Steve Fleming

Artist Studio

Creative Jumpstarts: Start With A Splash Part 1

Jumpstarts
Watercolors

I want to carry on with the expressive theme and begin this exercise with either some splatters of color on randomly wet paper or a few bold vigorous brush marks and then let this action lead to the next action.  Try to react to the previous step and just build the painting based on action and reaction.  Don’t get too bogged down in the subject matter because as with a lot of these exercises I want you to use them to loosen up and just think creatively.  Think quickly and grab pure pigment and splatter it, drag it, rough brush it; get into the process and leave lots of wonderful white paper.  After you have created some dynamic white spaces surrounded by exciting passages of color, texture and line, then take a few minutes and think about where this is leading you.  You might want to keep it really abstract and just enjoy the total freedom of just putting paint on paper and that would be enough or you can tune it in just a little and try to capture the impression of a favorite subject.  Don’t analyze every mark in a critical way, try to be accepting of your mistakes and really let your personal voice come out.15 x 22 arches rough, splatter of New Gamboge, Cobalt Violet, and Skip’s GreenCobalt Blue and more Violet splattered on the paperAlizirin Crimson and Ultramarine Blue line dragged across the paper.  Line made with a “Phil” StickCobalt and Cerulean Blue washes used to define the shapes and establish movement and contrast.Dark accent lines and textures to add detail and expressive finish.  I put this painting together in a very quick and expressive way.  I hope you will give it a try.  Just Do It.

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