New Ideas

Last week my friend Ilse and I attended the Art of the Carolinas, sponsored by Jerrys Artarama in Raleigh, North Carolina. We came back with many exciting samples and lots of new ideas to try.

Here I am with Patti Brady, author of Rethinking Acrylics. I've mentioned her book before and I hope you followed my recommendation and bought it, because it will lead you into new territory. I was so excited about meeting her, and was lucky enough to take two classes, one on digital grounds and one on using interference colors and other paints on various mediums. Patti said we were 'women on wheels' because she was driving around on a scooter due to an injured foot. And isn't her hair color ( uhm, colors ) the coolest? I've always secretly wanted to try a shock of hot pink. Maybe this will be an encouragement.

Patti was demonstrating the effects of fluid acrylics on fiber paste, a very cool feel. I would never have known about these mediums if I had not read her book. Each medium leads the artist to experiment with paints in a new ways, leading to more excitement in your work.

Another artist I was anxious to meet was Bob Burridge. I've tried to get in his classes before in other places, but they were always full. When I heard he would be here, I was the first to sign up. This class was about loosening up and painting abstracts. He really had some great ideas and we experimented with various compositions and using just one color with black and white. He also introduced his new color wheel, which is geared toward more intense colors that appeal to me.

Did I mention that my friend and I drove through one of the worst storms in the past few years? Schools were closed back home, but we slogged on and showed up with the drowned rat look, which I'm modeling here. Bob was happy to stop for a second to pose with me.

I'm Alive

Well, I know you all thought I must have fallen off the planet, but I've been busy.....I just got back from Raleigh, North Carolina, where a friend and I attended Art of the Carolinas, sponsored by Jerry's Artarama. There are lots of things to tell you about and a few pictures to post, but I'm exhausted and will have to do that tomorrow. So, friends, check back about 6 p.m. Monday, EST.

A Weekend's Worth of Work

How's that for alliteration? This weekend I haven't left my house because I'm so afraid I'll get the flu or the H1N1 virus. Even though I'm a high risk patient no one has been able to give me shots. It's really to the point where I'm angry. I've even called the Health Dept. Anyway, I have to go to the grocery store or the cats and I will starve. My plan is to go early tomorrow, before the crowds and wash my hands like crazy.

Well, back to art. While I've been on self imposed exile, I've read a lot of the polymer clay book Color Inspirations. It contains enough information to be a class, with at least ten sessions. I think I'm going to do some of the exercises because they will help me be more informed about color for my art work, and for polymer clay, which I'm forcing myself to put on the back burner.

12x12

acrylic, paper, markers

This is one of the things I've worked on, but it looks so much more interesting in person because of the layers.

I hope you have all had a good weekend, maybe productive, maybe not...depending on your plans. If I haven't answered your comments or left them on your blog it's not because I'm not reading everything. I'm still checking in on my favorites and lots of others, too. When I know that you all are reading my blog it gives me more energy to paint, so thanks!!

My Studio is Overflowing

Besides the painting of my sister, which still is not finished, I've been working like crazy on a few other things. This one on the top is 20x20 and I have a few glazes and some of my stamped paper on it. It is a long way to finished, but I have a vision.

Above is one of the two 12x12s on one of my tables. I wish my studio was four times as big, but I'm not complaining. I know I'm lucky just to have my own studio. Anyway, this painting has glazes and drips.....fun! And the focal point isn't even there yet. Wait til you see what is. Really, this is hard to appreciate on the computer screen. Viewing with the naked eye reveals the layers and the shimmer of the iridescent pearl as a first coat.

Now, you are probably wondering what in the heck this one is all about. It's another 12x12, glazes, drips, and ....well....other things. What you see is only about two inches of it, so please come back to see the whole thing. Every once in awhile we have to step out of our comfort zone.

