Let's dance! (the story of a painting)

This little painting kind of took me by surprise as it appeared very quickly; I usually work quite slowly and take ages to finish a piece of work.  

I take photos as I go along because it helps me to see the painting in a different way.  The camera shows you things that you don't necessarily see with the naked eye.  Because I have a series of photos I thought I would show its development step by step.

I chose a canvas I had already prepped with an underpainting of bright colour and then started to unearth the images already contained in the paint and colour.  I liked the movement in the brush strokes of the underpainting and I wanted to keep that energy.  

I was drawn to finding and painting images of the goddess or feminine energy;  I have worked with the goddess for a long time now and the muse usually (though not always) points me in this direction. 

Different elements such as the trees started to appear.  Orange and blue/green quickly established as the dominant colours. 

I found I wanted to keep the yellow architectural elements and the blue organic swirls at the top of the painting.  The figures became more established and the foreground more developed.  The figures needed some more definition and presence but I like that they are all very different and doing different things.  The final step is sharpening and tidying up.

Painting finished!

What artiness have you been up to this last week?  I would love to hear from you.

From my dancing goddess heart to yours

Rachel xox

Comments

[Carolyn Dube]

WOW! This is an amazing painting! I love seeing the process and its development!

[Anna]

Thank you for sharing your process. I love the thought of unearthing images that already exist. It makes me want to go outside and look at the trees and clouds and imagine the rt contained in the movement of nature.

What kind of paint did you use?

[Margaret Abraham]

Fabulous piece Rachel and thank you for sharing how you created it. I think it will be a long time before I can manage something like that, but that's the adventure I've started and am enjoying it and the people I am connecting with so far:-)

[Rachel Ellen Andrews]

Hi Carolyn - thank you!! And thanks for stopping by xo

[Rachel Ellen Andrews]

Anna, I love your idea of looking for art in nature! I use Liquitex paint xo

[Rachel Ellen Andrews]

Thank you so much Margaret!! Thanks for connecting here and on Facebook; enjoy your journey... xo

[Vicki]

What an awesome way to paint - I love the outcome and the steps of the process,

xoxo

[rachel]

Thanks so much Vicki!!

[Phyllis Fell]

Lovely Rachel, great to see the progression too.

[Julie Gibbons]

Beautiful movement as always, Rachel - I love your vision!

[Rachel Ellen Andrews]

Thank you Phyllis, always nice to hear what you think I appreciate it xox

[Rachel Ellen Andrews]

Thank you Julie!! I really appreciate you and your stopping by too!!