Go Bold or Go Home :)

Oh. My. Gosh.  I am LOVE, LOVE, LOVING my painting class with Flora Bowley.  I've completed most of layer two on this piece (above) and am leaving it to work on the second canvas...just need a little break in between.  So much to absorb, in a very, very good way.  We have been focusing on mark-making today, not being concerned with a final image, just adding colour & texture using a variety of patterns and tools, including our hands.  I have to admit, I have never been one for using my hands directly, tend to use a rag, and find that acrylics soak the moisture out of my skin, but am really enjoying the different feeling in the work when I incorporate my body directly in this way.  Also, I have never, ever enjoyed working with foam brushes but I'm finding that some of the methods of using them are creating very interesting patterns and designs.  A few things I am definitely going to continue to use in my work:

~ a heavy-duty spray bottle...the one I have been using is a misting bottle and doesn't create the 'runs' like a strong spray does
~ my drawing pencils for etching and a great little tool which just happens to be the lid off a milk jug...makes great marks
~ twirling my large brush to create circles (love the organic shapes) and using my smallest brush to create lines

Well...I'm heading back to the studio - have a WONDERFUL weekend!