Creating Beautiful Paintings with a Palette Knife for Technical Ease and Joy

What are Palette Knife Paintings? 

These are paintings created using a palette knife. These sorts of paintings are created with ease due to not needing to wash brushes. If you have to use a lot of brushes, especially with oil paintings, it can be difficult to maintain the quality of the brush. The advantage of palette knife paintings is that they take away the need to use brushes. 

They can be created quite easily with some basic knowledge of how to paint. Some suggested instructions for creating palette knife paintings are as follows:

Tools

Art Paper, Canvas Boards or Canvas

Palette knives

Painting supplies

Best palette knives for artists

Types of Palette Knives

Artist tools

Method

1. Take acrylic paper, canvas board or canvas.
2. Paint the background using white, black or burnt Sienna. 
3. Next, chalk out the composition. 
4. Start from the top and work your way to the bottom.
5. Some people like a drawing grid.
6. Add a base layer of paint using the side of the pallet knife.
7. This will result in the basic shapes of the painting composition
8. Then, add the details to the picture, thinking three dimensionally.
9. It may aid you if you think of the painting as a sculpture.
10. Consider light, depth, and mid-tones in order to complete the painting.

Relaxation and Hand Mudras and Proprioceptive Movement

In today’s daily yoga ritual, relaxation and peace was attained through yoga of the hands. On some days, we have more energy and motivation than others. Maintaining your yoga practice on days where you have less energy may be achieved through meditation or hand mudras.

Relaxation

Hand mudras are an effective way to relax, find peace, and maintain calm. It’s a different way of meditating and completing yoga. You can also use these postures when out and about. This is an effective way of resetting your emotional health if you become emotionally imbalanced.

Today I completed about half an hour of yoga with mudras.

What are mudras?

Mudras are hand gestures. These hand gestures affect the mind, body, and spirit positively.

Holding the thumb next to the fingers and pressing on them for about 5 minutes at a time is enough to improve one’s sense of calm and well-being. 

Digestion

Suraya mudra ring finger to the thumb as well is a good aid for digestion and fat elimination.

I then had the realisation that these postures alleviate the proprioceptive sensory needs. Sewing, jewellery making, and pen writing have the same proprioceptive movement affect.

Today has been challenging working from home. My anxiety has been so severe I have revised my will. Despite some minor health difficulties, I’m determined to try to love peace and positive parenting, endeavouring to make a positive contribution to the world. On days like this, my fear has been overwhelming with self-criticism. I used to listen to a lot of positive affirmations to overcome my fear and to develop a positive self.

Despite the terrifying fear, the practising of yoga even 5 minutes every now and again the difficult stretches from Ashtanga yoga have been a source of relief. They have transformed my stress, which has been high due to struggling to clear the clutter around the house in order to sit at my desk.

Finding managing the household tasks along with the expectation of producing something positive and consistent and feeling bad about the fact that I have had to claim benefits to supplement my income has affected my self-image. 

Affirm;

I’m really scared of other peoples harsh criticism of this too. This is especially difficult as I am highly educated, but living in an area which is still unknown to me. There are few people I speak with and the level of social isolation I currently feel is sometimes difficult, but sometimes the solitude is an absolute source of comfort

Affirm;

I can

I will

Singing really has helped to alleviate my chest pain and the prayers for peace in the world, I think Sanskrit makes me even more resolute to love peace wholeheartedly and to ensure that I am a PeaceMaker. I hope this has a positive ripple. My love singing, and an endeavour to smile through the stress and fear gives me courage and hope.

I keep trying different projects and waking up forgetting what I am working on. It makes it very difficult to be consistent in developing a positive work ethic. My self-criticism is well, why can’t I sustain a strong career and my frustration that sometimes my social interactions may be awkward and weird possibly due to some of the life situations I have been through

Affirm; 

I am not my life situation

I am not my economic situation

For anyone else struggling to contribute something free writing has been a source of relief and in time may plant positive seeds for future economic growth. 

Talking of seeds, gardening is on the horizon. Broadens to be planted in the garden and there is the hope of cultivating a crystal garden too.

Focusing on birthdays and Christmas while around the house and focusing on positive things and joyful moments of past, present and future and trying to find our weird human behaviour funny is a source of comfort.

