Creating interesting shapes in abstract art
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- In this week's video I share a 20 minute art workshop which I created last year for my email subscribers. In this playful and accessible short workshop I share different ways to discover and develop interesting shapes to incorporate into your own abstract art. We’ll be exploring ways to find shapes out in the world and 2 x ways to develop your own collection of shapes through simple drawing exercises.
Materials
To complete the drawing exercises you will need some paper or your sketchbook and some drawing materials such as pencils or water based coloured pens.
Books
In the video I show you some work by two artists to get us thinking, Rex Ray and Hilma Af Klint and share inside these two books:
Rex Ray by Griff Willams, Rebecca Solnit and Christian Frock, Chronicle Books 2020
Hilma Af Klint: Visionary, Daniel Birnbaum, Julia Voss et al Stolpe Books 2018
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Helen, you are a ray of sunshine! Your work is so vibrant and cheerful and makes me smile! Thank you for sharing your art, your thoughts, and your time with us.
Oh what a lovely thing to say Kristin! I’m delighted you thing that. Thank you so much ☺️
Haven't even finished watching - I just had to get my sketchbook out and try that grid exercise! And now I've created 64 shapes, just like that; several of them pretty interesting! Thanks very much for igniting my curiosity. 😊
This is brilliant. I’m super impressed…well done you xx
I love your dynamic reframing of “seeing” into “hunting” for shapes…thanks, Helen for these simple exercises that give infinite ideas to play with!
I love her phrase "shape safari."
Oh that’s great. I find the act of actively seeking such a useful exercise…love Helen x
Rex Ray's work is fantastic. I love the way you and he both use space, shapes, lines and colour. Talk about eye candy. Yum!! Rachelle ❤
Oh how lovely Rachel! Rex Ray was a genius xx
I so agree! I've just spent an evening devouring his work...😊
Thank you. This is one of your best videos in my opinion. It connects visual inspiration from nature with works from other artists and two useful exercises. Really helpful.
Wow, thank you! That’s very kind of you. Love Helen x
I’ve been enjoying your videos for months? More than a year? And have enjoyed hearing your thoughts & insights. This video is one of my favorites as you have enabled me to expand my thinking (and hopefully seeing) within a world of shapes that I am already drawn to. Thank you for sharing your insights as well as practical application of the same.
Awesome! Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it. X
Thank you for introducing me to Rex Ray. Love it.
Oh my pleasure. His work is just stunning x
Thanks for sharing this again Helen. I did the shape grid and I refer to it time and time again! Your '34th' shape reminds me of the wonky candlesticks that you have done! X
Oh that's so good to know... and you are so right, the shape I love is just like those wonky candlesticks.. everything feeds into everything else in art making doesn't it? Love Helen x
@@HelenWellsArtist ☺
What a lovely way to have my morning coffee, with Helen! I loved thumbing through your sketchbooks with you, learning about these really interesting artists who inspire your work and seeing the techniques you share. I was thinking it could be fun to make a little one page sketchbook grid book with my favorite shapes and symbols kind of like a key for the map of my art making. I absolutely love the unique creativity of your overlapping and layering shapes process! I'm going to try it! I'll tag you and mention this video when I share the results! 😍🎨 Thank you so much for sharing these techniques! xo
Oh what a kind answer lovely reaction! I so appreciate it xxx
I really love your videos and learn so much from you! I posted my results on instagram today and tagged you. I went a little wild on the color because rainbow brite is my spirit animal. lol I want to try some more with solid blocks of color and maybe a variety of monotones or limited color pallets. I so very much appreciate the sparks of inspiration and the ways you share your creative process! @@HelenWellsArtist
I love that you include both Rex Ray and Hilma Af Klint's art. They are both favorites of mine. Have you ever checked out other spiritist artists like Georginan Houghton, and Emma Kunz? I did a series of small paintings inspired by the work of Af Klint and Houghton, Kunz and Anges Pelton. All their work is so transcending and vivid in colors. THANK YOU again for another tutorial on the shapes. Will play with it today. - Cheers, Meg
Oh thank you Meg. That’s a super helpful share for folk who want to dig in a bit more. And your project sounds amazing! Love Helen x
I appreciate all the inspiring ideas in this video. Rex Ray is one of my favorite artists.
