CANVAS ACRYLIC ABSTRACTS

As you all know, I love painting flowers and then zentangles came along and I slowly (or quickly depending how long two months is to art development!) shifted early graphite patterns into floral coloured versions. Talking with Anita the other day (as usual on the phone for at least an hour!) we talked about the Eastern Open this year which is celebrating their 40th anniversary. I didnt enter last year, but had a piece accepted back both in 2006 and 2007 ... but did not sell them.
So we discussed the idea of using my zentangle imagination to create a pair of canvas pieces to enter, as they definitely like to see more modern pieces than straightforward representation work. The selectors this year are from Kentucky Museum, Tate Liverpool, Norfolk and Norwich Visual Arts Festival and the magazine Galleries features Editor.

So yesterday I dug out two box canvases 16" x 16" from my store and started!!! Well before I knew it I was back to tulips as my last zentangle with Channais I posted recently. Then the thought came into my head about the connection with Amsterdam and the tulip fields. We spent a few days in Amsterdam one time when we visited our son and family and I took lots of photos by the canals as well as attending their 15 year Floriade . The photos are on my huge back up system, so chose a few to give me ideas of the special Dutch building designs to put in the background.
Stage one thin watered down acrylic washes

Stage two where I've added some background shapes of Dutch architecture and reflections on the left, canal boat, windmill and even a swing bridge (a la van Gogh) on the yellow vase shape.

Dont know where it will eventually lead me but I have a base to play with.