Sunday, July 10, 2011

Trio and Back Tracking

 Safe at Home, mixed media, 8 x 8
Elizabeth W. Seaver


City Block, mixed media, 8 x 8
 Elizabeth W. Seaver

 Between the Trees, mixed media, 8 x 8
 Elizabeth W. Seaver
 

I painted these three at about the same time--early in my latest series of experimenting with a limited palette (hansa yellow med., quinacridone gold, diox. purple, black and white), toning the canvas with a deep purple and then masking areas with tape and contact paper.  I love the square gallery format.  They are not necessarily meant as a triptych.

The layering underground aspect of the painting derives in part from my early love of archeology and curiosity about what is below our feet (way below).  I have loved rocks and fossils from an early age, always keeping my head down looking when in an area where they were likely to be found.

The textures in the paintings were made by printing my hand-cut blocks smeared with modeling paste.  At first, I used a brush to apply the paste onto the blocks in a stenciling motion, but now go back and forth between that and applying the paste to the canvas with a palette knife and printing and drawing in it.

The last couple of posts have been later works in this same series when I began to go back to a broader color palette, though still a fairly limited one.  But I did do 12 or 15 works in the limited palette and found myself wishing I had showed those more fully.

8 comments:

Gwen Bell said...

I love love love this limited palette! They make such a nice, bold statement. Your wonderful prints add tons of personality and depth. I hope the lucky person (wish it were me) who buys these keeps them grouped.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Thanks, Gwen. I kind of hope so, too!

Carrie Waller Watercolors said...

I'm really enjoying your latest paintings. They are so charming!! Congrats on your son graduating, sounds like a busy summer:)

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Carrie: Thank you so much for your compliment. It is a busy summer, but fun and exciting, too! I appreciate your visit to my blog.

Deborah Younglao, Silk Painter said...

This shows that you don't need a lot of colors to make a statement! I love the earthy tones and textures. They do look great as a group.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Deborah: Thanks. I think since I worked on them back to back, I was able to keep the color very uniform, as well, which helps them look like a group. I really love focusing on the textures and silhouettes.

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

SUPER FABULOUS!!! I love THESEEEEEEE!! They are wonderful. The colors and shapes are so delicious to the eye. Yes indeed you and I could hang out anytime. That would be grand! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Best to you.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Vanessa! Thanks so much for all the EEEEE's. It means a lot that you like them. I really appreciate your stopping by.