Strawberry Fields Forever (World Watercolor Month 11/31)

| Laura (Createarteveryday)

This began with a pink cosmos cut from Hub’s garden. I did a basic watercolor sketch of it……and I just didn’t like it. Hence, another abstract painting was born! I think God is trying to tell me not to paint realistically anymore. 🙂    This is roughly 4″ by 4″ on Arches 140 lb. cold-press watercolor paper:

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The initial watercolor sketch was done with a sweet little travel palette made by Winsor & Newton with Cotman half pan paints inside.    I then added some strokes of various Neocolor crayons by Caran d’Ache (which would probably be the art supply I would save first if there were ever a fire here, they’re just so darned vibrant, creamy and versatile), liquified them, and refined with a bit more pan watercolor paint, and some Liquitex Gesso.   My old friends, the Golden fluid acrylic paints (vibrant, luscious paint the consistency of heavy cream) rounded out the painting.   Note:   As a Blick Art Materials affiliate, purchases from these links help to support my site and a fledgling art business.   Enjoy, and thank you!

Once again, this was quite a journey, and when it comes to abstract painting, I hope the journey never ends.   I think the biggest thing I’ve learned so far from the first third of the first annual World Watercolor Month is that I may be a realistic artist when drawing, but I’m an abstract painter.   And I’m loving it.   I hope you are, too.    Everybody should have a little “strawberry field where nothing is real” in their life.    Escape with art and recycle stress into strength!    Have a wonderfully productive and peaceful week.

67 thoughts on “Strawberry Fields Forever (World Watercolor Month 11/31)”

    1. Thank you, Steven, really glad you like this one. I was finally happy when I completed this one last night. Nice to go to sleep knowing you created something that pleases you. I am sure you know what I mean! Thanks for stopping by and giving your feedback, it’s much appreciated. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Kerfe. I wasn’t relating this to one of my windows, but I appreciate the reference! I wouldn’t have caught that. I was thinking last night that if all I can do is suggest a flower with my painting…….might have been fine last summer but it’s not enough for me anymore, I just need to take it to something that really makes me happy. And if what makes me happy is abstract, then abstract it is. I really love drawing realistically but abstract painting, I far prefer. No contest. I’ve always been the oddball, so why not in this too? I really appreciate your feedback. 💜

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        1. Ok, but it *feels* odd in my head. Like they don’t go together. I think a part of me would really enjoy painting in as much detail as I can manage. I love animal eyes in great detail with pencil……I don’t know. Who knows? Thanks for your thoughts; you always make me look inside and see something I didn’t before. (((((K)))))

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            1. Thanks, Kerfe. I imagined a really nice, plain and simple realistic flower and got a five year old’s painting. Just not wanting to post stuff like that anymore so I tried to make lemonade. So far from WWM I’ve learned that I really like to combine WC and acrylic and gesso in one painting. And at least I’m more comfortable with WC than I was last July when I painted in it all month. So it’s all good, I guess. I never thought I’d be an abstract anything, but I guess since I come from quilting it makes more sense than not 🙂 Always appreciate your insights.

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      1. I’ve found that with abstracts, the artist usually likes to put in one small goodie that’s not easily seen. So I purposely look for goodies like that and so I spotted yours. 🙂

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  7. My favorite lines:
    “Everybody should have a little strawberry field where nothing is real in their life.

    HOORAY for that! We all need – and this beautiful painting is SO that! Luscious, vibrant strawberry field laura loo style! Superb!

    “Escape with art and recycle stress into strength!”

    AMEN to that! And if that is achieved – it matters not if our art is realistic, abstract, semi-abstract, impressionistic….. whatever!

    Totally inspired by both you and Debi’s words today. Too doggone bad I have to get to work now – totally want to paint! LOL! 🙂 ❤

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    1. Jodi thank you for shining your light!!! I’m sure your coworkers and customers are blessed by your presence in their day, no matter how that presence is felt. I really appreciate your feedback. Debi was so right on today, is she amazing? Not that I’m saying anything new lol. Thanks Nista, you da bomb 💜 I really need to get my abstract groove on. Still trying realism here and there but loving the ability to really express the way I feel about the flower in this painting.

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      1. Thank YOU! Keep on doing what your doing and let the art speak through you and guide you – that is where the peace is right? Art should not be stress 🙂 We’ve been there – right?! 🙂

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  12. Laura……don’t you love epiphanies? I think that He has been very patient with you…..abstract….abstract! You shine with this mode of art and don’t look back, at all! I got ripples or either goosies on this one, I think that I am drawn to the center and bam, there goes the goosebumps. I have no clue why. I would love to hear how you got into abstracts in the first place, your journey. 🙂

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    1. Margaret, I just love you. Thank you. You and Debi are like little guideposts for me, well, big guideposts! And Jodi is really helping too, you all seem to see the zen in the process.

      Grief and sadness led me to abstracts last summer. My cat became very ill and passed, and she was our last kitty. She was so close to my heart. I bet if you click on my Abstract category and go to the first ones, you’ll see my journey there with lots of me trying to get peace by picturing myself at the edge of a lake and playing with the Neocolors I had just purchased when she got sick.

      And it just went on from there, really. Kind of odd because I love to draw realistically. Really love it! Love faces and capturing likenesses in people and animals to me is the ultimate high and ultimate fun challenge. But painting, abstract is it. Just seems strange to me, maybe it’s just me? ((((((Margaret)))))) Thanks for shining your Light! You, Debi and Jodi are the trifecta this morning. 💜

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      1. awww……losing a family pet is so very hard, I have been through that many times. Out of pain and grief, your abstracts have risen….now isn’t that the way of art? true, spirit touching art? I think that is where art can impact another person’s life, it came with a whole lot of living and feeling.

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    1. Thank you, Carol! I had so much fun with this once I looked at that realistic flower and said yuck to it. Then it was all good lol. The neos really helped add effortless color and then the watercolor and acrylic came into play too. I just love mixing it all up!

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  17. I think we go through periods in our lives where we are drawn to certain art forms. I love that you are creating abstracts and enjoying them, Laura! 🙂 You are so good at them too! ((((Laura)))) PS – love the pinks!!

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    1. Thanks, Jill; I’m glad you think so, it feels like who I am in art, but I feel like that changes. Maybe you’re right, and in a year, I’ll be into something else totally? But I feel like last summer, I was thinking abstract realism and I still feel that most of the time, I’m in that ballpark a year later. I think of these as making a quilt, but much faster, and without trying to find that perfect fabric. You know? Less frustration.

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      1. Maybe it is a seasonal thing for you? I go through periods where I enjoy some art forms more than others. Part of my influence is how much time I have to create. Summers are busier for me so I look for quicker projects. I just think it is interesting to look back on my art and see what was going on in my life at the time to influence my art. Guess I’m weird in that way! 😜 Lol!

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