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Blue Reef – Intuitive abstract watercolour painting in blue and purple

Blue Reef - Intuitive abstract watercolour painting inspired by coral reefs in blue and purple by Kirsten Bailey
Blue Reef – Intuitive abstract watercolour painting inspired by coral reefs in blue and purple by Kirsten Bailey

 

I love painting in this intuitive style – it’s so calming and peaceful.  I started with just some shapes on the page and as I was painting, a theme began to emerge.  

You can purchase this original painting in my Etsy store.  Prints and other products like the ones featured below are available through Redbubble.

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Subterranean 2 – Abstract watercolour painting in brown and gold earth tones inspired by layers of sedimentary rock and soil

'Subterranean 2' - Abstract watercolour painting inspired by sedimentary rock and soil layers by Kirsten Bailey
‘Subterranean 2’ – Abstract watercolour painting inspired by sedimentary rock and soil layers by Kirsten Bailey

 

“Subterranean 2” is an original abstract watercolour painting, inspired by layers of sedimentary rock and earth.  It is a larger version of a much smaller painting I did a few years ago The original painting is now SOLD – but you can find prints and products like the ones below at Redbubble.  Or, if you’re interested in something similar, please get in touch for a commission!

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Art as meditation

Taking Flight - Original abstract watercolour painting by KL Bailey Art

I’ve never been good at meditating.  Most of the time I have trouble switching my brain off to be able to sleep, let alone meditating.  But I do find that creating art is a form of meditation for me, especially when I’m creating more intricate pieces and lots of little swirls.  I get lost in the painting.

Two of my most recent painting are great examples of this.  

Taking Flight - Original abstract watercolour painting by KL Bailey Art
“Taking Flight” by KL Bailey Art
Dracontine - Original abstract watercolour painting by KL Bailey Art
Dracontine by KL Bailey Art

For these two paintings, I was initially inspired by Linda Melvin’s abstract watercolours.  I started working wet-on-wet and letting the paint flow and do its own thing.  I also used gauze as a textural element, as she does with some of her work.  But that’s where the similarities end.

As you can see, my work is very different to hers.  In her tutorials, Linda talks about the importance of coming back in and enhancing an image after it dries.  This is the stage at which I get carried away!  For both of these paintings, I began to see a shape emerging from the abstract patterns – in one I saw a humanoid figure, and the other, a dragon-like shape.  As I went in with my fine paintbrush to enhance the images, I accentuated the shapes I saw.  In both cases, I did not know what the shape would be until the initial layers of paint dried.  I used swirls and patterns to add details to the images.  

I really enjoyed creating both of these paintings – I loved the way I could switch off my brain and get lost in the small details, and the way that an image emerged from the painting seemingly on its own.  When I paint, I feel calm and peaceful, and it’s the closest thing I get to meditating. 

Original paintings ‘Taking Flight‘ and ‘Dracontine‘ are both available for purchase in my Etsy store.  Prints and accessories are available via Redbubble or Society6.

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Abstract watercolours

I love painting in watercolours – it’s definitely my favourite medium.  My watercolours are a bit unusual compared to many I’ve seen, as many of them are abstract or naive in style.  I love making abstract watercolours because it gives me a chance to let the paint have a ‘mind of its own’.

Many of my favourite abstract watercolours are inspired by science, like my ‘Moons of Jupiter’ series:

“Moons of Jupiter – Callisto”
“Moons of Jupiter – Europa”

Some more ‘space’ inspired works:

“Imagination Encircling”
“Persistent Illusion”
Red Planet - abstract watercolour painting of Mars by KL Bailey Art
“Red Planet”

From the very big to the very small – some of my other abstract watercolours are inspired by microscopic images:

"Filtered" red and blue abstract watercolour painting by kirsten bailey
“Filtered”
"Needle" - original abstract watercolour painting by kirsten bailey
“Needle”

But I think my favourite overall is this one – it’s only a tiny painting, but it has a lot of detail:

Subterranean - original abstract watercolour painting by Kirsten Bailey
“Subterranean”