Have I told you I've been slowly building up my polymer clay stash? Back in the late 90's I had quite a bit of experience with clay. Of course I never got to the level that people do today, but at least I understand some things about it and I'm used to conditioning. I keep hearing a little voice, ' Deeeeeeeb, come and play with me'. Yes, it's the clay calling me. For some reason I keep thinking that I can combine all of these things that have been taking up my time....the stamps I carved, the clay, the acrylics and all the cradled wood panels I got on sale at Cheap Joe's. Maybe there is a way to do that and I think that's where I'm headed.

Snipping and Stamping

This was an odd day. I felt so wishy washy in my studio. Did I want to do this? or that? or that? So while I was making a choice, I put this strange lady together. Thanks to all of my blogging friends who support me in my search for 'my voice'. After two years of experimenting I'm still not sure what I should do, so I keep looking. Your comments and emails mean so much to me, I can't even tell you. I know one thing...I am doing art that I never could have done two years.

Tomorrow the plan is to get back to the painting of my sister and planning a new work for a show. Ohhhh.....um, I just remembered.....I have five paintings to do for the show in January. But don't worry. My calendar will keep me on track.

Back to Colored Pencil

Yesterday I worked at Blue Skies Gallery and I took this little portrait to work on since my paints would be too messy. There is still a lot of work to do, but here it is so far. This is one of the adorable twin boys I'm painting. They just turned two. Cute, isn't he?

Painting of My Sister

This is the bulletin board in my studio. Right next to it is my big calendar with my life on it. My bulletin board is organized now, with the shows I'm entering lined up in order of deadline. I'm trying to be an organized businesswoman as well as an artist, but it's so hard! I'm sure many of you out there know how I feel.

Phew! This painting has given me a hard time, or should I say, I'm having a hard time with this. It's the hands, my nemesis. Most of the time I've painted them upside down, which is easier for me since I just see shapes. I'm fairly satisfied with her right hand but the rest of the painting is not even near finished. I plan to do at least three paintings of her. And she just might have to sit here in person on Saturday to let me paint her hands alla prima. My poor sister is an art teacher, but she's also a busy mom to three boys and the youngest is nine, so she never has time to make art herself. I think that happens to lots of art teachers. I'm going to try to get her to go away with me next summer to some art class somewhere. Oh, it's probably time to research that..........

Painting Again

Oh, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a paintbrush again! I was so excited that I woke up at 4 this morning. Last night I started drawing this on the canvas and today it took me about two more hours to get the face right because it's at a strange angle. The model is my sister Ellen. One night she was sitting here talking to me and I liked the light so much I made her do all kinds of things and I took pictures while she tried not to laugh. But the pictures turned out well and I knew they'd make good paintings if I could pull it off. I have a vision in my head and I just hope it will end up somewhere near that. Now that everything is blocked in, tomorrow I'll concentrate on the face and hands, the hardest, hardest parts. I'm trying to use the biggest brush possible for each section.

When I made plans on my big calendar ( I'm going to call it 'my life on the wall') this whole week was devoted to the miniatures, but I think they are ok like they are. So I put them together, put a coat of medium on, and they're done. Now I can paint all week and be ahead of myself. Actually, there a several things I can do with the extra time.....work on the twins' portraits, practice using my Wacom tablet and Photoshop Elements, watch the five art videos I have but have never seen, or experiment with polymer clay. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful problem! This must be heaven; to have the time, supplies and space to make art for the rest of your life whenever you want to.

These are the finished miniatures. They are on gallery wrap canvas and the portrait is raised from the surface. I'm going to write an explanation of what they are about, I remember I posted that a while ago.

More Printmaking, Still

Even more stamps....can you believe I'm still doing this? I kept my promise to myself, that I would continue on the stamping and collaging road to see where it got me. I was motivated to make more lino cuts, more designs. Then I cut them up and made new papers with the pieces of the stamp designs. I want to cut them up even more and assemble a collage with the pieces. That's the plan.