Thank you so much for watching and you mr lovely enthusiasm x
After watching yet another wonderfully inspiring video from you Helen I am dashing off to grab my sketchbook & art supplies. Thank you also for sharing the art work of Rex Ray & Vilma Af Klint ,so beautiful and something else to research now x
Have fun! That’s just the best reaction! Thank you so much ☺️
Funny you posting this subject because I have been randomly slicing through cardboard to make stencil shapes for my Gelli plate, and was looking at the negative spaces left, thinking how much better they looked! Lovely video, thank you, more interesting idea to add to my arsenal! :)
Oh that’s great! Happy creating! Love Helen x
Very inspiring. Just what I needed to hear! Keep up the good work.
Awesome! Thank you! That's very kind of you. Helen x
Hi sweet Helen ! I get so excited when one of your videos drops in !! It couldn’t have come at a better time ! I am just sitting around waiting for my tribe to come for lunch and bang! Found your video ! I had a just cut up a rice box I just used and did a few lines you suggested and ended up with such a cute unexpected composition !! It’s just an inch by two inches so quite small but I think it’s lovely ! You just made my day !! I have done the grid with you on Sketchbook Revival and loved it so it’s about time I did another one ! You are ever so inspiring dear Helen ! I send you a warm sincere virtual hug and love ! Have a great creative week and thank you for sharing your brilliant ideas ! Love always….Lorraine 🎨🤗🖋️🔖🥰
What a super lovely reaction! Thank you. Love Helen x
The way you explain things is amazing!!
Oh I’m so glad you think so. I’m really chuffed about that. Thank you 🙏🏼
I believe I took a class from you on this topic and loved it. I was thumbing through one of my art journals the other day and ran across the results and thought I needed to give the technique a go again. Funny how your newsletter with this lesson appeared in my email this morning! Can’t wait to make more shapes! Thank you!
Oh how lovey Lucy. It think it would have been as part of Sketchbook Revival last year…I shared something similar to this, so glad you enjoyed it and happy sketchbooking x
Yes! I also took that class and loved it!
Hello, Good evening and greetings from California where it's just after midnight and this week's video was posted 29 minutes ago. No other comments as yet. Enjoying the "Fantasia" like colors and shapes before I hit the hay. xo Diane
Good night Diane and thank you for watching and commenting! Love Helen x
Hi Helen. Love this video. I have been saving cardboard to do the shapes from your last one. I think it would be good to do templates of all these shapes to add to the adventure. Thanks so much for all your inspirational ideas.
Oh that's great Janet. Thank you. I decided to share this video here because iI thought it was a good companion to last week's video , so I'm super glad you agree..xx
Oh my gosh I needed this video, what a great idea…. 🙌🏻❤️
Oh I’m so glad you liked it Sheila! Thank you. Love Helen x
Thank you, Helen, for sharing your wonderful ideas. Your grid exercise is so fun and you are a delight!
Oh Christina how very lovely of you! Thank you so much x
Absolutely brilllliant! Nearly filled up my grid whilst listening & absorbing. I'm going to do these exercises repeatedly.
Wonderful! Well I love a keen-bean! Good on you. Love Helen x
Dear Helen ! Thank you much much for your Inspiration ...the Artists you show us ...Love the Vibration from your powerfull creative Artwork...light Celebration
Gosh how lovely you are. Thank you so much 😊
Double page grid drawn up already. Shapes a go-go
I’m super impressed with your get up and go attitude ! Have fun 🤩
You're the best Helen!
Well that’s a very lovely thing to say. Thank you 🙏🏼
Brilliant - love all of your 50 shapes and your way of teaching! Thank you.
Thanks so much! That’s very lovely of you! Happy creating x
I am so glad I found your channel, I found this video so inspiring -
thank you
You are so welcome! What lovely reaction. Thank you 🙏🏼
Ah Helen! What a wonderful video - I can’t wait to start working through the tutorial and incorporating these principles into my own art practice. And thank you so much for the added bonus of sharing Rex Ray and Hilma af Klint’’s work.
