Wrapped Words Series - 'Try New 1 & 2'

Wrapped Words Series - 'Try New 1' / 6x6 in / oil on Gessobord

I wrapped the word ' Try New' and painted two compositions with it. I wanted to place (push) the wrapped box into one side or corner and leave others space blank - hoping to fill the emty space with interesting brush marks. I always like the beauty in emty space like the ones we often see in oriental paintings. That's what I was trying in these two compositions.......you know.....just 'trying new'....... anyways, I don't think I carried it well this time but I will keep this idea in mind.

Wrapped Words Series - 'Try New 2'

5x7 in / oil on Gessobord  (SOLD)

Wrapped Words Series - 'Passion'

Wrapped Words Series - 'Passion' / 6x6 in / oil on Gessobord

 

I wanted to put the word 'passion' so I wrapped it with pink ribbon. The box is a little long shape so it was little tricky to fit into a qaure format. After I spent some time with my view finder, this is the composition I decided to stay with. 

 

 

Ribbon Study - 'Orange Circles'

Ribbon Study - 'Orange Circles' / 6x6 in / oil on Gessobord

 

I have done another study of ribbons for today's post. I am still playing with rolled ribbons, wishing to get interesting compositions - hmm..... I will see how it goes.

Ribbon Study - 'Green Circles'

Ribbon Study - 'Green Circles' / 6x6 in / oil on Gessobord

 

Painting is fun !

Wrapped Words Series - 'Brave'

Wrapped Words Series - 'Brave'  / 6x6 in  / oil on Gessobord

 

I was talking about my wrapped words series to one of my friends, Jeni, a few month ago. I think I said that it would be really nice if I receive the word I really need for a certain situation as a present. You know........sometimes the right word gives you the right power. (for example, I like to start new things but don't have enough courage to do it so probably I am hesitating, then someone gives me a gift. When I open it, there is a word 'Brave' or 'Courage', I think that would a great gift that I just need for that moment. ) Jeni liked the idea and it inpired her to write a poem about it. So here, I would like to share one of my WWS painting 'Brave' and Jeni's poem together.- hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

The Greatest Gifts

A special gift, what could be inside?

Adorned with bows and sparkles it hides

The question of what it will be,

Fills my mind with curiosity

Wants and needs are variable

Sometimes a need is intangible

Do I want a trinket or token?

So often my needs go unspoken 

I need love, courage, esteem and hope

Or simply the means by which to cope

I want your gift to be what you need, too

If I figure it out, I’ll give it to you

Perhaps you desire a reprieve

Or comfort for a loss you grieve

Perhaps you need some inspiration

Or to revel in anticipation

Imprisioned sometimes by our own inaction

We need to ask for a little compassion

We can’t always have the thing that we crave

But we’ll get what we need if we are brave

When we find our spirits need a lift

Sometimes the right words are the greatest gifts

- Jeni

 

 

I usually forget to take photos once I start painting but I remembered this time :)

 

Ribbon Study - Red Bow

Ribbon Study - 'Red Bow'     5x5 in     oil on Gessobord

 

I just tied a bow and painted it without a word in the box for study. It looks more like orange in the photo but it's actually red in person. I have been painting ribbons and bows for a week now and I am enjoying their shines, shapes and colors of them. Also it's exciting to think about which word to put inside and wrap for next painting.

Ribbon Study - Pink Spiral

Ribbon Study - Pink Spiral    5x7 in     oil on Gessobord

To get the spiral shapes, I had to use a double sided tape. Pink is hard for me to mix dark values. Ummm......... how can I improve it?

Wrapped Words Series - 'Dream'

 

'Dream'         5x5 in         oil on Gessobord

 

There is already more than 40 words on my list for this series so far - Yahee !

 

 



Wrapped Words Series - 'Courage'

Wrapped Words Series - 'Courage' / 5x5 in / oil on Gessobord

 

The word inside of the box is 'Courage' and I think my bow tying skill is getting better.

 

 

 

I love my view finders.