I also keep feeling an ink drawing, maybe even painting with ink. I have Dr. Martin's set of 12 colors and you know how that call of the colors is, don't you? I bought one of those huge desk calendars to hang in my studio so I can see my LIFE. If I can't see it, I forget. Anyway, now I can plan ahead and be reminded of what I planned so I can actually make deadlines and things like that which will greatly improve my art life. For this week, according to the calendar, I'll be working on my miniatures so that I can get them there on time, October 17. Next I'll begin some figure studies of my sister. I'm so excited about doing that! Back to the acrylics! I have some great reference photos from a few weeks ago and I can get her here to sit for me if needed. So, come back and check on me. See if I'm still on task.

More Printmaking

This morning my plan was to include cats in a painting with a stamped and painted background. But then, as I was 'researching' on the internet, I found some glorious work. It is by a woman in Alaska named Evon Zerbetz. It stopped me cold. I was fascinated with her crows. You have to check out her linocuts. So I adjusted my plan just a little bit, and carved this little face.

Cat Face

4x3

I've had linoleum and Mastercarve here for a year and didn't start using them ( with any goal in mind) til recently. There is just something about that scraping and digging that appeals to me....but I think the best part will be using my inks to color the prints. Remember I said I wouldn't get distracted by something else? This doesn't count, does it? I'm still making stamps, right?

Sticking With It

Since Thursday I've been chugging along, staying with my stamps and scissors. I've worked on three of these at the same time, but I'm disappointed because they just don't have the liveliness of the first three that took much less time.

This week I'll stay with the stamps and continue collage, but I think I'll try another subject. I'll have to cut more stamps before I begin painting. On the new work, I plan to use the collage for the background only. We'll see how that works.

For some reason, this photo will not show up as vibrantly as I see it in my iPhoto program. This is the best I could do.

Stamping and Snipping

On November first it will be two years since I started this blog. That occurred to me today as I was thinking about what I've accomplished. When I started, I was using colored pencil exclusively, and my work was selling. But my work with cp was boring to me. I got a lot of positive feedback, but that didn't make it more interesting. Because what I was doing with cp was copying photos. At least they were all my own photos and I wasn't copying someone elses.

I just felt there must be something else I was meant to do.

Fortunately, I had the time and enough money to try different mediums. So the pencils have been on the back burner as I experimented. The fact is that I've hardly sold anything since then. As I realized this, I had to stop and ask myself some questions. Do I have a body of work to show for the last two years? No, I don't. Have I found a medium I want to stick with now? No. Have I enjoyed my experimenting? Yes, definitely. Then I asked the most important question. Where am I going? I don't know. I thought I would feel more accomplished by now, I expected to be more successful at selling than back then.

This morning I was going to change directions and not even use the stamping and collage ideas I'd used all week. Then it hit me......I never stick with anything! Nothing gets practiced enough for me to improve with it. I get discouraged and try something else.

I realized that I need to make plans for myself. I need a loose structure ( is that even possible?) to keep organized with my work. I decided to work only with the Anne Bagby video ideas this week and see where that leads me. Then, if I feel I'm going somewhere, another week. This way I won't get off track and start another project.

Now, I still have those two miniatures due in a few weeks, and my cp portraits of the two little cuties waiting to get done. But this way I'll know that I'll give them exclusive time when I plan it. Does that make sense?

Still Stamping

The last three days have just zoomed by and I've gotten into my studio every chance I can, but have not accomplished as much as I planned. The whole idea of including my stamps into a collage or painting has given me so many ideas that I hardly know where to go next. Well, that's not true...I have a plan and hope I can get it done by Friday. Stay tuned.

My new friend, Nicki Ault, brought up an interesting question as she responded to a comment I left on her blog. Her work is so beautiful so I said she should drop the word 'beginner' from her introduction. Her response was to ask how do we know when to stop calling ourselves beginners? I thought about that for awhile. What do you think? Do you still call yourself a beginner? If not, when and how did you decide not to be called that anymore? Thanks for your comments, friends.

Three Practice Collages

My weekend has been productive and quiet. If I get too many phone calls or go out anywhere I can never pick up the pace until the next day. And even my little cat guys slept all day and didn't demand too much attention.

