Archive for October, 2007
« Previous EntriesPolypore Fungi (WIP)
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
The 3D fungi idea was fun to try. I ended up carving the modeling paste and plaster, because it was so goopy and hard to manage wet.
‘Tis the season
Tuesday, October 30th, 2007
Changes to Polypore Fungi
Monday, October 29th, 2007
I discovered that thick modeling paste can’t be sanded, so smoothed over areas of the modeled fungi with drywall compound.. sanding, scraping and defining these areas.
Polypore Fungi - WIP
Monday, October 22nd, 2007
Polipore Fungi - 59 H x 41 W x 2 D Phase 3
(Work In Progress)
Oct. 22: Acrylics painting started in June, hung and studied in the loose-phase state; cautious about overworking it. Plans this week: most everything will stay out of focus, with details only on the fungi (starting that next), using a little modeling paste to sculpt the fungi.
Oct.23: Modeling paste applied in layers - dried, then gradually sanded into shape.
Water strider
Sunday, October 21st, 2007
Watching the water striders in the pond in our back yard, and the perception changed a little, like it does seeing the expanse of the Grand Canyon or driving toward mountains. Interesting that something alive is so weightless, yet with enough mass to be able to walk on water.
Dandelions
Friday, October 19th, 2007
Dandelions - 16 x 20 inches Acrylics on stretched canvas. Dark brown stain, maple wood frame with red trim design. Total size 22 x 28 inches.
Tulips as a title would have been too obvious. Dandelions are persistent. Likewise, I’m pleased to have persevered through the course of painting this one; it went through many changes and I learned a lot.
Gradual build-up of textures and colors, layers of piling on, scrubbing off, and reapplying paint are what made this work interesting to work on, and looking closely at the details, those parts show through.
Popular advice is to say quit and start another when a painting isn’t working out, especially if it’s past it’s supposed prime. While that advice might work for some, there’s a lot to be accomplished through perseverence, especially if you have a strong feeling that there’s something more to strive for. We sense intuitively when work has lost hope and if it’s finished or not. Each piece is unique, and we really have to trust ourselves and what’s happening in the work itself.
Painting with pure color in Firewheels, plus grey scale drawing earlier this year really contributed to finding a way to finish this painting. (more…)
Firewheels - Day 2
Saturday, October 13th, 2007
4. Firewheels 18 x 24 x 2 inches Acrylics, finished
Post-dated note: This painting was accepted into The 23rd Texas & Neighbors Regional Art Exhibition, April 26 - May 24, 2008. Opening & Awards ceremony April 27, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Irving Arts Center, Irving, TX.
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2.The masking medium was rubbed off, revealing marks that were hardly noticeable when placing them there (applied with a toothpick). The abstract scribbles are interesting; the fresh pure life in both marks and color will stay.
3. I’ve set a time limit for this one for the end of today, something I don’t normally do, but the restrictions should ensure that it doesn’t get overworked.
4. Finished. All the drawing done recently with details, perfection and tones in mind is almost the opposite of this painting in every way. Feeling successful in that I was able to stay away from the desire to perfect everything, because the original intention was to loosen up, grab some life, and create an impressionistic pure color painting.
Firewheels - WIP
Friday, October 12th, 2007
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1. Started a small painting last night that I’ve been wanting to do since Spring, of Firewheels (Gaillardia). Masses of them come back every Spring in a nearby feild. I started with dots of masking medium, and am fascinated these days with dripping water over damp paint…also determined with this one to maintain the very loose open brushstrokes and marks.
DWT - work in progress
Tuesday, October 9th, 2007
Dancing With Trees is an example of work that does not reflect the original vision I had.
I’m not giving up on this one even though it’s kind of past its prime.. in photos you can’t feel the presence of its size. This happened with the 8′ Sun Shower too…feeling that I’m on to something here even if I can’t get it to work in this particular painting. As with a few other recent paintings, I think the ambition about the subject overtook the wisdom to see when it was finished…rather, back when it was acceptable as finished. I’m looking for paintings to be more than acceptable though, so I’m not giving up on this one; how will I ever know if I don’t try and make them so? Failure still has potential for success when you try to do something about it. Most paintings need a rest period. I might take the palette knife to it…
Acceptance
Monday, October 8th, 2007
… a word about competitions, online galleries and juried exhibitions…
Acceptance by peers means a lot to Artists because most of us work alone. Accepted works or not, honest feedback and interaction with those who also love what they do, know what they are talking about and enjoy discussing it is always beneficial. If a juried exhibition is local and you’re able to attend, there you see other Artists’ works in person. We encourage each other, and an honest critique goes a long way. Honest critique and rejection of work entered into shows can also be useful; any kind of response offers chances to reconsider details and the direction of our work, and what we might or might not change in order to have it be more successful. (in the eyes of the public and/or as personal challenge).
Three works accepted into Artjury.com’s 2007 Fall / Winter National Online Juried Exhibition: Galahs in Traffic, Mayan Bowl Chair, and Linden Sunset. The Award winning Mayan Bowl Chair won placed Second in the3D Category at the Grand Prairie Arts Council Juried Exhibition and Sale Sept./Oct 2007.