“L’amour Est Bleu”

My command of the French language is tenuous at best — there’s a reason behind it, but I won’t go into that story right now. I’ll readily admit to copying the title for this post directly from YouTube. Here’s the song that’s playing in my mind right now:

This was a number one song back in 1968. I didn’t know much about the song, but here’s what I learned from the YouTube video:

“L’amour Est Bleu” (“Love Is Blue”) is a song originally composed by Andre Popp with lyrics written by Pierre Cour in 1967. English lyrics were later written by Brian Blackburn. Greek singer Vicky Leandros first performed the song as the Luxembourg entry in the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest. The song has since been recorded by many many musicians. Most notably, in late 1967 Paul Mauriat recorded an instrumental version which became the only Number One hit by a French artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100. His version topped the chart for five weeks in February and March 1968.

So, now you know… but what about art? Well, like l’amour, l’art est aussie blue. Art is blue, too. At least the art I’m sharing today is blue. It’s one of a series of acrylic pourings I’m doing to play with various color schemes.

I’m beginning to enjoy acrylic pouring, and I’m starting to feel more comfortable with different methods and techniques. This one was a very simple “dirty pour” — with two different blues and white poured into a single cup. I added silicone oil, and I finished the pour by applying heat with a small butane torch.

 

As I grow more comfortable, I grow more adventurous, as well. Although they aren’t clearly visible in the photo, my pourings are beginning to develop more cells — the result of the silicone oil used with the paints and the application of heat.

This, of course, is an illustration of a monochromatic color scheme. Because blue is my favorite color, that was the one I chose for this pouring. I prepared each paint in a separate cup, then added them to a pouring cup:

• Darker Blue
• White
• Lighter Blue

Before I flipped the cup over onto the canvas, I did apply a bit of white acrylic first. This initial layer was very thin.

Although my first experiences with acrylic pouring were disappointing, I’ve come to enjoy this fluid art. Here’s why.

• It’s easy. No matter what mood I’m in or how I’m feeling about art, I can always “pour out a painting” that will be interesting, at least. I don’t really have to concern myself about results, so it’s all for fun.
• It’s fast. Because I have my acrylic pouring station and my paints together in a single area of the studio, I can put together what I need and complete a pour in a matter of minutes. Sometimes I’ll do more “advance planning and preparation” — perhaps applying a layer of gesso and allowing it to dry before I pour the acrylics — but as often as not, my acrylic pourings are a bit “spur of the moment”. That adds to the fun, I think.
• It’s inexpensive. Acrylics come in various grades, and I do have some “higher quality” paints, and they do lead to “higher quality” results. Mostly though, I still use the very inexpensive Apple Barrel craft paints from Wal-Mart. Even the better quality acrylics are still fairly inexpensive. Either way, I don’t feel that I’m wasting money when I play around with my paints. Again, that makes it all the more fun.
• It’s colorful. I love colors, yet with my oil painting I lean toward a subtle, low-key palette. Acrylic pouring gives me opportunities to use bold, bright colors.

Not every pouring project turns out how I’d like — remember that sorrowful heart? But more and more, I’m starting to like the results I’m getting. I’m collecting more little tools — various implements I can use to create different effects — and I’m continuing to EXPLORE (my word for 2021) different techniques.

Maybe it’s not fine art, but acrylic pouring is definitely art in its own way.

 

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