Jo O'Brien

Thats how I feel when I have an idea and I look at a blank page in my notebook…

as my art teacher used to say to me, a blank canvas needs to be violated, so get stuck in

very arty he was :-)

Jo I have seen your work and I know its going to be great Just do it (please note that Just do it is a c of Nike world wide)

...bit like a blank page I guess – very intimidating. Isn’t that the brilliant thing about photography – no starting with that crispy starchy whiteness that seems to be saying “You better get this right!” That said you’re such a talent even a smudgy dragon is going to morph into something special.

If you can still see the dragons and people then you haven’t lost your imagination and well that puts you a few steps ahead of most people now a days :)

Ohh…enjoyyyy it and I can’t wait to see the end result! :)

Hail the smudge dragon! Get your hands dirty girl. x

I know just how you feel Jo.

A few weeks ago I signed up for a Collage / Mixed media class. I was really excited about it, and bought a whole bunch of supplies, papers, new paints, added to what was already here – had everything I could possibly want ready to go.

Then the class was cancelled…. :( All my art supplies sit idle – wanting to be used but I haven’t a place to start. Sigh….

Just slap some paint on and have fun. If you don’t like it – paint over it!!! (or take a cue from the guy in that video, stare at the blank canvas for several hours, then sell it at a ridiculous price as “Contemplation on white” :)

awesome Jo…I would recommend picking a few colours and the putting brush to canvas and just letting your hand go. But you rock so im sure you will create something amazing.

I’d start with a Tree…...you can’t go wrong…just need green and brown…..or just brown and do a dead tree. lol

Build up the layers! I get intimidated by blank canvases and sheets of paper, so I usually have a big old scribble session on another sheet, and then use those ideas to start building up the background. I have two canvases that I am working on very very slowly – at the moment there are 2-3 layers of washes/ doodles/ skeletons of paisley. Typically I work very fast, but I’m trying to slow myself down… so approaching a blank canvas as a multi-layered and multi-dimensional piece might be useful to you too!

indeed it is. and a blank canvas is better than no canvas. you’re one step ahead of me.

Haha. Go the smudgy beast!

This works for me – if I have one canvas, or one piece of paper, there is so much pressure not to fuck it up, because if you do then you’ve ruined your only one.
If you have say, three primed canvases, then you can get stuck into the first one knowing there are two others you can use if you wreck it. Psychologically it seems easier to start that way!

oooh how exciting! when in doubt just doodle and play on something else, then ideas inevitably start to flow… maybe just mix some colours you like first! Most importantly – Have Fun =D

....i tell myself it doesn’t matter, it’s for no one else, i’m not doing this for anyone else to see, i’m just enjoying the blissfulness and peace of mind, and how it feels…the aesthetic of holding a brush and picking up the paint and smoothing it across the surface, the pleasurable sensual feeling…the lost in the momentness of it all….the sheer pure joy…no fear, just falling into it…disappearing into the paint….whatever becomes of it, it’s the xperience that counts more than the finished product, and it’s what is learned through the experience that primes us for the next painting and the next,....and the next….. happy painting jo :)

other times i tell myself, if i can just do one, just ONE really wonderful painting and show it to the whole wide world, i can be PROUD AS PROUD…and can die happy, knowing that i gave the world something of me…..............................................................a contribution x

How to draw a dragon

I have four 5X5 foot ones suffering the same thing, I will if you will.

Don’t think, just do it! Clear your mind and have fun. My best work is when I don’t try so hard. Take a deep breath and let it go. I can’t wait until it’s finished. Enjoy!

Have some fun and oouy wil creta eosmehting lovely.

’s’ more different ’s’ – who would have thought it could be so simple ?!

I really must learn how to paint… and judging by some of the art hanging in our fave local brekky spot, it doesn’t look that hard to master! Can’t wait to see your finished product Jo :o)

My art teacher told me….. the great thing about painting is youcan to fix what you have stuffed up.

Due to my inexperience I can’t fully empahise with your pight Jo – but Bong Su the elephant at the zoo probably has the same thoughts everytime she has to paint a new work :-))

We have had a large blank, primed canvas hung on our wall for 6 years. It was primed in a rush, so has an imperfect surface. People often stand and stare at it, nodding, rubbing chins, and uttering artistic nonsense to themselves. It’s hilarious. We have even named it “Waiting for inspiration.”

:o) to John’s comment above! Some of the works the elephants create ARE a lot more artistic than the ones hanging in our local coffee shop!

Take your standard brushes and throw them aside, use other items as your brushes and see what flourishes.

I’ve been thinking all weekend about painting, and now that weekend’s run into this week and almost next weeekend… perhaps I ought to just stop thinking and get on with it if only to make the thinking stop…

its like picasso said…
“every child is born an artist…the only challenge is to stay that way”

what is to be scared of? just keep painting till you like it…that is the inherent beauty in the action of painting.

Feel the fear and do it anyway …..the only one judging you is you. And you can put a stop to that.
So now you are in control ….let go :)

Paint anything. If you don’t like that, paint over that again. You will create a layered history that will form a rich ground. Paint patterns. Practise nuances in mark-making. Or pull out the mirror?