"Horse Whisperer" Collage In Progress: Part 3

I've added the cowboy hat and I'm looking at potential papers for the background. I'm not sure I'll stay with the burlap for the horses' neck; perhaps I'll use a lighter value, Mexican bark paper I have on hand to differentiate it more from the horses' face (for greater variety)? These are the kinds of questions I ask myself as the collage progresses.

Horse Whisperer, Part 2

I'm adding darks to the collage now. I'll be threading the black through the compostion, for unity and connection. I haven't adhered any papers to the support canvas yet. I'm still playing with ideas of how I want the collage to look. This part of the process is quite subjective and intuitive, yet there is an underlying awareness of design principles upon which I am playing.

Beginnings of New "Horse Whisperer" Collage

I started a new collage for my "Relationship" collage series. The concept is that of a horse whisperer connecting with a horse. I've observed a few amazingly sensitive individuals who have this gift. The horse senses she can trust this human with her life, and thus a deep bond is formed. Much like children, horses know which humans are compassionate and which ones they can rely upon.

I began with an image in my mind of a horse and a man eye to eye. I roughly sketched this image onto the canvas, using a graphite pencil. I used a 24" x 30" canvas support, adhering handmade and machine-made papers (Egyptian papyrus, Mexican bark papers, mulberry paper, silk tissue, etc) with artist's tape, to explore the image and the dark/light pattern using various papers. I'm experimenting with burlap for the neck, though I don't know if I'll keep it for the final collage. When I'm sure about using a particular paper in a particular shape, I will adhere the paper with acrylic matte medium. It will be interesting to see how this collage takes shape.

Final Touches on Figurative Painting: Video Demo

Twelfth Video Demo of Figurative Oil Painting

Eleventh Video Demonstration of Figurative Oil Painting

Tenth Video Demonstration of Figurative Painting

Ninth Video Demonstration of Figurative Oil Painting

Eighth Video Demo of Figurative Painting

Seventh Video Demo of Figurative Oil Painting

Sixth Demo Video of Figurative Oil Abstraction

Fifth Video Demo of Figurative Painting Process

Fourth Demo Video of Figurative Oil Abstraction

Third Demonstration of Painting Process

Second Demo Video of Figurative Oil Abstraction

First Demo Video of Figurative Oil Abstraction

Figurative Abstractions: Seventh In A Series

This figurative abstraction is titled: "Far Vision". It is part of my ongoing exploration of the lone figure in the landscape, as well as an ongoing investigation into consciousness and spirituality. I am interested in how our consciousness grapples with the existential issues of being human: awareness of death, the fragility of life, choices, responsibility, will, the creation of meaning, and the feeling of aliveness.

This oil figurative abstraction is 24" x 24" on canvas. You may also see this painting as well as others at http://nancyleighhillis.com

Figurative Abstractions: Sixth In A Series

This painting is titled: "Remembering". This figure is deep in thought, looking off into the distance. Here again is the solo figure, alone with her thoughts, grappling with the exigencies of life.
The canvas is 24" x 24" x 1 1/2". The paint application is a combination of thin, transparent darks with impasto lights. I used # 8, 10 and 12 filbert brushes and several painting knives to apply the paint. I call this series of paintings "Figurative Abstractions".

Figurative Oil: Fifth In A Series

This figure is waiting. When I think of the solo figure waiting, I think of the existential play: "Waiting For Godot". Those are the words that come to mind. What is she waiting for? What are any of us waiting for?

Abstract Figurative Oil Painting: Fourth In A Series

This figure is stepping into the world with intention and clear vision. I was drawn to the movement implied by the right leg. In this abstract figurative painting, I am using lots of indian yellow, cadmium yellow medium, transparent red oxide, burnt sienna, and titanium white. There is a lot of impasto paint application.

Abstract Figurative Oil Painting: Third In A Series

The solo figure is compelling to me. In this series, I'm painting the figure alone, yet connected to and a part of the landscape. I'm thinking about the existential issues we live with: creating meaning, free will/choice, responsibility, the fragility of life, and the fleetingness of time. I'm moving toward a more abstract figurative way of painting. One could call these "existential paintings".

Abstract Figurative Oil Painting: Second In A Series

This is the second in the series of abstract figurative oil paintings that began with the idea of existential aloneness. I found myself painting with the warm, earthy colors: Indian yellow, yellow ochre, terra rosa, venetian red, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red medium, transparent red oxide. The dark darks are a mixture of alizarin crimson and viridian. I used a palette knife and size 8, 10, and 12 filbert hog bristle brushes. I painted with very thick, impasto brush and knife work. The darks in the figure are thinner and more transparent.

Working in Oils

I've been working in oils recently. I got on a roll and painted five oils in three days. It was interesting how one painting led to another. I was thinking about the existential issue of aloneness; about how we are born alone and ultimately, die alone. There are people whom we love who are there, but we still have to go through this mystery ourselves. This is what was in my mind when I started painting.

Surprise!

This collage practically created itself and showed me that it wanted to be vertical, because there was another figure in the picture! This is what happens often in creating art.

Conceptual Change

There was a surprise in the process of working out the dark/light pattern in the composition. Suddenly, a smaller figure appeared above the reclining figure and I realized that the collage wanted to be vertical! In the next blog, I'll show you the picture vertically.