Blog

Aghh! At last! I finally got here! I've been trying to get this Blog publishing for weeks.  What with my eldest daughter's wedding, working part time, kitchen reno and setting up my website for selling overseas there just hasn't been the time or brain space to do it! In fact I feel like my brain needs 'de-fragmenting'!
Anyway, even in the midst of a hectic life I've still managed to product two new artworks. (have a look at my 'Hot Off the Easel' portfolio.)

'Cosmic Highway' is the 4th in the Planetary Series. It is mixed media, including some specialized techiniques I use with fibreglass, and acrylic paints.
 
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                           'Cosmic Highway by Olivia Alexander,
The other painting is titled 'Entwined'. An Abstract, mixed media painting on 300gsm watercolour paper, the theme was Earth, Sky & Water. Each is a part of and dependant on the other.
The inspiration came from my favourite local beach, Bombo.
Traveling along the coastal road, south ot Kiama, the scenery is breathtaking - Green hills and valleys of the Illawarra meet the white, sandy beaches and aqua -blue, rolling waves of the NSW coast. Following the Princes Highway over the Minnamurra river you are then surprised by the beautiful vista of Kiama stretched before you. On the left is the very popular surf beach - Bombo.
One of the few beaches to allow dogs, it is a favourite of mine for walking my pooch. It also provides much artisitic inspiration, expecially for Abstracts.
Bombo has been used in several TV shows and ads as the spectular cliff faces and haunting rock scapes provide great back drops. With areas such as the Bone Yard (pictured), Cathedral Rocks and the Witches Cauldron it's not hard to see why!                                                                                   
                           
The ocean stretches to the horizon and the sense of 'freedom' that I feel as I sit on a safe perch on the clifftop is quite exhilarating. I've spent many hours clambering over rocks, taking close up photos of interesting patterns, shapes and lines in the boulders and cliffs.
Which brings me to share with you another method I use for creating abstract designs. -
Close ups and Macros.
Macros are basically 'very' close -up photos, perhaps 1-2cm or 1 inch away.
this can be of flowers, insects or textures in nature. My camera has a 'macro' setting which automatically allows it to focus very close up.
I can then use the shapes in the photo by transfering them to any size canvas I wish. Look for a good balanced design with interest shapes, both negative and positive. 
And remember that as an Abstract or Expressionistic artist you aren't confined to using realistic colours. If you feel inspired to paint the sky green and the rocks red, then do it! The possibilities for this method are endless. Visit your local forest or rocky beach and sketch and photograph as many interesting natural patterns and textures as you can.
 This will give you a wealth of visual information and references for Abstract artworks.
Enjoy being free in your creativeness and happy painting!
Ciao for now, Liv

Until I went to Art College to do a Fine Arts Certificate I never understood what abstract art was ‘all about’. I now have several methods for developing designs.

The reason I love to paint abstracts is that it gives me the opportunity to express what I see in a different way. Like many abstract artists I started as a realist painter but in later years I found this unchallenging.

I don’t want my art to look like a photo, I want to express more.

Abstracts need to be based on the same principles and elements of design that realism is based upon, in fact the abstract painter needs to have an even more thorough understanding of the principles of design. This is what gives the painting structure and balance.  Throwing paint or riding a paint clad bike over a canvas is not what abstract art is really about!

My inspiration for abstracts comes from everywhere. In fact, sometimes there are too many ideas!

Things like textures or patterns on rocks, trees or the forest floor can spark an idea. Abstract designs are all around you!

For example I take photos of interesting rock formations or patterns often at the local beaches,( see above), I look for good movement, direction and lines. This little one has an interesting focal point in the ‘third’ section of the painting and made a great small ‘beach theme’ abstract. I have multiple photos like this. Trees are anothergreat source for patterns, colour ^and design. 
                                                                       .

If you begin to look at the subject  as ‘flat shapes’ rather than objects, it’s a good way to start.
Looking at the subject through a piece of red Perspex is a great way to remove detail, decrease the subject to ‘shapes’ and show you what the tonal values are by negating the colours. (A great little trick my art teacher taught me)!

You need to look for things that grab your attention, maybe the way the shapes inter-relate, or interesting lines that can lead the eye through the painting.  Also the negative shapes in a design are equally as important as the positive shapes so keep your eye out for ones that are interesting and not all the same.

In my next blog I’ll share some other ideas for beginning an abstract painting such as using macro photos or perhaps beginning an abstract based on a traditional painting design. If you would like to receive my newsletter please sign up on my website. Bye for now! Liv