You are always an inspiration. 🔵 🔶 ⭕️ 🌿 ⚫️ 🟪
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for the lovely reaction. Happy creating x
What a great exercise! I love how it’s both a focused and fun effort. And simple. Seems the perfect way to use a particular color or tool, too. And how one shape (or space) might play into the next one is wonderful. Thank you for sharing!
You're so welcome! Thank you for such a lovely reaction. Love Helen x
This is so interesting thank you for taking the time to share your art and your inner sunshine.
Ah thats such a sweet compliment, thank you so very much. Love Helen x
Hey Helen! Thanks for the inspiration! Big Hugs & Stay Creative! :)
You are so welcome! Thank you for your warmth and encouragement! Love Helen x
Exciting ideas to play with. Thank you Helen xxx
Hey Bonnie! I hope you’re really well. Thank you, as ever for your great cheerleading… you’re so lovely. Love Helen x
Thank you for posting this tutorial. I saw it by chance a few weeks ago and lost it, couldn't find it any where. So glad to see it again. So useful and inspiring.
Oh that’s good, yes it was a private link on my website just for my email folk, so will have been hard to find…glad it was helpful and thank you 🙏🏼
Great video. I enjoy your style and your shares. Thanks so much for your generosity. I have bought your book and your workshops to support your efforts.❤️
Awesome, thank you! What a lovely thing to do. I so appreciate it. Love Helen x
This was fabulous! You are a lovely and inspiring artist and teacher. Thank you so much. It was the perfect lesson for this dreary, wet and cold winter morning.❤
Gosh what a wonderful reaction and compliment! I so appreciate your loveliness. Thank you so much 😊
Great video, thank you for sharing! 😊
Thanks for watching!👀 and your kind enthusiasm x
Thank you! Loads of inspiration after watching this! Love your vibrant personality and how you stay excited about what you do! Hello from Latvia! 🫶
Wow how lovely of you. Thank you so much for your amazing kindness. Live Helen x
This has to be one of my favorite eye-opening videos to date from you, Helen. Thank you for taking the time to share this process.
Great video Helen. I watched a video about Hilma ... very interesting artist/woman ... and finally she has been "discovered" and acknowledged. I keep a small journal of shapes that I find I return to over again - those shapes that appear in my art .. take good care my friend.
Oh that’s Wonderful! Hooray for celebrating the forgotten women… I’m so glad she’s getting attention at last…and a shape journals a great thing xx
Excellent video, up til now I haven't paid much attention to the negative space. Now I am going to dig out my older sketch books and study the negative spaces, thank you.
Oh that’s a great idea Arlene. glad it was helpful xx
nice drawing i like your enthusiasm lovely * thanks you so much *and thanks from saudi arabia
Thank you so much 😀 that’s very lovely of you xxx
I don’t like my own artwork when I use bright happy colors…but I sure love YOUR use of such colors. I don’t know if it’s because my subconscious thinks I am a fraud when I use bright happy colors…because I am simply not a happy go lucky person. I’m trying to change my neural pathways. Maybe one day I will paint in cheerful colors and actually LIKE my own work!
Thank you for sharing!!!
Colour is such a personal, fascinating and beguiling thing, our perceptions and preferences are tied up with our experiences and emotions...so I think that finding a colour pallette which resonates with you is the most important thing....however bright or muted...xx
@@HelenWellsArtist WOW!!! What an eloquent and lovely response!!! Thank you!! BTW…just purchased one of your journal courses today. ❤️😘❤️
Wonderful! Thank you for a wonderful well researched video. And breaking it down into an accessible exercise.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for the kind feedback x
What fun! As always, thankyou for your generosity in sharing,
Thanks for watching! Happy creating Angelina x
Loved this! Definitely going to use these exercises to get my creative juices flowing. Thanks!!
Perfect! Have fun and thank you for your lovely comment xx
Definitely will have a go at this, thank you.
Hope you enjoy! Love Helen x
Wow!!!.... Beautiful!!!!🙏🙏🙏🖼️🖌️🎨🖍️✒️💪
Thank you very much! How kind of you… love Helen x
Love this and thank you for expanding my possibilities! Your vids are always appreciated😀
Well that’s super lovely of you. Thank you x
thanks for such a simple and wondeful exercise! I was stuck with my creativity and it really helped me!!