Sharing my journalling from my Yoga practice. Today it’s been about healing the womb and yoni.

Here are some helpful thoughts if you lose your pregnancy;

“It’s not your fault. Let go of blame.”

“Pray for forgiveness anyway, for yours and theirs.”

“Buy a souvenir or trinket like an engraved ring, for all your family not just you.”

“You may not be available to hear their suffering until you dealt with your grief.”

“Love your womb and ovaries and Yoni as if it was your Child’s womb or Mother’s Womb.”

“Solidarity is power, mix and talk about pregnancy loss.”

Mountain Pose (Tadasana) Understanding the healing power of yoga with this posture. Especially around the Yoni(Vulva) area. Seeing the shadows around the inner legs as Mountainous gives a sense of peace and healing. Imagining the shadows disappearing feels empowering. 

Unexpected reflection upon pregnancy loss. It’s not the physical miscarriage that’s heartbreaking. Giving birth consciously to a dead fetus probably was the worst experience of my life. I consciously birthed “Mummy Baby” breathing “Sat” and “Nam” (Truth is my name) from Kundalini yoga, with no pain relief and blood everywhere. Trying to shield a partner and child from this death. Then being attached to the phoetus, not wanting the phoetus to be buried, and then seeing the phoetus being buried in the garden unexpectedly and having to deal with this psychologically. 

It’s like all the love, hopes, and dreams you had for when the child was born, faded into the soil. Then, being in so much physical and emotional distress. It’s like dying when the fetus dies, and dying in every sense emotionally. The level of despair and grief that makes you want to scream every day and night for all of eternity.

It’s the affect it has on your family too. Knowing that your child loved their brother or sister, and your tummy for ages, you felt like you let them down. Feeling like you did something wrong to cause it because of giving birth to a little ball of blood. That maybe you weren’t a good enough mum or human to have the child born to you. Feeling that the fetus should have had a proper burial, but didn’t, and not being able to honour the dead properly, due to your grief. Remembering despair so bad that you felt like dying for death in ways only other women suffering from miscarriages could understand. Not even beginning to think of the word miscarriage at the time, because that wasn’t what it was meant to be. It was meant to be creation.

It’s like the dead haunt you, why didn’t you even honour my spirit enough to bury me properly? I came into your life to teach you lessons and you didn’t acknowledge my birth or death with a burial. Only a ring that was engraved with the day I was born and died. You prayed and prayed for a good rebirth of the baby. (Om Mani Padme Om), Buddhist Prayer, and you connected with the spirit of the unborn child, that was perhaps never meant to come into fruition, but the dead child still haunts you. 

It’s like why aren’t we talking about the elephant in the living room as a collective sisterhood. When we feel like our hearts were unexpectedly ripped out due to yet again a third baby loss. Why can’t we love each better with compassion and understanding. It’s like the more aversive and marginalising and undermining we are about people who have these experiences the more we disown the difficult parts of our self or our collective consciousness.

“It’s like celebrating their existence or what you thought their existence would or could have been anyway”.

“Plant a tree and love the baby as if it is a tree.”

“I am worthy, I am deserving of my own loving kindness.”

Quick Book On Yoga, a work in progress:

Alive

Yoga may save your life in unexpected ways. Some people are alive because of Yoga. They may not be alive if they didn’t have Yoga in their life. It may enable you to find joy in any life situation. Finding peace within, no matter what the weather of your circumstances, is invaluable. Breathe with movement is uplifting and empowering. Re-connecting with mind, body, spirit and allowing yourself to be true and being connected to your original self.

Tradition

Traditionally, Yoga is practised at Sunrise and Sunset. This is maybe Asana, traditionally, sun salutations. To some people Asana, is called stretching with movement. Breathing with  awareness. Some people may have time to dedicate themselves to this level of structure and routine. This may help other along the way. Other peoples experience of endeavouring to follow this level of tradition, may not be as successful. Peoples’ work lives and family lives may require a level of flexibility to this approach. Their energy level and moon cycle (menstruation/period)or health may mean that this approach has to be adapted. Some people study during this allotted time or they may practise a more pranayama based yoga i.e. breath work. It is to be remembered that breathe of fire, a type of pranayama  must not be practised during a Moon cycle, due to the increase of oxygen into the blood stream.

