Paint & Politics

'Something Afoot' mixed media Bee Skelton

I've been concentrating on making work rather than blogging about it for some time now.  When I lived in Cyprus, blogging helped me sort out how I felt about all kinds of things; art, life.... the whole confusing conundrum.  After a nudge from an arty friend today (thank you Jennifer) I decided to make an effort... so here I go again boring the pants off you!

In my last blog post, those of you polite/desperate/drunk enough to read it, will have noted that I've decided I'm too old/stubborn to follow my old art school tutor's advice to adhere to a particular genre in my work.  I now don't give a toss, and I am gloriously indulging myself in whatever takes my fancy with a complete lack of guilt.

I still absolutely adore working to commission;  oil portraits of people, pets, landscapes, favourite places and houses etc etc., inspired by client photos and personal insights.  But inbetween I change gear completely letting intuition and imagination take over.

It's liberating to begin with a blank canvas, with hardly a clue what I'm going to do.  I use mixed media, usually beginning with a rough wash with acrylic to kill the whiteness of the canvas, and then things start to happen with scraps of painted papers, acrylic/oil paint, coloured inks, soft pastel, oil pastel, graphite, charcoal etc etc.  Often finished with a lush glossy textured finish to pull it all together!

With the piece above 'Something Afoot' it ought to have a sub-title (Before HS2)  I had local environmental issues on my mind, which very soon took control of the subject.  My muse, Jennifer, will probably remember during our past collaborations, how disgruntled I was about the High Speed Rail project, which is going to destroy so much of the rural landscape where I live.  With construction work imminent this picture is my homage to how my country dog-walking feels at the moment.  It is not a literal representation of a particular piece of the landscape, or wildflower meadow.  It's how I feel about it inside.  And the lack of careful thought that has gone into considering the distruction about to take place.

OK that's me done venting for today.  I don't expect what I have to say will be read by anyone who can make a difference.  But I feel better ......I think.

 You can reach me by email beeskelton@gmail.com or see more work in my Etsy Shop or website www.beeskelton.com

Art Swap Collaboration

Last Autumn I was invited to get involved in an art swap with a small group of other artists connected to the OCA (Open College of the Arts)  It felt like a good opportunity to be in touch with old, and new student friends, even though I'm no longer officially a student. It also offered the refreshing opportunity to create small, spontaneous pieces, totally different to the commissioned paintings I mostly make.

Each of us was to put forward a group of 5 random words to inspire a postcard sized piece of artwork.  We were instructed not to look at our given words until ready to do the work, so that inspiration would be immediate, and not over-thought. I might have cheated, if I hadn't been too busy at the time.  So the words were relegated to the 'I'll get around to that later' place on my laptop. Then, when for various reasons the timing for the process was extended to the New Year, it seemed like I had all the time in the world, and promptly forgot all about about it.

 This week, when Ange finally sent the DEADLINE APPROACHING! style email, I was up to my eyes in paid work, finishing a couple of portrait commissions with a queue of others waiting.

After 30 seconds of panic, I realized a little time off for good behavior was just what I needed.  I make three categories of art; paid work, experimental/learning art and just play. 

 Playtime began with a cursory look at each set of words. I deliberately didn't over analyze and merely expressed the first reaction to how the words made me feel. It seemed most of the word-sets had notions in common with each other. I decided to work on 4 of the pieces together, using the same large piece of paper as a support to collage onto.

Media used; torn painted and drawn papers from my stash, drawn/painted into using acrylic paint, inks, graphite, soft pastel and oil pastel. After some interesting things started to happen, I made a postcard sized aperture in a piece of white A4 paper, providing a template to isolate the compositions I wanted to develop. Further mark making followed. After cutting out the small abstract compositions, the remains of the large partly developed support has been added to my stash for the next time I want to play.

One set of words resonated differently to the others; a cry from the heart. And this I worked separately.  I hope the art swap wasn't too stressful for this collaborator and that she has as much fun as I did in the end.

It’s weighing on my mind.

Collaboration: Ingrid & Bee

Fly away on gossamer wings.

Collaboration: Alison & Bee

Iron ore vein Dark Dangerous

Collaboration: Mark & Bee

Whispering halfpenny water

runs aimlessly

  Collaboration: Ange & Bee

 

Summer’s dying lines Autumn’s cloak.

Collaboration: Catherine & Bee

How to commission artwork by Bee Skelton.
Send Bee an email.

