Playing With Colors in Artist Inspiration Journal of K. Joann Russell

Playing with colors gives me lots of fun. I have no subject matter in mind. I simply enjoy a select few colors and how they affect each other and what other colors come from their mixtures.

At the beginning of this year I started an art inspirational journal to encourage me to paint more interpretatively with loose brush strokes. The results have been quite interesting and I've shared a few on this blog.

As we approach the end of 2009 I've looked back at my entries and discovered that the most appealing pages for me were the ones with color splashes and quick black ink gestural lines.

I write around and on the entries with quotes, phrases, words. I often make it a spiritual journal. I've started to write in pencil on a page edge the color names I used because some really lovely color combinations have resulted. I want to remember and reference them for my paintings especially when I get in a rut using the same colors over and over.

So, I'm sharing three for the "price" of one today. Enjoy the colors and lines! Remember to click on the images for closeup views.

"Faith Test"
5 x 8.5" acrylic/ink on paper

"Joy"
5 x 8.5" acrylic/ink on paper

"Dancing"
5 x 8.5" acrylic/ink on paper

I look forward to hearing from you or reading your comments.

Garden Flowers Colorful Original Painting SFA

"Dream Garden"
4 x 6" acrylic on watercolor paper

Can you find the colors I used to paint this original small painting? The mixes on my palette at the end of my painting day came from warm and cool colors of yellow, blue, and green plus a purple and a red violet.

This small format art (SFA) was painted over an underpainting of similar colors. Again the texture of the watercolor paper provides the sparkle. I put a white mat around the image to see what it would look like in a frame. The result: a bright, cheery piece of art. Perfect for a color accent in your decor during the winter months.

I'll add it to my etsy store KJoannRussell.

Lavender Iris Original Painting ACEO ATC

"Lavender Iris"

3.5 x 2.5 acrylic ACEO on watercolor paper

Fun with purple! Today I used dioxazine purple, a red violet, thalo blue, and ultramarine blue to mix a variety of colors in the iris and the background. A little yellow and raw sienna added to the stems The dark value behind the flower makes it stand out, but the dark is not from black. I rarely, if ever, use black paint.

It's good that I had other demands on my time today or I would have been tempted to fiddle too much with the image to refine the color strokes. When to stop is a challenge most painters have to face each day. I'm getting better at telling myself , "that's it, the best I could do today", and moving on. Otherwise I could be ''fixing" for ever and ever on one tiny ACEO, making a bigger and bigger mess without growing as an artist.

Blue Purple Pansy ACEO Original Painting Floral Art

"Purple Pansy" ACEO, ATC Original Painting

3.5 x 2.5" acrylic on watercolor paper

A few pansies remain in my garden among the autumn leaves. I find them happy little flowers in their colorful arrays. It's fun to watch for the little birds "hiding" in and among them as they pick up the leftovers from the feeders.

I used a couple of blues, a purple, a red purple and a yellow for this small painting. This was my play with colors before beginning a larger painting of similar flowers. Do you like it?

You can purchase my ACEO paintings in my Etsy store KJoannRussell .

River Valley Landscape ACEO, ATC Original Small Painting

"River Valley"

2.5 x 3.5" acrylic on watercolor paper (ACEO)

As usual, I just played with a few colors until a composition presented itself. This is a composite of the mountains around here with a river going through the valley. It isn't a realistic painting of the famous Rogue River that flows through the town of Grants Pass, OR on its way to the Pacific Ocean, but I like this small landscape result.

Be sure to click on the image for a larger photo of the ACEO.

Pink Tulips Garden Flowers ACEO, ATC by K. Joann Russell

"Pink Tulips" ACEO

3.5 x 2.5" Acrylic on watercolor paper

This small painting was so much fun to do! I wanted to try a few select colors, a couple of reds and a couple of blues plus a lime green. The 140# watercolor paper provided a great texture for the white to show in places to give the painting a sparkle.

For those not acquainted with the term ACEO, it stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". They originated with Art Trading Cards (ATC) among artists. The dimensions are the same as other trading cards. They are very popular currently.

Purchasing an ACEO is an economical way to collect original art. Some people have large collections of these. There are special display cases for them as well as other accessories. I like to see them framed in a group matting. Little colorful gems that are one of a kind!

Be sure to click on the image of the painting for a larger view that will show brush strokes and color nuances. Enjoy!

Original Rural Landscape Painting with Horses

"Oregon Pastures #2"
8 x 10" oil on canvas, gallery wrap

The greens in this small painting were so much fun. Lots of variations from only a few colors of oil paints. Horses pastured on small acreages are quite typical of southern Oregon.

An earlier painting with a similar composition I painted in watercolor on paper. The effects are quite different. You can view both on my website, K. Joann Russell

To read more about this painting Click here