Having studied the yoga’s ethical practice in (Yama and Niyamas), rather than criticising the flaws, of not being able to follow strict, disciplined practise and observing our flaws maybe more helpful and kinder to both mind, body and spirit.

Mother and Child Yoga, cooperated with 2 rounds of sun salutation with Warrior 1 then:

Sun Salutations

Warrior 1, 2, 3, Difficult poses

Standing splits

Triangle

Spider

Crab

Protect the breath with mantra.

Painting a single painting with a certain view, or in portrait form can generate a plethora of variations of the same picture. This is especially useful if you are creatively stuck with ideas. If you feel lacking in creativity then a single reference photograph can be useful.   It can be about appreciating that one image may produce several images if its creative potential is imagined. 

One painting can create many paintings. It is highly likely that working on a single composition can serve as a compelling, inspired springboard for an entire collection of artworks. By expanding upon this foundational composition, artists have the opportunity to delve deeper into their artistic narrative.

The joy of presenting audiences with a rich tapestry of interconnected masterpieces, generates a plethora of variations that showcase the boundless potential of artistic expression. Think of one painting, not merely as a standalone piece, but as a rich wellspring of inspiration; it can ignite countless creative ideas and interpretations. Just as a seed can grow into an expansive tree with numerous branches, so too can one artwork inspire a diverse array of pieces that resonate with similar concepts or aesthetics.

Whilst painting the same painting across three different canvasses that vary in size. The variables of the colours, layout and the people within the view will create three different paintings. Despite each of the pictures being similar, they will all turn out differently. This allows the artist to explore different mediums, styles, or techniques inspired by the initial creation.

In Summary; 

1. One painting can create a positive ripple. It can generate several different paintings that are similar, but look completely different.

The positive ripple can be apparent, especially if there is a narrative or poetic meaning behind the painting. Some people explore concept as well. Furthermore the positive emotional and communicative effect maybe apparent if the painting portrays something meaningful or spiritual.

2. Creating repeat pattern from an aspect of the original artwork may generate a new piece.

Art repetition and creating visual variations can be joyful. This allows artistic interpretation of the original piece. Some aspects of repeat pattern may occur so that a different, new painting is produced by repeating the patterns within the painting.

Case Studies: Iconic Artists Who Explored Repetition and Variation

Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol’s repeated images; Roy Lichtenstein’s comic styles; Claude Monet’s series paintings;

3. One painting may vary in its layout, colours, people, or view.

Differing the colours may transform the visual affects of the original piece to create something new. You may like to revisit the colour wheel and colour theory. Consider the emotional impact of colours. You can also restrict the amount of colours used. For example, a palette of three colours, red, blue and yellow maybe the only colours used in the painting.

An artist may choose to use this initial work as their muse, exploring different colour palettes, altering perspectives, or even experimenting with various mediums to breathe new life into the concept.

4. A single painting maybe abstracted so that parts of it may be enlarged, minimised or repeated.

Art is not just about replication but also about innovation and personal expression. Each variation becomes more than just another version; it evolves into its own distinct narrative while still paying homage to its predecessor. This idea powerfully underscores the profound beauty of creativity, how a single painting can serve as a monumental source of inspiration. It may ignite an entire series that intricately reflects the artist’s journey and personal growth over time. 

5. Changing the way its painted too. Aerial, panoramic, or even flipping the perspective in which the composition has been created are ways of varying the painting.

Thus, one painting can become not just an isolated work but rather a cornerstone upon which an entire body of work is built, a testament to both artistic expression and human experience. Ultimately, using one painting as a foundation allows for an expansive exploration of themes and ideas, demonstrating that art is both a dialogue with oneself and with viewers who interpret these works through their unique lenses.

6. You may also like to alter the style and have a small collection of the same layout with differing styles, or differing mediums.

