Elspeth mclean biography of christopher
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A self-confessed colour enthusiast, pebble painter Elspeth McLean shares the fascinating journey behind her creative career, as well as revealing her top tips for beginners&#;
Hi Elspeth! First things first, what led you to start painting on pebbles?
I have always been creative at heart.
Some of my earliest memories are of drawing. My family has always supported my creative spirit so I was blessed with a lot of opportunity, encouragement and supplies to express myself. I always knew that when I &#;grew up&#;, I was going to be an artist. Painting on pebbles happened quite unexpectedly. I was walking a beach in New Zealand in when I found a perfectly round stone.
I love to paint mandalas so finding this stone was an opportunity to paint on a new and unexpected surface. The first collection of mandala stones I painted were created for the simple pleasure of doing something different – I never expected them to become as popular as they did.
You have such a distinctive style.
Elspeth mclean biography of christopher jackson Art Listen to This Stunning Rendition of a Christmas Classic Pentatonix is an acapella group that is known throughout the world for its members' singing ability. But I much preferred entertaining myself in my minds imaginary worlds and drawing them out on paper. Take a look at this gallery of beautiful wire sculptures from different contemporary artists. Recommended ProjectsHow was this changed and developed over the years?
Another lifelong love of mine is colour. I have always been attracted to bright and bold colour and my artwork has always reflected this. I used to get told off in high school for my colours not being “realistic enough”! Pattern has also been a great influence on my art.
My earlier works were bold and colourful. I would use dots to highlight certain areas, such as a shimmer across the ocean, a blazing sun or a glowing moon. These finishing details of a painting were my favourite part of my process.
Elspeth mclean biography of christopher columbus Mark All. This content is reserved for our members. Back to contacts Not You? Inside my heart was a little fluttery feeling that perhaps I could do this art thing after all.I would find myself rushing through the actual painting itself so that I could dot. Over the years I began to add more and more dot detail to my work to satisfy my need! Eventually it evolved until my work became pretty much entirely dots.
How do you decide which colours and patterns to pair together?
Is it something that comes naturally to you as you&#;re painting?
My artwork is a process of playing around with colour. I go through phases: sometimes I favour warm tones, other times cool shades and also different combinations. Whatever phase I am going through has usually been inspired by something I have experienced or witnessed.
Elspeth mclean biography of christopher cross Share it with your friends! I was walking a beach in New Zealand in when I found a perfectly round stone. For the next couple of years, we hopped between Canada and Australia where I continued making my art and selling it at markets. Andre Rieu is well-known for doing justice to classic songs, and this time, he takes on 'O Sole Mio, one of the Neapolitan all-time greats.For example, right now I am going through a red/orange/aqua/indigo phase after being inspired by a recent trip to Morocco. I usually do have a colour plan with each piece that I create. However, I definitely let these flow and speak as I paint. I may begin with a plan but as I begin to paint I may feel drawn to add a different colour.
I always follow that inner guidance and I have created some of my favourite pieces through this process.
What advice would you give to others who are looking to give stone painting a try?
I always tell people to first make sure that you&#;re sourcing your stones from a place where they are allowed to be collected from.
If you are collecting stones directly from nature, make sure to research the local beach and conservation rules. You can also buy stones from hardware and craft stores. Always wash stones in warm soapy water to remove any dirt or debris. I favour acrylic paints because they dry fast and keep their texture.
Elspeth mclean biography of christopher kennedy: Whatever phase I am going through has usually been inspired by something I have experienced or witnessed. Now you can easily and quickly add contacts from your email account such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo etc. Love Seeing Fine Art and Performances? Send more Import Contacts Like it?
I find that I have to slightly water down my paint to create a smooth – but not runny – consistency. I always use a paintbrush – usually size – to create my dots, but any small watercolour brush will suffice. I encourage people to experiment to find the right materials and tools for them. What works for one artist may not for another so make material choice and discovery be part of the journey.
Elspeth mclean biography of christopher The colors just pop out like you could actually touch the stones and flowers. Italian Artists Marcello Barenghi can create the most astoundingly realistic-looking hand drawings. Another lifelong love of mine is colour. And a little boy shall lead themAs with any activity, my best words of advice are practise, practise, practise and of course, have fun with it! Don’t be too attached to the outcome – enjoy the creative process!
Finally, do you have any exciting future plans for your stone art that you can share?
Yes, I recently teamed with Ravensburger to create a puzzle from a photo of my Rainbow Mandala Stone Collection.
I have always loved puzzles so to have the opportunity to create one of my own was a dream come true. I do have more exciting plans for this year, but those will be revealed very soon! You can sign up to my email subscription to be kept in the know.
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