Archive for April, 2008
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Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
Artini, 24 x 24 inches Acrylics on canvas. Rubbing white with a damp cloth over the textured surface, I can apply this technique to the next painting. This is serious play! The painting Artini and another recent one, Myrtle At The Zoo illustrate that: whether seasoned or just beginning, an Artist needs to stay open all the time to media-exploration and self-discovery. Even if it’s been tried many times before, there are a lot of little tricks that are easier to try out on less serious paintings, enabling more confidence when trying them out on work with higher cost of materials and time-investment. Experimenting and exploration result in knowledge and experience of the properties of various media; learning about yours and the media’s potential and limitations.
Woven canvas
Sunday, April 27th, 2008
I started covering the new stretcher-frames we built last week. Leftover canvas was cut and ironed into strips about 1″ wide, then woven across a 24 x 24 inch stretcher. I have a few ideas, and will start painting this one when Artini is finished.
Artini, Shaken Not Stirred
Friday, April 25th, 2008
Left: detail of Artini – I Like My Art Shaken Not Stirred – 24 x 24 inches Acrylics on stretched canvas. Work in progress. The cream-colored background here is not part of the painting – the square canvas is hung sideways as a diamond shape on the wall.
Little green feet
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
I see more little green feet in our future…
Single eggs, .25 inches small, are laid every two weeks between March – October and abandoned, hatching after 5-7 weeks.
Every day is Earth Day
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
Caring. It’s that simple.
For facts about Green Anoles and other reptile care and conservation: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Anole.cfm
Bearded Iris, plein air painting
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
Bearded Iris – painted plein air – 44 x 18 inches Acrylics on stretched canvas.
Plein air, progression of Bearded Iris.
I could no longer avoid the subject of Iris – have always thought the subject to be too cliche - but they are blooming crazily in our garden this week, and I have taken far too many photos of them that don’t quite satisfy me. This variety actually blooms an unprecidented 3 times a year here! Some of the flower stalks grow well over three feet tall, with six or seven large five and a half inch blooms.
I started with a moody dark against light high-contrast painting in mind, but noticed after the 3rd stage (see above) how restricted I started feeling, and likewise, it showed as pretentious in the work. I realized there are a lot of limitations I impose subconsciously and consciously, (like do paint this, don’t paint that), preventing me from having a really great time painting.
In the garden
Saturday, April 19th, 2008
My hopes are that the Anoles will expand their family here, and that they eat fire ants!
Portulaca: low-maintenance, sun-thriving, cheerful colors.
Homemade garden sculpture of a heron, which I replenish the shape continually throughout the year with branches, vines, and grasses. This morning: a sparrow borrows some material for its’ nest.
White Pine Bows
Friday, April 18th, 2008
White Pine Bows, 20 x 34 x 1.5 inches Acrylics on wrapped canvas. Some paintings take a long time and change dramatically from start to finish…others have a clear direction and seem to flow out in a day, as this one did; sensing I need to quit while I’m ahead and not overwork it.
Post-dated note: accepted in Visual Arts Society of Texas’ 125 Show July 24th – August 15, 2008.
January 2009: A poem inspired by White Pine Bows
by Debby Davis, Oct. 2008
Fragile notes fracture light into rainbow,
Bouncing branch to bough within stiff white pines,
finding my eyes uplifted; what a show!
Violinist gently pulls; taut bow whines.
Bouncing branch to bough within stiff white pines,
like the beat of an orchestra playing.
Violinist gently pulls; taut bow whines
raining harmonies; colors displaying.
Like the beat of an orchestra playing,
my thumping heart strings tug me into now!
raining harmonies; colors displaying,
I am an audience of one somehow.
My thumping heart strings tug me into now!
It is the secret that only I shall know.
I am an audience of one somehow.
Fragile notes fracture light into rainbow.
Storm clouds
Friday, April 18th, 2008
Here are some beautiful but omenous clouds in front of a major storm that just hit Mineral Wells, west of Fort Worth, with baseball-sized hail.
The changing state of the oceans
Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
Bull Sharks swim overhead in a 40 foot long tunnel in the main floor Mundo Maya exhibit at the Dallas World Aquarium.
Environmental issues are emotional issues. Groups like Greenpeace work aggressively to protect the future of our planet. It’s one way to get the point across, but if we’re talking about changing the habits of the masses, I believe a more gentle approach is in order. As one who was most assertively involved promoting care for the planet about 15 years ago, I noticed first-hand public reactions and feedback demonstrated that negativity toward the human species does not inspire or motivate some of us to take action; in fact it can be detrimental to the cause.
Not to be passive by any means, there are small things the average person can contribute at any level, habit and practices which, by now most of us are aware of. Zoos, major city aquariums, botanical gardens and similar public places progressively encourage a keener awareness of ourselves in relation to the Earth and its creatures, but in an experiential way that permanently affects our perception of life in general. We start incorporating more mindful habits because we want to, not because we are being told we should.
For information about the changing state of the oceans, here is a link to a petition gathering support to increase marine reserves.
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