Exercise 1: Abstraction from study of natural forms

Another exercise taking me out of my painting comfort zone, this time to create an abstract painting using a natural form as a starting point or basis for the painting.

A single a Lotus Seed Head was to be my inspiration.

I wasn’t really sure how to go about this exercise so I began by making some sketches and notes about the seed head, my thoughts, like, dislikes and mused over how I could turn it into an abstract painting at all!

Extract from my sketchbook…

I liked the symmetry and overall shapes here, the texture of the seed head, its physical, textural lightness & delicacy, its natural propensity toward abstract, my imagination could see a bottomless chasm in each chamber. I reread the brief:

In this exercise you can abstract by looking very closely at a familiar natural form and expanding what you see in an arrangement of lines, shapes and colours. You could study a highly coloured flower or leaf or butterfly wing or examine closely a highly structured form such as a rock crystal, a shell or seed head.

It was definitely the seed chamber side that intrigued me, even though the other side has fascinating texture. Initially I saw a cross made by the chambers/holes across the top of the pod, then it mutated more into a spiral and I began to form an idea. I made a colour sketch in watercolour and marker pen…But I still liked the underside & wondered how I could bring an aspect of that into the painting. I cut out a separate piece in the appropriate shape so I could place it on top of my sketch to see the effect.

Settling on the final image I made a last pencil sketch before setting out on canvas with paint.

For my final painting I chose acrylic on canvas, a small painting at 20cm x 20cm but nevertheless I think it was the right size. Having just completed two exercises using additional materials to create texture I seriously considered using what Id learnt from those exercises and applying it here however as this was the first time Id ever done anything like this I decided I should keep it as simple as possible the first time!

I’m pleased with the result. During my sketches Id found I liked the way my pencil darkened and flowed rhythmically between each chamber which hasn’t come through in the final piece but I still like the overall feel of symmetry, its pleasing to my eye. Certainly abstract.