I've been practicing making collages according to Anne Bagby's video and I've been stopping and starting it all day, just to listen very carefully to what she says. The video is packed with ideas and information. It seems as if I took a course, but this is better because I can go back and watch reruns.

My goal was to understand what she does so I can take some of her ideas to incorporate into my work. I've always been fascinated by collages, but wasn't sure where to start. I've tried some, but was never 100% satisfied. The real hook for me was the stamping because I've tried to make my own stamps and have a few succesful ones, but didn't know how to really put them to their best use.

So what do you think about my little experiments? I can tell you I learned a lot! Now I'm anxious to start my five paintings for a show in January. Hmmm.....my head is spinning with ideas.

These are all about 6x14. I didn't include hands which I would have done if these were not just for learning purposes. I think I'll tack them up in the studio so I can study them for a few days. They were a heck of a lot of fun!

Is It Thursday Already?

Here is one of my miniatures which I've been working on forever. It's 4x4. I drew a portrait of a little girl I sponsor through World Vision. My idea is to use portraits of two of the girls I sponsor along with symbols of their countries ( India and Bolivia), using the colors of their national flags. Each portrait is on gallery wrapped canvas, so on the sides I first glued newspaper stock report pages and then painted over that and added national symbols on top. I did that to contrast our materialistic society with the sparse lives these girls live. Behind her head you can see part of a letter from her that I traced and stamps which I made. But.....while putting a last minute touch on her portrait, I ruined it. I have to do it all over again because I used a permanent magic marker to darken the outline of her head. Stupid, stupid. See how it bled through her shoulder? I already tried to salvage it by cutting her face and now it's uneven. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

Below is my first attempt to copy Anne's instructions on a wonderful video I bought from Creative Catalyst Productions. I want to understand everything about her method before I incorporate it into my work. Her instructions in the video couldn't have been clearer. Without a doubt, her video is well worth the money.

Of course, Ann does a lot more than I did here. I'm going to watch the video again tomorrow and add to the notes I took the first time. She shares a lot of information. She stamps over and over her stamps. Believe me, I don't in any way think my example is a hundredth as good as hers!

I'm a Little Distracted

I hope there are still some of my loyal readers out there. Last week was a little rough for me and not much art got done. And my computer is acting like it has no memory....sloooooow. . You will think I have ADD.....remember just two weeks ago when I said I'd paint a small painting each day and then I did it for all of two days? Well, that is still in my plans but I've gotten distracted by something else. I found Anne Bagby. Her work is exactly what I've had floating around in the back of my mind as I've been experimenting for about two years. She incorporates stamps and stencils ( mostly cut by herself, something I find exciting), painting, figures, and faces. All of the things I love to do!

Tomorrow I'll have something exciting to post, I promise!

Blogger Doesn't Like Me Tonight

Arrrgggh!! I'm so tired and I'm trying to post what I did from 11 to 7:30 today....long time, tiny work. This miniature stuff is takes a special kind of person. Anyway, all that work on little, teeny tiny 4x4 canvas? And it still needs some minor adjustments tomorrow.

Well, Blogger is being a pain tonight and won't upload my photos for some reason, so come back tomorrow and I'll make sure they are posted plus whatever I get accomplished tomorrow.

Inspiration

It seems as if whatever I put my hands on goes wrong this weekend. On Saturday I worked on a miniature portrait for three and a half hours and then painted over it. I've been struggling with two miniatures for weeks. There have been hours of work on them, but they sit on a shelf in my studio. Nothing has looked right to me.

Then yesterday I read an article in the September 2009 Artist's Magazine. You have to look at it! Ann Bagby shows how she put her mixed media portraits together. So I got inspired......now I would cut my own stamps and prepare a background for the miniature portraits! New energy for new work!! So far I have only cut the stamps and drawn one portrait, though I am in the middle of printing my papers. Also, when I get tired of working tiny, I'm switching off to the first of my colored pencil portraits of the most adorable twins, above.

Below is the miniature portrait, showing up about twice the size it really is.