Summary 

1. One painting can create a positive ripple of several different paintings that are similar. 
2. The colours, layout, people in the picture or view may vary, but that one painting, repeated, may look radically different.
3. Creating repeat pattern from an aspect of the original artwork may generate a new piece.
4. That single painting maybe abstracted so that parts of it may be enlarged, minimised or repeated, or some aspects of repeat pattern may occur so that a different, new painting is produced by repeating the patterns within the painting.
5. Changing the way it is painted too. Aerial, panoramic, or even flipping the perspective in which the composition has been created are ways of varying the painting.
6. You may also like to alter the style and have a small collection

Having practised breathe with movement for over a decade, these are a few personal insights into practising Mindfulness. Another way of terming Mindfulness is Awareness of Breathing. When this was explained to me a while ago the whole idea of “Mindfulness” made much more sense to me. Whilst Mindfulness is not something I particularly enjoy, it is something that maintains my wellbeing.

Some of my main hindrance have been the thoughts;

“I cant Meditate.”

Sleepiness and Distraction

There are lots of other hindrances, but the intention of this article is not to discuss the barriers to mindfulness. There are other articles for this. The intention is to give insight into having explored mindfulness at length and some of the exercises that felt accessible and achievable.

Mindfulness or awareness of breathing can be undertaken while practising creative pursuits. Bringing awareness to the breathing rather than the mind chatter

Here are a couple of Mindfulness exercises that may be helpful to those people who find mindfulness difficult:

• Breathing in and counting to 10 then exhaling
• Mantra: My breath is my anchor, my anchor is my breath
• Mindfulness with Mudra when you can’t concentrate eg sa, ta, na, ma
• Be the witness, or observer of yourself
• Guided meditations eg apps, CDs
• Accept the flaws when your mind is like a flapping fish and bring kindness to your flaws rather than listening to your “Inner Critic”
• Diarying for mindfulness
• Gardening
• Nature walks
• Walking for mindfulness
• Vase on the top of your head visualisation. The idea is that you need to be so mindful that the water does not spill out of the vase

We create an electromagnetic connections with people we work with. Consider the dynamics of the relationships with your colleagues, you can change the energy you express. As you know, your thoughts, words, actions and emotions are all powerful expressions of your personal energy. Your thoughts and words affect those you associate with and you develop energetic connections with the people you regularly associate with ie your work relations. Strive to consciously choose the energy you express in the world.

We create an electromagnetic connections with people we work with. Consider the dynamics of the relationships with your colleagues, you can change the energy you express. As you know, your thoughts, words, actions and emotions are all powerful expressions of your personal energy. Your thoughts and words affect those you associate with and you develop energetic connections with the people you regularly associate with ie your work relations. Strive to consciously choose the energy you express in the world.

Spiritual beliefs generated by you and accepted into your reality can be deeply understood and manifested as you learn to skilfully organise and focus your energy. The Universal Calibration Lattice is the system in your energy anatomy that supports the acceleration of evolution.

1. Individual or Personal Electromagnetic Field
2. Family  Electromagnetic Field
3. Pet  Electromagnetic Field
4. Collective  Electromagnetic Field
5. Spiritual Beliefs  Electromagnetic Field

Personal Electromagnetic field consists of the following:

1. Subtle body energy, qi, aura, chakra 
2. Arcline, or halo energy that surrounds your head, 
3. Auric energy surround your physical body
4. Pranic body that is affected  by your breathe
5. Subtle Body: enables intuition
6. Radiant Body is what enables us to have spiritual courage

Radiate Core Energy

Here is a simple exercise called “Radiating Core Energy” to use in everyday situations. This will protect your aura, or your electro-magnetic field to ensure that you feel more energised and well.

1. Centre below: Sense, feel imagine, or think about a golden ball of energy, located about 24 inches (60 centimetres) below your feet.
2. Centre above: Sense, feel imagine, or think about a golden ball of energy located 24 inches (60 centimetres) above your head. 
3. Radiate Core Energy: radiate your core energy in all directions, like a brilliant, fluorescent beacon. Once again you will sense, imagine, feel white light around you. Then, think about the sensation of radiating your core energy. When you hold your energy in this posture, spiritual intelligence (and much more becomes available to you).
4. Summarised visualisation: centre below, centre above, radiate core energy, and then silently or aloud, state the intention to radiate core energy. Practice this posture so that you may live in it daily.
5. This meditation can enhance your feelings of peace. Your aura becomes stronger and more radiant. This may assist you in coping better in all aspects of your life. You energy may now fee more balanced. You can do this anywhere and coincidences synchronicity may increase.