Footloose and Fancy Free. A new way to paint for me!

So in case you haven't noticed, I've been playing around with some new styles.   My work is starting to become  more abstract-y.  A style I've always admired.  I also signed up for Flora Bowley's online class in September, and have been oogling her work for about a year now.  I love love love the freedom with which she paints!  And of course the paintings themselves!  I cannot wait for that class to begin.

 In the meantime though, I thought I'd play around with trying to be free and loose with the paints just for giggles.  It ain't easy let me tell you.  At least not for someone like me, who is always afraid of making the wrong decision or messing up.

When I paint I really really have to try hard to let those inhibitions go.  And this particular painting which still has no name btw, was a very new way to work for me.  I tried some of Flora's techniques.  (I have her book too of course),  and I really tried to let the paint flow and the designs appear.  Just making random marks here and there even if I didn't want to or know what to make.  Well, it worked!  And I have to say I'm a bit proud of this piece because of how It got to where it is now.  It started out soooo different as you can see....

Here it is in the first stage.  Right away two birds appeared which I decided to try to keep.

Phase two.  Lots more going on here, starting to like where things are headed.

Phase Three.  Getting busier!  Just kept adding more and more marks and color. This is where I really started liking it.  And in fact I almost wanted to leave it this way.  lol!

Phase 4.  A lot more defined now. 

Phase 5.  Almost done!  And I found a cat!  had no idea he was there until this stage.  So fun! Just needing some last minute details, and deciding whether or not to keep the bird on the left.  Which I didn't.  :)

Phase 6.  All done!  And what do you know, a giraffe appeared!

 Such a fun painting to do!  I'm trying it again on a larger canvas this time.  I really like this technique even though it is hard for me to do.  It amazes me what the final product turns out to be from when you first start. 

Hope you enjoyed my progress shots.  I love seeing the process other artists go through with their art.  It's so much fun to watch a painting develop!

If you are interested in this piece, hop on over to my Etsy shop and check it out. 

Hope you all had a great weekend!