JazWorks

Jill Zaheer's JAZWORKS: A Tapestry of Mixed Media, Painting, Collaborations, Photography, and Poetry

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Revealing Thursdays- Artwork Transformations of Sedona!

Guess I took the scenic route to get to my final Sedona painting.
This  16" x 20" acrylic on canvas started out textural, with a rainbow of brushed muted red rock colors and cactus.
Started to feel the need to intensify some of the color to connect with the energy of the land that just seems to envelop you.

 Then, I began to paint different kinds of cactus and rocks that were everywhere I looked. I've never painted either one before so it was like playing for the first time in a sandbox. Couldn't get enough of trying all different looks and styles.


And then, I was  hooked on wanting to include the magnificent and striking Chapel Of The Holy Cross,  designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957.  

And so, with that completed, here's the finished painting.  

  I used part of a leather book cover to create the body of the  cactus tree below and incorporated turquoise stones and pieces of clay rock for depth, richness and color.
In addition to using a palette knife, tissue paper and gesso were used for the deep layers within the mountainous terrain.


What can you do to adorn your days with fancy extra touches for sparkle and pizazz- to add that special something out of the ordinary to result in something extraordinary?

7 comments:

Steen said...

You really transformed your painting into a piece expressing the vibrant colors and energies of this beautiful landscape. It´s superb!! Great idea to insert the chapel. From the picture you took I can see that it stands out and so it does in the painting – an opening and a contrast. You lost a few birds but you were also working hard on the sky and the mountains! Your turquoise stones certainly found their right place. On the finished painting it looks like that´s where they came from. The insertion of the cactuses to play with the chapel structure makes it all vibrate!

Seth said...

I love this new Thursday feature of yours and I love this painting -- both before and after. They each capture the beauty of Sedona in different ways. You have created some magnificent texture in this piece and your inclusion of the leather and the turquoise is inspired. Makes me want to go back to Sedona one more time.

~*~Patty S said...

WOW...do I say that all the time here Jilly!

First off Sedona is on our list of places to visit one day and you certainly sealed the deal with your creation

Your photos begin to show the wonderful textures and interest...brilliant to use the turquoise stones and leather book for added texture too!

Chapel of the Holy Cross looks surreal in life and in your painting! I am headed back to click on your photos and your links...thanks so much for always pointing me in interesting and thoughtful directions...such a treat to visit you Lady!

Oh and the purple of your blog set up is splendid with the colors in your painting

oxo
p.s. and yes I really appreciate our connections...gesso rocks! have a super getaway!

Patti Edmon Artist said...

Oh Jilly it's awesome!!! To think you could place yourself in such a distant terrain with such vivid color and texture - looking at a photo doesn't count:) You nailed it and I love it!!!!
xxxxooooo

Gaby Bee said...

Unique and beautiful, before and after! The colors are captivating! You are so talented, Jill!

Hope your day is going great!
Hugs, Gaby

rivergardenstudio said...

Oh Jill, I am finally here and see all these magical posts, WOW. This work is spectacular, I love the cactus, all the shapes, and those REDS!!! So beautiful... I have had to look at it again and again and how I would love to see that chapel in person.
roxanne

Carol said...

I've missed Sedona on my two trips to the US but I've always loved the colors and wanted to visit. I loved seeing the progression of this gorgeous work, and I'm especially fascinated by the layers and textures. I'm spending part of Easter trekking back through blogs I find inspirational, like yours and Seth's. I hope some of it is rubbing off on me!

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