Abstracts and Self-Value...a learning experience



Sunset Geo, Organic Zen Note Cards, Diana Campbell Rice, 
Note Card or Small Print

 Watercolor abstracts have been holding my attention for awhile.  There are times when I just love the freedom abstract impression gives me.  I am free to let my mind wander and my hands along with it.  This one, Sunset Geo, is one of the images in my latest line of fine art notecards, Organic Zen. 


A friend, CJ Jones, recently shared a post from social media guru, Jim Kukral, with the advice to stop devaluing what you know -   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSIJipEhUhY  I think many artists do just that -- they depend upon others to tell them their work is "good".   So many times we view our pieces as successful only if someone buys them.  I know, I have been there.     

This past year I have had the opportunity and time to explore, express and value -- value my own artistic ability and let it be expressed.  Yeah, I appreciate sales as much as anyone and depend upon them.  But what I have learned in this past year isn't about trending my art toward sales...it has been about loving the expression in the form it takes.  For me, art is sometime loose, casual drawings finished with watercolor and ink.  Sometimes my art is totally whimsical, with a simple, structured, and focused charm.  

Lately, the wildness and freedom of abstract design is all about trusting myself as an artist.  I love this new sense of value...so Jim Kukral's post resonated with me.  I hope you view it -- only a few minutes -- and take it to heart.  Thanks, CJ, for sharing -- I will pass on the message -- it is a good one.

Cheers...and...thinking of sales...the website to purchase my work is found at http://www.dcrdesign.us/

Best,
DCR

Texture/Splatter -- Yes, in watercolor!

For the love of trees

Forest Sunset, Organic Zen, Diana Campbell Rice
6.5 x 7.5

I love trees.  I love the movement of trees.  In this abstract, titled Forest Sunset, I wanted to capture that movement without putting it into an actual drawing of a tree. My goal was to emphasize the feeling of the forest at sunset -- looking out through the trees. The techniques I used worked out well. 

In this watercolor, pen and ink painting, I used a soft toothbrush dipped in the paint to cause the splatter and movement -- layering the splatter through each paint and dry cycle.   

I layered paint and splatters and used my favorite scratching tools to add texture and more movement -- again through each cycle.  The sunset is representational with the orange lines and tiny circles.  As a finishing touch I added the tiny orange squares.

Forest Sunset, is part of my newest line of greeting cards and small prints, Organic Zen, coming soon to my website http://www.dcrdesign.us/

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

- Scott Adams 

Here's to creativity,
DCR