Work in progress 'embrace the truth' final

...and I'm done.  I ended up with eyes closed again.  Feels more peaceful that way.  Need to sit with this one a bit, one to decide if I like it and two to work out what the truth is?

  

Final version in the gallery section at the end soon. 

Work in progress 'embrace the truth' 4

Shading shading and more shading..maybe too much shading but erase that now can I.

Work in progress 'embrace the truth' 3

The theme being 'speaking the truth', todays colours are blue - representing the throat  chakra.  I decided to add green for the heart chakra... speaking the truth i feel comes from the heart... in this case that's what i'm feeling.

Work in progress 'embrace the truth' 2

And the outline begins.  Keeping with the similar style from 'the embrace' but with more of the figure showing....and this time with the eyes open. 

  

Work in progress 'embrace in the truth' 1

Inspired again by the Chakra Mindset cards, this time 'Speak the Truth which I have actually randomly picked for the last 4 nights in a row...mmmm

Work in progress 'the embrace' final

...and I'm done.  I wasn't quite sure if I liked it at the start but I think the black lines actually helps it pop a bit more from a distance (i.e. see second photo).

As always I'll put the final larger version in the Gallery section at the end of the posts. 

Work in progress 'the embrace' 3

Almost done, I want to keep it fairly simple, just flowy and comfy if that makes sense:)

Work in progress 'the embrace' 2

and it begins...  I didn't intend to co-ordinate the colours with my drink but hey.   I also didn't intend to use dark colours to do an outline but I instinctively did it and here we are.......

Work in progress 'the embrace' 1

It has been a while since I have created anything and today I was inspired the Chakra Mindset Oracle cards.

Work in progress 'found objects' 7

Found this little birdie charm on a lovely long weekend away last weekend with my bestie. Very explorative and relaxing (but did not fine any sea shells).

Work in progress 'found objects' 6

It feels like it's been a while but found 3 objects of interest in the last week of March and first week of April. These are a little more personal i guess.  The sticker reminds me of my neices which I was finding in random places in my parents house and garden. The leaf I pressed between a few magazines for a few days so it would stay flat and hopefully not crumble to bits..... Autumn is my favourite season:) The shells of course remind me of the beach (found while walking with  my bestie), the water always calming and clears out the mental madness. 

Work in progress 'women untitled' final

Yep all done.  Still need to be a clear coat on it but its too hot on the balcony this weekend.  In any case will put the final picture at the bottom in the gallery section.

Work in progress 'women untitled' 6

I think I'm almost done.   After the lips I used charcoal to outline and also do to write excerpt of a 'past life meditation' session from a while back......writing from right to left to make it a bit abstract. Using charcoal I'll now have to put a clear coating on to make sure it doesn't smudge (a job for tomorrow).

  
The excerpt came from the following notes I took after the past life meditation session (which I've never shared with anyone before, so you know, let's put it on the internet):

"I look towards my feet, I stand bare footed on the grass but the scene quickly changes and my feet are now dirty and worn, standing on cold cobble stones.  Images keep flashing back and forth.  I am a young girl, long wavy blond hair, white dress, toga like.  Greek or Roman times?  For a brief moment there are others like me, relaxing, enjoying themselves and then it changes.  First I hear a dull raw and then I realise I am in a tavern of sorts, serving drinks.  Holding a big earn of water or ale.  It’s rowdy and dirty and many men around who grabbing at me.  Ordering me to serve them.  I think for a moment I am a slave girl? But I wasn’t always.  I was beautiful once and I was sold because of it.  I was coveted by men of means but they were greedy, dirty and untrustworthy.  The scene changes again, my hands are tied and I am walking along a cliffs edge.  I sense others near by, forcing me towards the edge.  I am the sacrifice, the beautiful slave girl.  And then I am falling. I am not scared, I feel like I am floating."

Work in progress 'women untitled' 5

So I went with a lightish golden brown and not only scraped the excess paint off but also wiped it off.
   
Time to dry again.

Work in progress 'women untitled' 4

I decided on white with touches of silver for the dress.  The white actually covered the orange pretty well in the section I stuffed up.
  
The problem is the skin, I have never been good at skin colour so the question is do I leave it as is, try skin colour or use blue or green which is what I usually do?

Work in progress 'women untitled' 3

Ok now I decided on a 'style' of sorts I painted/scraped on a light background of blues mixed with silver again using a palette knife.
   
Waiting for it to dry now to move on to the body.

Work in progress 'women untitled' 2

So while cleaning up a section that I stuffed by scraping off the paint (bit on the right) up I actually decided I liked the look so have decided to scrape off the layer of paint and just have a light coating.
 

The second picture shows a closer view now I scraped of the paint. I like the look of the charcoal showing through, having a think on how to use that again later?
 

Work in progress 'women untitled' 1

inspired to day to start this painting/drawing.    I used a palette knife to do the hair.  At this stage I don't think I'll use a brush.

   

Work in progress 'found objects 5'

I finally got a board so I can pin up all the found objects. I will put a photo in the gallery section at the bottom and keep updating it as I add to the board.

I am wondering if once the board is full I might have to find a fancier or more stable way to display them?  Will see.

Work in progress 'found objects 4'

Am excited to have found my first playing card.