Oh gosh, I’m glad it helped! Happy creating x
Ooo these are really interesting exercises! Also I'm always looking for ways I can play with ideas while sitting (health issues, yuck) and making shapes in my sketchbook will be a great way to work on something valuable during my down time. Thanks!
I’m sorry to hear about your health issues…but wishing you happy creating x
Great tutorial. Lots of food for thought. I find it so easy to forget/ignore the negative space. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you 🙏🏼
I really love your exercises and I will give them a try, looks like fun!
Glad you like them! Thank you Christine x
Love so much your videos, your art ! 💚 Thank you very much!
You are so welcome! How very kind of you. Thank you. Love Helen x
Thank you so much for this lesson. You did a fantastic job of explaining!
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for your kind compliment x
You are delightful! Thank you 😊
How wonderful of you x
I learnt so much from this thank you.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for your positivity x
This is great and inspiring! Thank you 🙏❤️
You are so welcome! Thank you for your encouraging comment xx
Oh how enjoy your posts Helen! I love your organic shapes and your shape safari 😁 I was actually out earlier today to catch some much needed natural light and Vitamin D but it was far too cold to sit so took some interesting photos instead. I might actually use them as inspiration. So thank you once again ❤
Oh that’s just brilliant Sandra! I’m so glad. Have fun. Love Helen x
@@HelenWellsArtist ❤😁
I have had the Rex Ray book on my Amazon wishlist for ages - shall I just go ahead and get it for myself?!!
Anyway Helen, another amazing video to make my day. Thank you for all the inspiration you give me, even when (or especially when) I have the January Blues. ❤❤❤
I do love that book but don’t let contribute to over spending…there is a documentary on him somewhere in line…I think on the public service broadcasting website which is about an hour long and very interesting if you want to dig in…and don’t want to spend. I’ll see if I can find the link for you x
www.pbs.org/video/rex-ray-how-to-make-a-rex-ray-g0ko4d/
@HelenWellsArtist thank you!!
Love this!! Took notes. Watched a few documentaries re hilma af klimt last September which led me on a Kandinsky season as well...ty so much!!
Oh that’s just great Judy! I love falling down a rabbit hole…xxx
Great video Helen, thanks x
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much Diana x
Thank you so much. What a great exercise.
Oh so glad you enjoyed it! Love Helen x
I really enjoyed this video. I will definitely try this. ❤
So glad! Thank you so much for watching and your kind enthusiasm x
Loved it .Thank you!
So glad! Thank you so much x
Great ideas- thank you! ❤
You are so welcome! Thank you Rose.
J aime votre travail , c est tres interressant ces exercices sur la creation des formes abstraites , j en voudrais plus , merci de partager ce savoir faire
Thank you so much ☺️ love Helen x
Brilliant.❤
Ah thank you, so glad you liked it. Helen x
Great video which arrived on just the right day. I noticed that I’m drawn to circles, when I try to do quick sketches from the stuff around me, they all seem to be round! Your exerc😢is just the ticket. Thank you so much for this.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you so much and I just love circles!!!! Xx
@@HelenWellsArtist thanks. I filled a page with shapes, I looked at the window catches and the gaps between tree branches etc with new eyes. Now instead of filling all the shapes I’m thinking to look carefully at the negative spaces for new shapes. All thanks to your excellent video
WOW! I was feeling stuck., wanting to come up with some new ideas. And dear Helen you just popped up! I'm a new subscriber and can't wait to watch your other videos! ❤
❤
Thank you 🙏🏼
I love what you're saying. So interesting and useful! One suggestion I have is to back up a bit from the camera while you are speaking to us face to face. Think about how close you would stand across from someone if you were having a conversation with them. Take it with a grain of salt, of course.
Awwww… but I think this is part of Helen’s personality 😊, her way. ❤
I love her personality:) I didn't mean it as a criticism of her, herself whatsoever! Just the distance from the camera. It could just be me. @@perlagaffney4776