Wrapped Words Series - 'Hope'

'Hope'         5x5 in        oil on Gessobord

 

This is second one for my Wrapped Words Series. 'Hope' is wrapped inside :)

Wrapped Words - 'Create'

'Wrapped Words - Create'    /      5x5 in     /    oil on Gessobord

This is first painting for wrapped words series. When I saw other artists' wrapped gifts paintings online here and there, I immediately knew that I wanted to paint them too. I always thought wrapped gifts were beautiful but I had never thought they could be great still life subjects to paint. So when I saw painted wrapped gifts, I was so excited to find a new props.  Soon I started collect small boxes and colorful ribbons: meanwhile I also started to think about what would be true meaning of gifts , what kind of gifts I would like to receive or give and what was the best gift I got so far....... these thoughts have lead me to start 'wrapped words' series and I picked 'create' for the first word.

 

I wrote 'Create' on paper.

 

and placed it in the box

 

wrapped it with ribbon and painted it.

 

I know it sounds like unnecessary work because people will only see the package but , to me,  it's meaningful that an inspiring word was there while it was being painted.

 

 

Ribbon Study - Blue Bow

'Ribbon Study - Blue Bow' /   5x5 in     / oil on Gessobord

 

This is another study of ribbons. The box that I used for this wrapping  is 4"x4"x4" cube but I wanted to paint top view of the blue bow. To get it's bird eye view, I had to place this wrapped box on my floor and stood up at my easel which was interesting because it was first time for me to look at floor during painting progress - new and fun !

 

 

Ribbon Study - Orange Spiral

Ribbon Study - Orange Spiral / 6x6 in / oil on Gessobord

 

 

'30 paintings in 30 days' starts tomorrow and my theme for the challenge is painting wrapped gifts that I named it 'Wrapped Words' : I will explain what it is about later (probably tomorrow) in my blog. I have planned this a while ago and am very excited to start it as I am participating in '30 in 30' this September. I have been collecting small boxes and colorful ribbons for this challenge and I thought I should start studying ribbons. This painting is one of the studies.

 

This a photo of some of the boxes and ribbons that I have been collecting

 



Untitled - Cup with plums

'Untitled'      6x6 in      Gessobord

Plums on Napkin

'Plums on Napkin'         6x6 in         oil on Gessobord

 

What I realized while I was painting this is that sometimes perspective should be exaggerated. After making the front side of the napkin a lot wider than it actually is, it looks more natural. I don't know why.

Untitled - stacked cups with lime

'Untitled'       5x7       oil on Gessobord

This painting is done yesterday and no more words for today's posting ( Hahaha.... )

Warm-up

'Untitled'      6x6       oil on Gessobord

 

 

I went on my family trip to Alberta for 11 days and came back on this Wednesday. It was a dinosaur themed trip for my son so we camped in Drumheller around Royal Tyrrell Museum and visited fossil museums and stores near. And we even drove to Alberta Dinosaur Provincial Park while we were there. It was a great trip and we all loved it.

 

One thing that I wish I could do was plein air painting during the trip. The scenery of the flat land in Alberta. It was BEAUTIFUL !!  - the simple line of horizon, endless prairie with a few trees and the sky.........oh.... they looked so calm and peaceful. Unfortunately we had such a tight schedule so I didn't have chance to paint them even though I brought all of my painting gears.

 

Anyways, now I am back to my Daily Painting routine and painted glass bottles for warm-up exercise. Colored glasses are interesting when light hits on them and I love it !

Tipsy

'Tipsy'           6x6 in         oil on Gessobord

 

I had posted this painting on my Instagram account as 'Untitled' and hashtaged if anyone can give a name for it. User name '@vitarayne' who is also an artist, her paintings are beautiful by the way, suggested 'Tipsy' for this painting and I wanted to use it and happy with the title. Thank you Vita :)

Coffee Time

 

 

'Coffee Time'              6x6 in            oil on Gessobord

 

 

Pink, pink and pink !

Untitled

'Untitled'       5x7 in      oil on Gessobord

 

 

I am paintingd all day and enjoying it. Stacked cups create interesting shapes and I like it. Getting propostions and perspective right are hard but I will keep try.