Acrylic painting and soft pastels: abstract landscape art full process

#abstractart #abstractlandscape #acrylicpainting
I create 4 abstract landscapes, postcard size.
I use black acrylic ink, yellow acrylic paint, white gesso and heavy Matt gel medium.
I also use black and dark green soft pastels.
Each layer is shown start to finish with guidance and thoughts behind decisions made.
I was over the moon with these 4 paintings and found it surprisingly easier than I have done in the past. This may be because sure I’ve been experimenting more with abstract art lately.
I hope you enjoy.
Kirsten 🌻

[@apple369]

You've got me obsessed with gesso and soft pastels. So much fun. Thanks. ❤

[@quirkyqueens]

They’re so good apple, I’ve been throwing a bit of inktense in there too…❤️

[@LydiaGranitto]

I totally enjoyed watching you with these pieces. They are beautiful! Going through the process with you and your sharing your thoughts as you go along, brings them to life.

[@quirkyqueens]

Thanks Lydia, I liked making them. I’m very into block colours just now, but I’m hoping this will eventually lead to a bit more of a freer movement, like these. I’m trying to understand it a bit more.

[@bneau253]

Wonderful eye you have; I just love these! They look like worlds i could walk into...

[@quirkyqueens]

Hi B, thank you soooooooo much. That is so great to hear. I feel like that with a lot of abstract landscapes…it’s the hidden parts with leading windy paths that I want to explore. 🧌🧚‍♀️

[@stripedcatty]

Wonderful work. I really like the way you are developing. Thank you for the videos

[@quirkyqueens]

Hi stripedcatty, I love your profile name!! Thank you, I feel I’ve made a bit of progress this month, like somethings clicked. I’m not sure what yet, but I’m keeping going until I find out!! 🤓

[@lisaminglet7229]

What great ideas for ways to use pastels.

[@quirkyqueens]

Thanks Lisa. I love soft pastels blended. They’re very effective and fairly easy to use for this.

[@artcuriousbymnw]

Love your work Kirsten❤ a lot of layers too

[@quirkyqueens]

Thanks myriam, I’m trying to get better each time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s a big flop 😂❤️

[@natdavis-wy3zk]

Amazing wok!! Really opened my eyes to an abstract composition. Love thecway you use gel medium and using gesso as a paint was a revelation!!! As a self-taught intuitive artist, I can't underestimate the educational value of your videos!!!! Huge THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge!!!!!

[@quirkyqueens]

Hi Nat, thank you soooooo much!!! This is amazing to hear. I’m self taught myself, I’m trying to learn and it’s hard due to volume of info and difficulty prioritising it. I watch a lot of museum channels and the channel I learned most from is art prof. They have a playlist for self taught artists. It’s long but very worth it. You’ve really made my day, I read this when I woke up 🥱🤭

[@quirkyqueens]

Rules of abstraction by Matthew collings. This is 6 videos (15 minutes each) on YT. This has been my favourite video, it’s fascinating and gave me lots of searchable info to explore further.

[@suzannewithers8093]

Love them

[@quirkyqueens]

Thanks Suzanne 🥰

[@michealamccarroll6405]

What a fun video 😊! I love your quirky commentary! And im blown away by the use of different media and effects you can achieve with them. Soft pastels and gesso 😲. Love the grid thing , I'll have to get one 😂

[@quirkyqueens]

I bought it in the pound shop. It’s a sort of drainer for oil when using a fryer. It’s got a nice balance of stiff and flexible to use on the plate. I cut mine up into a few different sized sections. Sorry again for the late reply, you’d written such lovely comments and I don’t like receiving generic replies when I’ve commented 🥰🍟🟥🟨🟥🟨🟥

[@margueritemitchell1829]

Hello from Beautiful British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦

[@quirkyqueens]

Hi marguerite, I hope you’re doing good 🥰

[@DarcysMixedMedia]

These are fantastic! ❤

[@quirkyqueens]

Thanks Darcy. I’m making a coffee and getting ready to watch “why we make backgrounds”

[@gentlerdaysofgardensofpaper]

Yoo-hoo! Had to pop in! Love these wee pieces. You are the Abstract Fairy with a magic wand 🪄I must confess I enjoyed a bit of respite from the gel plate which I swear hates me 😂 One day we'll get together and you can give me private tuition with cake and a blether 😉😃 Meanwhile I'm learning how to paint with gouache. Have used just about everything but. I need to keep the synapses firing 😁 and having a lot of fun. Hope all's well Kirsten 💝🎨 Pabs x

[@quirkyqueens]

Pabs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLO!!!!!!!!!! I’ll take that, like a little delicate fairy 🧚‍♂️ I’ve been playing with kids paint from the range a wee bit, it calls itself gauche but I’m 100% sure it’s not. I bought it to try ink resist. I’ve used it on the gel plate too. And you can teach me to play harp…or at least try, I have no musicality whatsoever. I am well, very happy, I feel I have made some progress with the art (it’s always 3 forward and 2 back isn’t it). I’ve never tried gouache but feel it’s on the horizon…. I hope you’re well too, you sound bubbly and happy in your comment 😁💗🍰☕️

[@gentlerdaysofgardensofpaper]

@@quirkyqueens Well if you're using them for resist, probably best to use the Range's range 😁 I'm finding gouache so expensive dolloping it on ... I'm crippled ATM , waiting for hand surgery but you know what they say, those who can't, teach! 😉😆 Grab yourself a clarsach and we'll knock out some tunes from Shetland and St Kilda and knock back a few wee drams 😉... Delighted to hear you're painting with a happy heart and as for 2 back ... 'mistakes' or crap results are also part of the progress process 😃 🌟🪄💖

[@quirkyqueens]

@@gentlerdaysofgardensofpaper exactly!!! I hope the hand surgery is helpful, although waiting lists at the moment…we could be in the 2030s 😖 Wee drams, now we’re talking!!! 😁

[@gentlerdaysofgardensofpaper]

@@quirkyqueens Dear me, you're right there for elective surgery. It's my birthday next month, and I may indulge in a single malt, purely medicinal, Sister 😃 but I have to say, I LOVE to drink and draw, this results in my finest work, in my humble opinion 🤣 Let me know when your birthday is and I'll send you summat 🎉

[@brittahansen8688]

Hi Kirsten, this video was quite a surprise for me. Have recently watched a doku about wild Scottish landscape ( which was fascinating) and find some of the impressions in your pictures. Just like @bneau253 wrote I feel an invitation to step in and discover. Thanks a lot for sharing your process. XO Britta

[@quirkyqueens]

Rugged landscape is our thing here Britta. The terrible weather has its up side. We’re very lucky to be like an hours drive away to the start of some of these beautiful landscapes. I used to be very fit and loved a cross country run. Now I amble 🤣. I’ve kinda fell down an abstract art rabbit hole. I’m thinking a lot about elements of art and how to combine them. You must have beautiful scenery near you too ❤️