"LEAF DANCE" 12040, mixed media collaged aspen leaves © Carol Nelson Fine Art

These leaves are made from Viva paper towels.  The towel has a texture to it that you can see in the actual painting, but doesn't show very well in this photo.

The paper towels started out as my brush cleaner.  I noticed what great color they had, so I decided to recycle the towel as leaves in a painting.

How very green of me!

For more information about this painting, click here to go to my website.

"BLUE AND GOLD" 12037, torn paper collage macaw parrot © Carol Nelson Fine Art

Blue and Gold

Continuing in the style of yesterday's painting, this parrot was a lot of fun to do.  Following the style of Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson, I spent a lot of time making my own painted papers.

I painted about 14 sheets of tissue paper with fluid acrylics, let them dry, and ironed them flat.  My reference photo was taken in 1969(!) by my now ex husband (!!). 

I did an under painting that looked pretty good, then started tearing bits of paper and gluing them on with gel medium. How do you like his polka dot feet? This method is tedious, but the finished painting has a unique charm.

For more information, click here to go to my website.

"PORTAL" 12007, mixed media contemporary abstract © Carol Nelson Fine Art

"Portal"

Sometimes, when you go back through old paintings done years earlier, you fine one that would benefit from the knowledge you have attained during the intervening years.

That was the case with this paper collage painting.  I really wish I had taken a "before" picture.  Compositionally, this is a better painting. Color wise, it is a hell of a better painting, if I do say so myself.

Originally, I had a muted blue, green, brown and gray palette. Blech.  I made the blue more purple, the green more turquoise, and the brown more orange.  Added a tiny bit of red.  Those warm tones on a predominantly cool toned painting really give it sparkle.

The white is the torn edge of the paper.  For more information on this painting, click here to go to my website.