How to Create Abstract Paintings by Seeing in the Dark! Part 1
Every night just before I go to sleep I am inundated with inspirational images that offer me help in visualising potential abstract or surreal paintings.
Having spoken to a few people I have been surprised to hear that a lot of them appear to be unaware of the phenomenon before their own eyes.
When I asked someone what they knew of the after images of the eye I was amazed to hear that they knew nothing about it...
"Well, what do you see when you close your eyes?" - the reply came fast "Nothing!" If any of you answered the same then read on...
Here are a couple of very simple experiments that will guarantee to amaze you.
Find yourself a piece of brightly colored paper and cut it out so that it is a rough circle of about two inches in diameter.
The best colors (but you should try them all if you can) are bright blue, pink, orange, red or green.
If you cannot find any brightly colored paper then find some watercolor or acrylic paint and produce the colored circle on a piece of white paper - then cut it out.
I suggest you get a piece of white paper about A3 size (or two pieces of photocopy paper side by side...
they are A4 size - and two A4's make A3!) Place it on a table before you.
Grab yourself a seat next to the table so that the white paper is set landscape ways in front of you (that longest measurement wide).
Take your color circle and place it in the center of the white paper...
and stare at it for the count of 120 elephants (or seconds if you prefer!).
Your eyes need to be about 6 to 8 inches from the circle.
Try not to blink...
and try your best to keep your eyes as still as possible.
After 120 counts close your eyes.
I defy ANY of you to say that you cannot see anything! With your eyes closed tell yourself exactly what you can see.
I can tell you now that, with your eyes closed, you will be 'seeing' a coloured disk.
Lets say you chose a green circle - the chances are you will see a circle of red -going-on-pink.
And what is more you will find that the circle your closed eyes 'see' will gradually change color and fade.
The next experiment is even better!! This time make yourself two circles of color...
try a bright orangy red with a strong ultramarine blue.
Now place one circle to the left side of your white A3 area, and the other circle to the right.
Cover the left circle with a piece of white paper..
..
And stare at the right circle for 120 counts - keeping your eyes still...
and trying not to blink.
After 120 take the white paper covering the left circle - and stare at it.
Describe what you 'see'...
well, you should astounded by the fact you are looking at a colored circle - that is NOT the color before you! Try doing this with other color mixes...
thats THREE experiments!...
And I haven't even got to the wonderful things I see before I go to sleep...
...
That will have to be another article!
Having spoken to a few people I have been surprised to hear that a lot of them appear to be unaware of the phenomenon before their own eyes.
When I asked someone what they knew of the after images of the eye I was amazed to hear that they knew nothing about it...
"Well, what do you see when you close your eyes?" - the reply came fast "Nothing!" If any of you answered the same then read on...
Here are a couple of very simple experiments that will guarantee to amaze you.
Find yourself a piece of brightly colored paper and cut it out so that it is a rough circle of about two inches in diameter.
The best colors (but you should try them all if you can) are bright blue, pink, orange, red or green.
If you cannot find any brightly colored paper then find some watercolor or acrylic paint and produce the colored circle on a piece of white paper - then cut it out.
I suggest you get a piece of white paper about A3 size (or two pieces of photocopy paper side by side...
they are A4 size - and two A4's make A3!) Place it on a table before you.
Grab yourself a seat next to the table so that the white paper is set landscape ways in front of you (that longest measurement wide).
Take your color circle and place it in the center of the white paper...
and stare at it for the count of 120 elephants (or seconds if you prefer!).
Your eyes need to be about 6 to 8 inches from the circle.
Try not to blink...
and try your best to keep your eyes as still as possible.
After 120 counts close your eyes.
I defy ANY of you to say that you cannot see anything! With your eyes closed tell yourself exactly what you can see.
I can tell you now that, with your eyes closed, you will be 'seeing' a coloured disk.
Lets say you chose a green circle - the chances are you will see a circle of red -going-on-pink.
And what is more you will find that the circle your closed eyes 'see' will gradually change color and fade.
The next experiment is even better!! This time make yourself two circles of color...
try a bright orangy red with a strong ultramarine blue.
Now place one circle to the left side of your white A3 area, and the other circle to the right.
Cover the left circle with a piece of white paper..
..
And stare at the right circle for 120 counts - keeping your eyes still...
and trying not to blink.
After 120 take the white paper covering the left circle - and stare at it.
Describe what you 'see'...
well, you should astounded by the fact you are looking at a colored circle - that is NOT the color before you! Try doing this with other color mixes...
thats THREE experiments!...
And I haven't even got to the wonderful things I see before I go to sleep...
...
That will have to be another article!
Source...