The Buddha Within

I finished The Buddha Within, and here are a couple of close up photos.

Reflections Of The Inner Spirit Series

The Buddha Within
Rose Arizmendi (C) 2008

Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

16 x 20 inches

Kuan Yin & Golden Fluid Acrylics

I spent most of the day working on my painting of Kuan Yin , layering in watercolor, golden fluid acrylics, acrylic inks, and also used Golden’s Iridescent Bright Gold (fine) on the bamboo leaves.

The picture below is a closeup of Kuan Yin’s face so you can see how tissue and rice paper have added texture to the canvas.

Kuan Yin

“Hope is the dream of a soul awake”.
-French Proverb

Try, Try Again

This morning as I was preparing for another day in the studio, I remembered there were some old canvases stored behind the kitchen door so I took a look to see what was there.

I found an old painting that would be perfect for a collage piece and I’m eager to begin working on it.

It was one of my first explorations into the world of acrylic painting and I became so frustrated with the medium and how fast the paint dried, that afterwards I put it in ‘the garbage out’, pile.

I’m so glad I didn’t throw it out and I have the chance to salvage this piece.

Spring Unsprung

One Of Those Days

Today was cold and rainy and full of last minute changes. I’m not saying that Change is bad, but I do prefer it in small doses not all at once.

After a rather interesting morning of delays, computer glitches, a server down and other oddities, I finally returned to my painting.

I placed a newly prepared canvas on my easel, selected my paints and brushes and hit the proverbial blank wall. Zip, nada, nothing, my muse had left the building and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it..

Feeling frustrated I decided to play around with some tissue paper, rice paper, illustration board and fluid acrylic paints.

The painting below is what I ended up with, and I did feel much better for having done it as opposed to just totally giving up and not painting at all.

Rainy Day In February

RAIN POEM

“The rain was like a little mouse, quiet, small, and gray, it pattered all around the house and then it went away. It did not come I understand, in doors at all, until it found an open window and left tracks across the sill”. – Elizabeth Coatsworth

Acrylic Play Date

Today I decided to play around with some gesso, tissue and rice paper on watercolor paper. The first thing I did was crumble up some of the tissue and rice paper, then tore some of it into smaller pieces.

After I selected the size of watercolor paper I wanted, I spooned some gesso out onto it, spreading it out with a spreader. It took only a few hours to dry this morning.

Next I sketched out the angel, spiral, etc. Then started painting with watercolor and fluid acrylics, laying in some color. The painting needs a lot more work before I develop the angel and spiral, but I was tired and decided to finish later.

v

Angel at Play (c) 2008
Watercolor, Acrylic/Mixed Media

“In order for my work to evolve, I become involved in playfulness and take the opportunity to look at the ‘what- ifs.’ Whatever the result, it expands my vision by letting go of who I think I am and discovering the spirit within.” Jean Deemer

Working in Acrylic

Learning to paint with acrylics has been an interesting journey, and certainly very challenging for someone used to working with oils. I painted with oils for many years and stopped because of allergies.

The acrylic/ mixed medium painting I am currently working on right now is a work in progress.

I sometimes like to alternate between paintings and other projects, because it gives me a chance to process the work, and if I feel stuck for any reason then I take some time off. When I return, I’m refreshed and ready to go!

Below is the latest acrylic painting I am working on. All images are copyrighted.

Scarab Paper Mosaic

Working on a paper mosaic scarab. I began cutting many tiny little pieces of paper for the body, wings, and the sun. I had a great time, although it was a bit messy. I am already dreaming up more projects using this technique. Below is a photo of this work in progress. After it dries I will begin work on the next process.