Ahem

Today has been a full one and I was making art all day, but there is nothing to post tonight. I'm not doing so well on my painting a day promise, am I? I fully intend to paint all weekend and have paintings for every day next week, plus the two miniatures I started today and a portrait in colored pencil, started yesterday. So, come back.

Cupcakes...Mmmm

Cupcakes

11x14

Today was a lesson in humility. Apparently I needed it. When I first saw the photo for the Different Strokes From Different Folks challenge, I thought it would be a snap. No problem. Just some circles. Well, let me tell you, it kicked my butt. I'm still not happy with it and I spent way too long trying to get it right. One difficulty was the Yes canvas I used. It made the acrylics just slide around and gum up. I think the best way to approach this is with watercolors or liquid acrylics used like watercolors. So, I learned a few lessons today!

A Portrait of My Paintbrush

My Paintbrush

5x7

$45.00 + $3.00 S/H

These little paintings are what I needed to do a long time ago. What fun!

New 5x7 Painting

Strawberry Creme

5x7

$45.00 +$3.00 S/H

Email me to purchase this painting.

This was a delicious strawberry creme that was given to me for my birthday. I had to paint it fast, because I couldn't resist taking bites.

Blogger and PayPal

Forgive me for being dense. Apparently there is some secret way to add the PayPal button to a blog post, but after waiting for a representative from PayPal for 15 minutes, I still have no clue. What they said just didn't make sense, so tomorrow I will call Blogger. I have a painting to post and I'm all excited about doing it!

Under the Wire

This is me, always just squeaking by at the last minute....second. I just finished an entry for the Utrecht contest and the deadline is tomorrow. Actually, until I logged onto their site a few minutes ago, I thought the deadline was today, or I would have waited until tomorrow to finish.

Well, anyway, remember my airport painting from months ago? Don't feed bad, I almost forgot it, too. But it's now finished, ta da!

These people were waiting for a flight at the Atlanta airport last September, so if you recognize them, let me know

New Paintings, New Size

Just to let you all know.....I will be jumping into the painting a day arena starting next Monday. Every weekday I will post a new 5x7 acrylic or mixed media painting. This is a challenge I'm setting for myself and I know I will be able to achieve it. So, be sure to check back on Monday. I will be set up to take PayPal on my blog.

Good Company and Chocolate Cake

Guess what today is?

Catching Up on August Paintings

Here is another version of the vegetables I did last month, or was it the month before? Time is just slipping away.

I'm also painting two miniatures, they are both 4x4. I've only started on this. Lots of more details to come. Those are cardinals, if you were wondering. I'm using photos I took in my backyard.

I finally replaced an old etching that needs a new frame. The large one is a drawing I did a few years ago. It didn't sell in the gallery, so I took it home. The top small one is a pear by Jacqueline Gnott, which I'm very fortunate to have. And the other small one is a dog by me.

Cradled Wood Panels

Finally, these are finished. It's been weeks, really. It's just that I've been working a  little here, a little there. You know. We artists are not generally focused for long, we always have so many ideas that need attention. Well, these are 16x16, on cradled birch panels. I really like using these because in the long run, they cost less than having something framed. Even if I knew how to frame it would be a chore, I'm positive, but isn't it crazy how much it costs? Especially if you need a mat cut? The one above is just the close up of the bird, which I photographed in my yard and still can't identify. Any help?His head and neck really glistened in the sun, turning green and blue. 

Sorry about the next photo. I tried to get one of the entire thing that I could crop, but this is as good as it gets today. So, this is the partner piece, and both have orange sides, a shade lighter than the orange in the painting. In both of them, the whole piece is very glossy, and the birds are matte. I'm leaving it that way so the birds really stand out on the background.

New Collage

Blue Moon 

12x12

Collage

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

I wanted to post a little about my latest work, but I couldn't get a good photo tonight, so look for it tomorrow night. It's a quick collage I did to take to the gallery for the 'Man in the Moon' show. I also have a more serious and time intensive painting already loaded in my car. I posted it a long time ago, I think. Well, I'll have to check on that. But.....same time tomorrow....

