 

As usual I start to paint my background (very) roughly the complementary of the color I want in the end. I think it makes for more textured and interesting colors. I like dark blue or purple under the brown of the trees.

 

Here I dry-brushed my sky-blue on the orange undercoat and I might choose to have some orange still peaking through...

 

...my red leaves are turning a natural green...I dry-brush the tree trunks and the grass and start darkening my bear.

 

Then I add texture on his fur, starting with the darker tones and then adding the lighter ones.

 

This is where I am now.

I think I will make her dress white, then again, I often change my colors over and over until I am happy with them. And the arm on the right seems a little too long for her body. I will have to fix it so it looks more natural.

I will take more pictures as I work and make another post to finish this painting up soon. I hope you like how it's coming along.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Lisa Isabella Russo]

This is so fantastic. I love the girl and the bear and the hands and the tree and well ALL of it!! Your work in progress shots are fascinating, thank you for posting them.

[Isabelle Bryer]

Thank you Lisa for your encouraging comment. When using the dry-brush technique it can look "bad" for a long time before the piece finally looks good. You have to trust the process. Stay tuned for the final image :)

[Rabbit Town Animator]

I love reading about your work in progress. The work looks amazing and I can't wait to see it all finished!

[Isabelle Bryer]

Thank you dear Animator. I was ambivalent about posting a step by step, worried that it might spoil the "mystery" to show how it's done.
Now I'd better make the final image amazing! thanks for your interest :)

[kara rane]

hi Isabelle~
i love hands & am just finishing up my series
'Astrological Hands' where I have interpreted each sign of the zodiac. So amazing how we All connect, and I feel that the helping hands of others are true angels.
enjoy the entire zodiac here --->
http://www.lucky2bu.com/2011/11/astrological-hands-sagittarius.html
much kindness*

[Isabelle Bryer]

Thank you for sharing your link Kara. Your idea of mixing the theme of hands with astrological sign is really original.

[Meridith]

I love to see process in action. Can hardly wait to see the finished piece. Lovely, lovely work.

[Isabelle Bryer]

Thank you Meridith. We both have similar taste in art I see (I looked up your work)! I can't wait to see what this piece looks like too, every time I try to pick up a brush and work on it some urgent matter comes up and I have to stop painting! It will be done soon, please come back and check...

[Ann Shankar]

I was finally able to look at your process.I love the final painting, and I enjoy watching the steps you take to create it. You inspire me.

[Isabelle Bryer]

Hello Ann. So now you know how this painting was created. I am in the middle of another one and I am taking photos! I am so glad you are inspired by this painting!