“What is creative living? Any life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic.
I have a healthy mix of both curiosity and fear insofar as art is concerned and thankfully, curiosity is far stronger than fear.
Curiosity is a good thing to have. It pushes me to go further, to ask, what if I do this? These questions always lead to more learning ( a continuous process) and surprising discoveries. Without the questions, stagnation sets in.
So with a little of both curiosity and maybe a touch of trepidation, I am ready to tackle the second of my biggest canvases which has been sitting in a corner of my art room for several months.
This canvas is going to add a pop of colour on one of the many bare walls in my house. If I am successful with this experiment.
![modeling paste and acrylic paint modeling paste and acrylic paint](https://i0.wp.com/louiseprimeau.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/modeling-paste.png?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1)
I give a base coat of colour to a 15x30 canvas pre-primed with gesso and let it dry.
![first stencil on wood panel](https://i0.wp.com/louiseprimeau.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/first-stencil-on-canvas.png?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1)
My first idea is to simply add colours and drips above the horizon line and then paint over these to suggest abstract flowers.
But then I have the what ifs running through my brain…what if I create some texture with a stencil to suggest the background?
![textured pattern on canvas in acrylic mixed with modeling paste textured pattern on canvas in acrylic mixed with modeling paste](https://i0.wp.com/louiseprimeau.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Pattern-is-done.png?fit=1200%2C896&ssl=1)
Now that I have the pattern across the canvas and the texture is showing up nicely, I am curious to find out …
– what if I painted flowers in between the patterns?
– what if I used texture the same colour as the background?
I don’t like the idea of the flowers going all the way up the canvas so I scotch that idea.
If I use the same colour of background in between the green patterns, I will not be unifying the background.
What if I use green texture to suggest leaves in between the branches?
As I am looking at the canvas, I am thinking it needs something more to tie the branches and the leaves together, maybe a spritz of sepia ink? Hmmm…not sure.
The fear is just settling. I could ruin everything in a jiffy but then what if I discovered something wonderful?
If I mess it up, I can always sand everything off and start over right?
Another interesting blog post, Louise! Thanks for sharing your art process.
Merci Louise. On se parle bientôt!