New Work

When I was at the gallery last week I took this picture of a painting I had forgotten to photograph at home. Don't ask me where I got the idea for this one! It just evolved on it's own. And believe me, it has a history of layers there.

My friend, Christy Murray, who usually designs and makes gorgeous jewelry, made this beautiful mobile from old book pages. Isn't it simply understated elegance? This gives recycling a new watermark for artists.

I've been experimenting with mediums and this is a sort of trial painting, but several people have remarked on how much they like it. I want to learn how to make a simple frame for my canvases, the kind that is made from simple strips of wood around the sides. Does anyone have any help on that?

Finally....I'm getting this and it's twin finished. I took Uta's advice and threw some dark glaze on the heart stamps and now they are hardly visible. Thanks, Uta! All I have left to do is paint a bird on each one. 

Excuses, Excuses

Hi....I've been busy but I haven't produced any art work worth posting. I have a few things started, but nothing finished. There are three boxes, 5x7, that have been painted and had little feet added, but I can't figure out how to decorate them. I know I want to use some polymer clay, but I guess I'm stalling. And I have a painting of some daylilys but it's not finished. Also an 8x24 landscape which was based on a color scheme I saw in a magazine ad. So, I'll be back with a lot of things to post soon. I hope you are working on some exciting projects, too.

New Hand Cut Stamps

I've been busy busy cutting some new stamps to use in backgrounds or for collages. Trying all sorts of surfaces to see what works the best. So far that's Mastercarve. It's easy to cut and it prints well.

And remember my mermaid? Well, she is now a lump of clay because I was making  her too big for what I needed. More on that soon.

See the above Chinese characters? I was so careful about drawing them and then cutting them perfectly. After I printed them, I realized they are backwards! I never even thought about reversing them while drawing them. So much for my Masters degree!

Behind the Scenes

Mixed Media on Birch Panel

12x12

I've been working on a few things that are all halfway finished, so there really hasn't been anything to post. But, above, is one of two panels that I've had so much fun preparing, but now I'm stuck and can't figure out what to do next. I think it was a big mistake to use stamps, and I'll never do that again, in this way. Live and learn.

Another project has been three Ampersand Claybord boxes that I've painted and prepared for finishing. This is the rough beginning of a mermaid which will go on the top of one box. Actually, her tail might wrap around the side. This has been fun.....something out of the ordinary. About ten years ago I played around with polymer clay, made some jewelry, but was too busy teaching to put much time in it.

 As I was sitting there working I noticed the cup holding my brushes, right in front of my face, has a mermaid on it. 

Have any of you ever worked with polymer clay? Did you make anything you can post on your blog? I'd love to see what other artists are doing with it. 

Row Your Boat

This is my entry for Different Strokes From Different Folks. When I saw the photograph, I thought it would be easy, but noooooo. It was very challenging and I am not satisfied with my effort, but that's all the time I could allow for it. And sometimes it's just easier to call it quits when you only half way get there.

Moderating, Schmoderating

I have to be honest. I've posted a few times in the past three weeks; not as much as I should have, I'll give you that. But every time I checked, there were no comments. Zero. Zilch. I was wounded. I was feeling like the worst artist ever. And today a friend and I went to see the drawings and prints show we are in. Well, it was awful! My piece was placed on a small wall in a dark corner. So all afternoon I've been licking my wounds. I've been thinking that I should probably just give up the whole art thing. Maybe run off to Tiki Tiki instead. 

Well, now I checked my Dashboard here on Blogger, and saw that I had changed my settings to moderate all comments. So, of course no comments had been posted, and there were a ton of them cheering me on, giving me a pat on the back for my work. Whew!! I'm so relieved. Thank you, all of my friends. I need you. I guess we all need each other.

Spring Evening

Mixed Media on Birch Panel

18x18

EEEEEKK!!! Is Someone At the Door?

