3/1/09

BLOWING BUBBLES

Freshly blown bubbles, (made up of 6 oz. water with 3 oz. Dawn Liquid and 2 oz. of fluid acrylics,) created a textured background for this watercolor. Three colors were used in separate containers, and the last two 'printing' of different colored bubbles took place while the original bubble print was still damp on the page. This allowed some areas of the color to mingle on the paper, creating subtle changes in the bubbles.

Once the bubbles/paint mix dried, it was time to develop some kind of painting. This one really suggested the free fall of water from the top of a steep slope, and since I'd recently read The Shack, beautiful Multnomah Falls near Portland, Oregon, came to mind.

A shape was cropped from the original printing to accomodate the composition. Then, trees were added and some areas darkened to enhance the composition and create movement in the painting. Finally, more burnt orange was painted across the top of the falls for a bit of drama.

If you haven't read it yet, check out The Shack. It started a little slow for me, but after a couple of chapters, there was no putting it down. Hope you like it, too.

"TUMULTUOUS" Transparent Watercolor over Fluid Acrylic Bubbles on 140#HP Arches, 8 x 13"

18 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

You are making me sooo curious on this technique, hope we do it in class someday. I love the dancing orange here and there throughout and the large cascading falls. Beautiful painting!

Vicki Greene said...

This is beautiful. I read this 3 times and I am still not sure of how you did it. You have some of the most amazing techniques. Will will continue watching with interest.

Dawn said...

I think this is very cool and would love to learn this. how do you blow the bubbles? with one of those small plastic wands we had as kids????

Sandy Maudlin said...

It's sooo easy to do. Mix up the 3 items in a wide, flat container like those glad plastic containers, using a different container for each color. Stir it up good. Then using any long straw, blow bubbles until they are above the top of the container. Quickly place your paper face down on to the bubbles. QUICKLY is important because the color will start to fade out of the bubbles in about 10 seconds. The bubbles can be tiny and foamy to huge for different effects.

Repeat as much as you want on one sheet and do lots of sheets. I'll roll the paper, stick just an edge onto the bubbles or a corner, etc. Let it dry.

Hot pressed works extremely well, but YUPO will wash off too easy due to the soap unless you treat the bubbled page with a workable fixative before you paint.

This is a time to make sure you really DON'T INHALE...... (I never ever even had the opportunity to inhale...Honest...Even though I went to IU in the late 60's.)

Kids love to do this, too. Have fun.

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

Beautiful painting and woderful post. You've made it sound so easy... you've made us all want to give this a try. Thank you Sandy!

Chris Beck said...

Sandy, you definitely get my vote as the most experimental artist I know. I love what you did with this technique. And again, thanks for sharing the particulars of how to do it.

Vicki Greene said...

Thanks Sandy, now I think I get it. I certainly want to give this one a try.

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Oh I can't believe being away from my computer since Wednesday meant I didn't see these bubble paintings until today. What a fantastic idea and looks such fun... but as usual you turn out a wonderful piece of artwork. I MUST HAVE A GO!!!!!!

Joyfulartist said...

Now that looks like a lot of fun. I'm not sure how you did it but it's worth a try or two. I loved The Shack, had to remind myself that it was FICTION, but thought it was a neat story and a reminder not to put God in my little preconceived box.

Anita Davies said...

Sandy what is dawn liquid soap?
Fantastic result!

Sandy Maudlin said...

Anita - Dawn is the brand name of a dishwashing liquid soap I use. It's known for its ability to cut grease easily, but I would think that any liquid dishwashing soap would work as long as it had no oils or lotions added.

Meera Rao said...

wonderful painting and what a innovative technique! Thank you so very much for sharing it and being an inspiration!!!!

Margaret Ann said...

OMG! This is just a surreal effect...I love it to pieces...I must give it a go as well! Superb!

Barb Sailor said...

Thanks for another wonderful watermedia painting idea. I can't wait to try this technique. Sandy - you are amazing!
Barb

debwardart said...

Very interesting painting idea! Bet the "triple-ettes" loved it!

Sandy Maudlin said...

Thanks, evryone, for all your interest and comments on this process. We have triplet grandchildren as Deb alluded to who are almost 6 and have not yet done this. Next visit here ... we'll paint this way for sure.

Anonymous said...
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Anita Davies said...

Thanks for explaining the soap Sandy!