When your practice goes wrong
…or you simply do not like the end result.
This is my advice. Don´t ever ever get rid of it. There is so much you can actually do with your piece gone wrong.
I am going to tell you all about what happened to me just a few days ago.
Remember my IG post of Sunday? The abstract very loose seashells? Well, after posting that piece I recorded a Time-lapse video with a new attempt of the same idea. 4 or 5 seashells created in a very loose watery way. I didn´t like the result. Take a look at the actual video and you´ll see what I mean.
I just didn´t like it.
When you get to this point there are several things you can do.
Keep it and study your piece. I usually keep them (I say “them” because it happens quite often). I then study them finding things that I actually like or think are interesting. Maybe it´s just a pattern or an effect or some nice mark making or a texture created with mixed media. There is always something you can extract and use some other time in a more intentional way.
Forget about it,turn the piece of paper over and use the back of it with something new.
Recicle it, which is what I did with this piece. It doesn´t always work but at least you give it a try. The super thing about this option is that you usually work in a very loose way, without focusing on the result but enjoying every minute of the process instead, which is how it always should be. Check out the next video where you can see the recycling process.
I start the process by applying water all around the elements I already had on my paper. I then do masses of mark making. Notice that I am only using the colours I started with. I am also using the back end of my brush to create some circular marks around some of the elements.
Once the watercolor was dry I decided to add some texture and deepness by making some marks with a water-soluble crayon and a mechanic pencil. I love the effect of these mediums on the dry watercolor.
This is the final piece.
I am leaving a list of supplies used on this piece in the different stages.
Fabriano 300gsm cold pressed watercolor paper
Raphael Softaqua mop brush nr 0
Daniel Smith Transparent red oxide watercolor
Schmincke Payne´s grey watercolor
Caran D´ache Neocolor II watersoluble wax pastel 186 terracota
Muji mechanical pen 0,5mm
I hope you like the result as much as I do. And trust me. Enjoy the process, focus on the process not on the outcome. Just have fun!!
Much love
Kristina