You know those days when you don't plan to go out, you don't plan on seeing anybody, you just plan to paint? Well, that was today. Of course I didn't put any make up on and I left my hair in a sort of bed head style. So naturally my good looking neighbor came over to help me put out the trash. I could have died. No, I take that back. I was just embarrassed, you know?

These are two of the four little paintings I worked on today and when I finished them, it occurred to me that a better idea would have been to paint them as one large painting that could be hung together or separately.

8x8

Gallery Wrap Canvas

8x8 Gallery Wrap Canvas

 I started two 12x12s and I'm almost finished with an 18x18 piece. I bought some birch cradled panels to experiment with. These are the first I've tried and I might get them posted tomorrow.

New Acrylic Paintings

Botanical Mysteries

18x18

Acrylic

I've been really busy, and I've been here, lurking around other artists blogs, but I haven't taken time to post anything.   

The painting above is one I've been experimenting with, using Patti Brady's book, Rethinking Acrylics. The book is chock full of ways to use acrylics and mediums to make a big impact. In my painting there are about ten ( I lost count) layers of paint and glazes, pours, and drawings. It doesn't photograph well, but in person you can see the faint hint of gold and other subtle color changes. It was an energizing work for me to get lost in. Next time I will not be so restrained, I promise.

Garden Fresh

10x8

Acrylic

This little painting is my entry for Different Strokes From Different Folks. The painting just flowed until I hit that #%&*$ onion! I kept painting and repainting, trying to get the lost edge just right until I was so tired that I called it quits. 

Thanks for hanging in there with me, all of my friends. I think this was the longest I've ever gone without a post, and I'll try to not let that happen again. 

Different Strokes

Finally!! I have another submission for Karin Jurick's blog, Different Strokes From Different Folks. The focus of her photo was the barn, but I decided to paint to the right of that, and leave the barn out. I hope she okays it for her blog. I don't usually paint landscapes, so it was a good exercise for me.

Wait til you see what I've been working on!

A Confession

OK. I have to tell the truth. I find flowers to be the most boring things to paint in the world. I love looking at them, but really, I prefer faces.

Poppies, Days One and Two

Here are some of the little poppy studies I've been working on. This is totally for practice, an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. After using acrylics, I also went over them with some pens, oil pastels, and markers. They are so unlike my style, but that's good. I always want to have a detailed drawing to work over, but this time I didn't. Tomorrow.....more poppies. But more close up.

Poppies

Last weekend my son Adam and I spent time with my sister and her family at her little farm in northern Virginia. I took loads of photos of the gorgeous flowers she had growing all along one of the picket fences that surround the backyard area. I have given myself an assignment, because I feel so unfocused and can't decide what to work on next. My assignment is to only work on the poppies all week, and I can paint or draw or whatever I feel like. Today I started on some small studies in paint, and I also prepared some papers to use during the week. So check back on Tuesday ( I'm working at school tomorrow) to see what I've done. 

Baby Smiles

Sorry, no art to post today, although I'm working on several things. 

I didn't get to see my daughter for Mother's Day, but I did get to enjoy it with one of my sons. We had a great time at a cookout to welcome my new nephew. 

I just had to post a few cute pictures. This is my little granddaughter last week. Notice the dimple on the left cheek.

This is how my daughter spent her first Mothers' Day. Isn't my granddaughter adorable? And they even have matching bathing suits. 

Baby Paintings

Every moment I've had to spare this week has been spent painting some work to hang in babies' rooms. This weekend I'm going to visit my sister and her new grandchildren and my nieces who have come home from Iraq and Nicaragua. The babies are cousins, they are really my great niece and great nephew, but I just call them my niece and nephew. They were born a day apart and they aren't even a month old yet. I can't wait to snuggle them. These are the paintings I made for them, and the monkey has a partner piece. These were a struggle for me because I have no imagination for things like this.

Williamsburg and Hampton Roads

I have nothing to show for artwork today, but I'm posting some shots from a trip my friend Ilse and I took to Williamsburg a few weeks ago. We went to get reference material for more paintings, and I'm not sure what I'm going to use, but we got so many great shots its hard to choose. If you've never been there, try to plan a trip. In fact, if you plan a week or more in the Hampton Roads area, you'll fill up every day with trips to Jamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg ( I think you need at least two days there to see it all), Busch Gardens, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. 

