Playing with paint

Over the last couple of years, with my quest to learn the glazing process of oil and my infatuation with Dutch florals,  my work has become very tight and representational. Yesterday I just felt like "playing" with the paint.
One of the easiest ways to get out of one's groove is to change format in some ways. I always paint large so I decided to go small...5x7inches  to be exact. Media...inks were the way to go with their easy splash and quick reactions to water, solvents or spirits.

Sorry ...the photo a bit out of focus..done in a hurry...as usual:)

I scattered the small pieces of card over the floor and just happily splashed ink over the watered surface. Then a few drops of white spirit on each to see the ink disperse. Some nice effects but unfinished. These random markings became the grounds for these little works which have been over painted with oil paint. They were an immediate response in media to what was in front of me...no preconceived idea but just an application of paint. Very relaxing:)

Gleaning.....Discards to Decor

I have recently ( well in the last few months) discovered the complete and utter bliss of rescuing old pieces of furniture and other debris/ treasures from the kerb sides around Brisbane.
Council pick up days must be a picker's paradise. People have been doing this for years  and it,s amazing to see the numbers of trucks, utes, and cars with trailers all busily...and I do mean busy...picking their way through the heaps to "stuff" piled on the footpaths. It's a whole other world..a subculture of traders and artisans.
I know "picking " is the buzz word for this sort of activity, but I am besotted with the word gleaning.  Gleaning is a time honored occupation celebrated by artists and writers, and in certain countries, France in particular , it is nearly a national pastime.  Remember Jean FrancoisMillet's beautiful painting The Gleaners? Here, gleaning of course refers to the agricultural waste that the farmers
don' t want. For a modern take on the subject, there is the wonderful 2000 French film by Agnes Varda ...The Gleaners and I. 
Gleaning is about recycling and the usage of the word can be transferred to an urban environment where people go out and collect detritus and leftovers to be repurposed....and save items  from a fate  in landfill.

I glean dirty, dusty discards and attempt to turn them into vintage decor. I am only a novice at the carpentry side of things but I am already adding to my supply of tools in my studio.
Below are some photos  of my reclaimed pieces....I keep forgetting to take the "before" shots:)
Happy gleaning to all out there!