Cardio for My Right Brain

As I mentioned in a recent post, I’m left-brained, meaning that I tend to be rather literal with my art.  Since I want to change that I’m actively “exercising” my right brain – the creative side.  I’ve been doing a variety of activities to strengthen my creative muscles.  Most recently, they’ve been the ones found in Paint Mojo, by Tracy Verdugo.

This book focuses on random, playful creating, rather than getting caught up in over thinking. As I’m doing the exercises I’m focusing on PROCESS, rather than product.

I especially liked the first exercise.  It involved making what I’m calling “ugly paper.”  There were a series of prompts to follow.  Things like mixing and using a dark color, dripping paint onto the paper, adding stamping, etc.  At the end it looked like quite a hodge podge of unrelated elements.  See what I mean?

But, no worries.  Because the next instructions were to identify and cut out several sections with potential.  I turned it upside down for a fresh perspective and used L-shaped pieces of cardboard to visually crop and select sections.  I found 3.

Next came suggestions for how to improve the pieces.  This is the left piece after the addition of some black and white skinny lines.  Low and behold I really like it!

This is the center section which I over painted with yellow, among other things.  Not too successful, but a very intriguing PROCESS.

The 3rd section is my favorite, although I think I’d rotate it to the left.  I added the center color to this one (which looks MUCH better in real life.)  It’s really yellow-orange without any green.

Now that was fun!  On to the next exercise, which involved a little more introspection.  The instructions said to first write about yourself, then partially paint over it.  Next draw a circle, choose your paint colors and add your thumbprints to it.

Spraying it with water made the colors run and blend.  But some glued on (leftover) white-on-white fabrics resisted the color.  I liked that effect!

Final instructions were to draw a large motif and paint out the background.  I chose an angel and ended up with this.  Can you see those thumbprints still visible?

Some detail shots:

Not bad, I think.  Oops, there I go again  thinking about the end result!  Ignore that.  The PROCESS was fun and engaging.

It’s very fun to work freely and quickly with paint like this.  I’m not sure how/if it will translate to fabric later but I feel like it WILL enhance my right brain skills.  I plan to work about a week or so on this type of thing.

Got some paint?  Want to join me?

Ellen Lindner