Lots of families rent or make costumes for their children to wear, which must make the children feel like they are really there in 1780. It's such an educational place for everyone. I learn something every time I go. And the best part for me, a Virginia resident who lives only a half hour away, is that I can go and browse around all of the outdoor areas for free! 

It's really fun to interact with all of the costumed Revolutionary characters. Also, there's a moving outdoor drama which takes place on the main street area each afternoon.

Carriages, carts, and market wagons drive all around the streets. No cars, though!

A New Painting

What could be more interesting than some squirrel watching? These guys sit here a lot and watch the show in the backyard. 

Shout 1

24x18

I've been working with my acrylics, I've painted over a number of things, and I feel like I can't possibly turn out paintings like I do drawings. They are always going to look like they came from two different people. Here's my new one, and tomorrow I'll get back to my self portrait in colored pencils. Acrylics lend themselves to experimentation, and I've been observing what effects I get by glazing different color combinations. This looks luminous in person. I'd love to hear what you think about this piece. Please leave a comment. Thanks.

Self Portrait Progress

Last week I mentioned that I had begun a new blog, Artists Paint Themselves,  to showcase artists' self portraits. I've had a lot of great responses and they are there for you to view. Today Katherine Tyrrell has mentioned it on her well known art blog Making a Mark. Please take a look at Artists Paint Themselves, and if you have a self portrait, just email me and we'll get it posted. Thanks!

As you can see, hardly anything has been done this past week. I just couldn't get focused. Today seems better, and I've begun two paintings. I'll tackle this later this week.

Announcement!!

I'm so excited!! I have started another blog and I hope all of my friends out there will take a look and then jump in and email me your work. The title is Artists Paint Themselves. The purpose is to share self portraits, not just ones done as mature artists, but some showing how we got to where we are. Please check it out. 

11x14

And speaking of......I've begun another self portrait. This is how far I've gotten. It seems like I'm jumping all over the place on this one. This is all colored pencils. I'd love some feedback.

Advice From My Father

My Dad has been gone almost two years now, but every once in a while I can hear his voice giving some advice I have already heard but chosen to ignore.  So I guess he hasn't given up on me and he has decided to keep after me until I listen. I'm making a point here, so hang on.

I've fortunately been able to stock my little studio with everything I want. Not that I have lots of money, I don't. It's just where I like to spend it. I have all kinds of professional grade materials ( except oils, bad experience in college).  I have polymer clay, linoleum blocks, and other types of printing blocks, five brands of colored pencils, probably over 100 art books, all kinds of collage materials, loads of acrylics and mediums, three table easels, jewelry findings, and anything else Dick or Jerry sell.

 I get so enthused about using all of my materials and I start and stop all kinds of projects at one time. When I start a project I quickly lose interest if it isn't up to my standard right away. (I've read this is a first child trait.)

 This is where my Dad comes in. This morning his voice said 'Find one thing you're good at and you enjoy doing and keep doing it until you are the best in your field. Then other people will come to you.'

Well, he's right. I can't do everything and do it all really well. So I think I'll concentrate on the colored pencils and acrylics and not think about all the other fun goodies I have. This is just for today, or maybe this month.

Oh, wait! Those little girls at the top? They're here because I've always wanted to write a childrens' book. See? I need to narrow my focus. ;-)

More Scratchboard

Kitchen Orchid

7x5

This morning I was so eager to finish this.....it was a learning experience. I did find some beautiful scratchboard art at these sites. Greg Murray, Sally Maxwell, Bob Goudreau, Norman Gadinni, Denise Des Lauriers, and Jeanine Nahra. Take a look. 

Now I'm off to my studio to probably get paint or glue on another piece of clothing. I can't remember what famous artist said this, but it so applies to all of us. "I only have two kinds of pants, ones that have paint on them, and ones that will have paint on them."