Wednesday 28 September 2011

WOYWW #121 - Paint More, Pay Less

My workdesk this week for WOYWW is currently the floor in my outdoor studio. I decided a few days ago that I wanted to play with paint, I had no agenda, no particular painting in mind, I just wanted to slosh it around and paint like a child (act like a child in other words). So outside I went with a load of cheap acrylic paints, some cardboard to cover the floor, a piece of A1 paper and some tape to stick it to the wall.


By the end of that day I realised I had half the amount of craft paints left and a half-finished painting I didn't really like.  But, I had achieved that feeling of freedom when expression is in abundance - and you can't put a price on that right?  Well, I still thought if I carried on at that rate I soon wouldn't have any paints left to be expressive with so I figured out a plan - I went and found some really cheap (& large) acrylic paints & brought the prime colours:



These I found at Art Discount and they cost £5 for 500ml (and the vintage French milk crate I brought a while ago from an antiques market - nice home for them don't you think?).  Now the craft paints that come in 59ml bottles (Folk Art, Anitas, Do Crafts etc) are cheap by any standards £1.25-£2 each, still even if you compare with the cheapest 59ml bottle price these large paints are still a minimum of half that cost.

We all know that 'real' artists put out their few oils/acrylics on a palette and then mix their colours to be exactly the same colour as the purple sky, or green leaf they are painting. I'm not like that - well very occasionally - but right now I just want to paint, tube to paper and back to another tube, even without washing my brushes. So I used the large paints to mix my own lot of colours ready - using these pots that I have been saving every time I have finished with my cosmetics for years - for storing buttons, gemstones etc (because I just think it's silly to throw away something that is made so well and of really tough plastic).

So I managed to get some pastels

Some bright & some jewel tones

& some darks

So I finished the painting with these & just in case you were wondering I've found no difference in the quality whatsoever.  And just in case you were double wondering here is the finished painting:


It's had about 4-5 layers of paint (you can see the corners in pictures above, completely different colours were used - some I left in those lines & squiggles you can see on her) and I don't especially like it any more now that it's done. But I'm in a happier place now than before it was started and that to me is the point of painting. So I say save your jam jars, shampoo bottles or any other pots you may have & why not save a few pennies? You get to do some messy mixing as a bonus!!

Finally as this post is about art thought I'd mention that there's two days left to enter my giveaway for an art journal before I pick a winner, and yours artfully has a fantastic giveaway too to win some pan pastels so check them out. Happy WOYWW much love, Jenny

19 comments:

  1. I just adore this end result! I am not much of a painter, I enjoy playing with paints but no one could recognise my end product! lol.

    thanks for calling by my blog x
    love teen x

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  2. Hi Jenni, I think she is a sweet painting. THe best part is that you were able to be expressive with her and that is always worth it. I love your idea for saving your paint, now I'm thinking how many make-up containers I have thrown out over the years:( I soooo could have used them for this! I am going to hunt around for little containers to use! Thanks so much for the great idea!
    Hugs and many blessings Jenni.
    Kelly

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  3. HOpe my comment went through, it seemed to just disappear:( Hugs

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  4. Looks like loads of fun! Thanks for the peek and sharing, I have been having problems commenting too...yikes!

    xoxo Marjo #30

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  5. what a long post ...... fab-u-lous tho. Love the freedom creativilty brings. I am a bit anal for it and rarley let my paining juices flow quite a freely as your. Happy Crafting XX Sharne

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  6. Never completely abandon a piece of art.. .you can go back to it later and make the magic touches to make it perfect. It looks good to me but you can still make it good to you. It was a great exercise in self expression too and no doubt excellent fun.
    JoZarty x

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  7. I think she's beautiful - and if the process of creating was cathartic, then so much the better! xx All the colours were fab :D

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  8. What a great commentary. I was with you all the way and a fab result.I am coveting the milk crate. Good work on the recycling .
    Happy WOYWW
    Carol C

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  9. Looks like you had loads of fun with a great end product! Thanks for sharing and it's useful to know about the cheaper acrylics as my husband uses them a lot x

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  10. Great lesson for me today, thanks. And your painting is very soulful. xoxo

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  11. Love how you have created such an amazing pallet of colours. Love the milk crate a clever idea. Your creation will be a true expression of all that energy, sometimes they evolve over time. Lovely way to start, add and mould as the mood takes you.

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  12. Oh wow Jenny, how can you not really like your finished picture, I think it’s fab!

    Really wish I had the talent to paint like that.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.
    Happy Crafting!

    Sue
    x

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  13. Oh wow, how can you not really like your finished picture, I think it’s fab.

    Really wish I had the talent to paint like that.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.
    Happy Crafting!

    Sue
    x

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  14. I kept all the free shampoo bottles as we used them each day on holiday and insisted (much to hubby's annoyance) to bring them home with us. Was going to use them for small beads but your post has been a inspiration. Off to Fill up now with paints!!!! Hugs Mrs A.

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  15. Hi! Just popping by to say I am having a giveaway and would love for you to enter! I will try and pop back later for a proper look but want to invite all the wonderful WOYWWers for a chance to win!
    xoxo Karen

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  16. Wow - great work up on that wall, Jenni! Thanks for stopping by....

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  17. Hi, I made it back for a better look and I am glad I did! Your painting looks pretty wonderful to me! I don't know how you got her wings to glow that way! Even if you are not 100% pleased with her, it is good that it made you feel good just to be doing the art! That is so important!
    Thanks for entering my giveaway! Good luck!
    xoxo Karen

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  18. Wowww! Jenny...your work is outstanding...original and beautiful--please keep your videos and journals coming..they are very inspirational to me!!

    Ms. Nancoo

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  19. I wish I had an imagination, to be able to paint without using a guide or a template!
    Love your work.........or rather, your play...... :-)

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