 You can reach me by email beeskelton@gmail.com or see more work in my Etsy Shop or website www.beeskelton.com

A murder of Magpies - mixed media art

Mixed media painting by Bee Skelton

We only saw one or two magpies in the garden when we first came to the house last year, but since then my husband has dangled several bird feeders from every tree and the magpie population has soared, as have all the other wild bird species we attract.  But I really am in two minds about them.  It seems to me the collective noun for magpies is quite apt;  a 'murder' of magpies.  The magpie diet is incredibly varied and as well as the seeds and nuts we give them, they're quite partial to picking off other creatures in our wild life garden.

Nature really is red in tooth and claw and the bloody colour and these birds inspired my latest painting.  It's a mixed media collage piece on gessoed board and I used ripped pieces of one of my printed papers for the background, then added the birds and details with acrylic paint and inks.  You can see more information or buy the finished painting by clicking here.

Was Kandinsky the first art therapist?

There are times when working with abstract ideas and techniques feels right for me.  It's usually when real life is throwing up lemons, and it's my way of making lemonade.  Productive therapy.

Over 100 years ago Vasily Kandinski said that abstract art had “nothing whatever to do with an object.”  When looking at his work some people would agree.  But it's extremely difficult to achieve true abstraction.  The human mind and eye try to make sense of images in terms they can understand.  Like faces in the fire or clouds, landscapes and flowers too, we often see what we want to see.

I've been working with my collection of painted and found papers together with various mixed media on water colour paper to create these small abstract paintings.  For more detailed information just click on each image.

MM7

MM8

MM9

MM10

    

Cat coat of many colours - folk art

MM6 Cat Coat of Many Colours

I love my three cats but still struggle with their complex personalities.  One minute they're like furry angels, all snuggles and purrs.  The next the blood-thirsty little brats are stalking wild birds and field mice in the garden.  And they're not exactly underfed.  Just another of nature's mysteries.

George - sketchbook

 This drawing of Gorgeous George crept into my sketchbook a while back, lord of all he surveys from the kitchen window.  He rarely stirs from the house, but even he's waylaid the odd feather now and again.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StudioBee

Cat nap doodling

Cat Nap - mixed media painting - 8 x 6.75 inches

This little snoozy cat mixed media piece started as a watercolour painting that was going no where, but had some pleasing colours that I thought would make a good background for other media.  I softened the colours slightly then added collaged elements of other painted and drawn papers onto it and allowed it to take on a life of its own.  Developed onwards with gouache paint, more detailed mark making with Inktense pencil and fine nib pen and ink.  The idea of the dreamy cat just started to happen. A glorified doodle really.  Doodling is so therapeutic.  If you haven't tried it yet, I can recommend it.

You can email me for information about anything you see.  A small collection of work can also sometimes be seen in my Etsy shop

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Sketchbook and collage

Oil pastel sketch and mixed media collage work in progress

An unusual selection of work in progress on the easel today, as a result of a visit to town with a friend to view the exhibition of a young talented local artist.  Followed by lunch at our favourite eatery.

I quickly sketched the colourful starter plate with oil pastels on canvas paper.  Now it's propped on the studio easel with three collages I'm in the process of making.  So far on a hard board support I've used acrylic paint, cut and torn painted papers and drawings from my stash together with sketchbook ephemera.  I've a feeling today's food drawing may find it's way into a collage.

 

Home Sweet Home mixed media painting

I'm back working with the collages I made recently.  They make interesting backgrounds on which to add folk art drawings and paintings.  With this one I took a drawing of a little house from my sketchbook sticking it to the background, then painting it to look like a stone built rustic cottage.  To me the background looks like a fantasy abstract landscape. 

For more information click here.

Abstract Collaged ACEO paintings

Today I created some more mixed media ACEO paintings. This time I incorporated small torn fragments from one of my printable collage sheets. Then added acrylic paint, pearlised ink, textured medium, metallic pigment in pearl, gold and bronze plus gel medium.

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41391
Acrylic paint, gold/pearl metallic pigment, pearlised ink, textured gel medium, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping.

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41392
Acrylic paint, gold/bronze metallic pigment, pearlised ink, textured gel medium,paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41393
Acrylic paint, gold metallic pigment, pearlised ink, textured gel medium, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping.

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41394
Acrylic paint, gold metallic pigment, pearlised ink, textured gel medium, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping.

A Small Addiction

I'm in danger of getting hooked on making these tiny paintings. They are so much fun to do and some are giving me ideas for larger canvases.

The texture on them is crunchy, thick and many layered. I love the almost sculptural effect of the moulding paste.

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41091
Acrylic paint, moulding paste, gold metallic paint, gold metallic pigment, pearlised ink, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
SOLD

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41092
Acrylic paint, moulding paste, gold metallic pigment, pearlised ink, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
SOLD

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41093
Acrylic paint, moulding paste, gold metallic paint, gold metallic pigment, pearlised ink, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
SOLD

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 41094
Acrylic paint, moulding paste, gold metallic paint, gold metallic pigment, pearlised ink, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)

What is an ACEO?

