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Bex Hall > art techniques

art techniques

Doodling is a great way to slow down

October 9, 2021

Doodle lips

Inspired by artist Kelsey Montague. I used some of her elements then got lost in the doodling and included some of my loves; Art, Books, Music, Birds, and Stories.

Speak of your joy. Often.

Filed Under: Random Art Tagged With: art techniques, creative life, doodles

Experiments: a great way to learn

September 17, 2021

Hands-on boosts confidence to try other projects

Watercolor over adhesive lace pattern

Black and lacy, the two Squareathon prompts for today.

I’ve obsessed the past three days with how to get a lace pattern onto paper and tried two methods: 1. spray adhesive as a resist with a watercolor wash, and 2. spray paint. The short video below shows watercolor over adhesive.

I reused the sticky lace under a coat of spray paint and it tore the paper coming off in one spot. The adhesive was applied too thick, I think.

The dry lace with spray paint gave the crisper results. Another short video below shows spray paint over lace.

More experimentation is in order. I envision painting a large abstract incorporating some of these lace pattern transfer techniques. 

Spray paint over lace

Have you any experience with using lace in your work? I’d love to hear about it! Send me an email.

Spray paint over wet and dry lace

Filed Under: Art Projects, Creative Education Tagged With: art techniques, squareathon

Perfect is boring

February 21, 2021

A good mantra for blind contour drawings

The prompt today is Big Bird. Immediately thought of the big yellow guy on Sesame Street but wanted to do something a little different.

Have you ever tried a blind contour drawing? Specifically a continuous line blind contour drawing or portrait? You draw something in pen without looking. The “results are quirky, kooky and otherwise surreal” writes Tammy Garcia of Daisy Yellow Art.

I first tried this in 2018 during the annual ICAD art challenge (that’s Index Card A Day). Typically you create a self-portrait; look at a photo of yourself, and only the photo — don’t look down, and draw one continuous line to replicate the image you see.

Some people blindfold themselves or create a tent over their hand to keep from looking. The urge to look is hard to resist.

But again, the results… fun.

Multiple attempts Big Bird Blind Contour

I made five attempts and didn’t really notice a ton of improvement, but there were differences. I began with the eyes on these two attempts.

Multiple attempts Big Bird Blind Contour

Started from the top of the head on two others. Then for the fifth, I started at the bottom.

5th attempt Big Bird Blind Contour

I suppose there was some improvement. Regardless, it’s a great creative experiment to push yourself out of the comfort zone of perfection. And there’s zero risk. It’s on an index card, or a scrap sheet of paper. Throwaway.

I’ll share the first one I ever did as a self-portrait in 2018. I added color after the pen drawing, while looking, just for fun.

You can do whatever it is you want. It’s your art, your experiment, your fun. Have at it.

With that, I leave you with my Picassoesque masterpiece. Until tomorrow, keep creating.

Blind contour continuous line self portrait

Filed Under: Art Projects Tagged With: art techniques, feathered friends, ICAD, the 100 day project

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About Bex

 

Bex Hall

Her writing has appeared in various online and print publications, most recently in Kerning, a literary magazine, and in the Stories of Hope Collection in Transplant Living. Her artwork has appeared and sold through the Grayson Gallery. She blogs here about creative life and creates in Studio BE overlooking the Ohio River. Her work in progress is a memoir about the secret life of objects.

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  • The 100 Day Project

    50 short stories in 100 days.

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  • Creative practice goals:

    Show up every day behind the pen, the brush, or the lens and share my work.

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