An ACEO is a miniature piece of art, the same size as a playing card, 2.5 x 3.5 ins (65 x 90 mm). The acronym stands for Art Card Edition or Original. They can be a reproduction of an original piece of art, or the original art itself, and can be made using any medium the artist chooses; paint, fabric, embroidery, paper, canvas, etc etc. The only stipulation is the size.

ACEO's are wonderful because they are a means of collecting original works of art at an affordable price; a gorgeous burst of colour to cheer any dull day, which won't burst the bank. They can be displayed singly in a frame, grouped in 2's or 3's, or why not make a collection and stick them onto a canvas to create your own original abstract grid painting.

I only offer original works of art (no prints/reproductions), small and large. Here are a group of my latest ACEO's, which are full of crunchy texture and colour.

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 407091
Acrylic paint, textured medium, gold metallic paint, bronze metallic pigment, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping.

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 407092
Acrylic paint, textured medium, gold metallic paint, gold metallic pigment, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping.

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 407093
Acrylic paint, textured medium, gold metallic paint, irridescent pearl pigment, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping

ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA ACEO 407091
Acrylic paint, textured medium, gold metallic paint, irridescent pearl pigment, paper,gel medium on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
$12.95 plus shipping

ALL FOUR ONE Abstract 62508 original mixed media painting

ALL FOUR ONE

Abstract 62508

Mixed media painting on 4 canvases

Total size: 19 x 14 inches (48 x 36 cms)

On each of the 4 pieces I used my handmade tiles together with many layers of acrylic paint and a final hint of pearl medium.

ABSTRACT 62308 original mixed media painting on canvas.

ABSTRACT 62308

Mixed media on canvas

7 x 9.5 ins approx (18 x 24 cms)

This painting was meant to be the first in a group of 4 started last week. But I needed to wait for new canvases.

As you can see they begin life very differently to how they are likely to look in the end.

BLUE ABSTRACT 62008 Original mixed media painting

ABSTRACT 62008

8 x 8 inches approx

(20 x 20 cms)

JAPANESE GEISHA 1 Original abstract mixed media painting on canvas

JAPANESE GEISHA 1

Mixed media abstract painting on canvas

7 x 9.5 inches approx. (28 x 24 cms)

I'm in town tomorrow to meet a friend and also for new canvases, so in the meantime, today I used the final canvas of this size for another mixed media.

Another of the handmade clay tiles this time together with paper, paint and thick pearly medium.

Paint & Clay - Original mixed media painting on canvas

The studio is in total chaos just now, with hardly a square inch of useable surface left ... but I'm on a roll so tidying up with have to wait.

I've been playing with clay and now have lots of small tiles, which I plan to use collectively or individually in mixed media paintings. The pic shows them in their naked unpainted state. Many of them will get altered out of all recognition, but I do like the way some of them look now and have chosen four of the more simple ones to use for a 4 canvas minimal contemporary piece.

I've started on 3 of them, then realised that I must have got the fourth from a different supplier because the weave of the canvas is slightly different. So it's off to town this week for more of the same.

DAY 67 Project 365

Mixed media Woodland Asphodel 2ins x 4.75ins, using acrylic paint monoprint, collage and pearlescent inks. Think it would suit white and blue mount.

HOLIDAY KEEPSAKE

Rob and Liz went to see the mosaics at Paphos today, so I took the opportunity to make a quick keepsake collage to give them when they leave at the weekend.

I worked it on canvas using acrylic paint, wine label, digital photo images printed on mulberry paper & glossy, irridescent inks, shrink plastic coloured shrunk and stamped, triple heat embossing, handpainted papers, text cut from funky foam.

ANOTHER BIT OF KITCHEN WALL

Wibbo's warned me about the addictiveness of this Blogging business, and I think she has a point. I'm surprised how much fun it's turning out to be. Also like the fact it's guilt free ... if I miss posting for a few days or even weeks ... who cares. No one is going to beat me with a stick, least of all myself.

I switched and changed several 'kitchen corner still lifes' at the weekend, but left this canvas where it's been for some time. It reminds me of the summer British abstract painter, Patrick Jones, was over here and he inspired me to make this abstract vaguely cubist collage one sweltering afternoon. I still like the colours, textures and effects of the layered papers. I remember Patrick was insistent that the image was completed with the addition of just a single drawn 'mark'. I chose to do this with a brown conte crayon and just loved the way it brought it all together.