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Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
Northern Delights 02, 24H x 36W inches acrylics on canvas, adhered to a 36H x 48W x 1D inches canvas. Mask/resist medium was used to maintain white spaces and pure colors in both sections.
The central painting was started in 2006, and the framing was resolved today – a perfect example where some paintings just need to hang around for a while before they are well and truly finished. The scene of the central painting is extended onto the larger canvas, initially intended to have the same style. However, after stopping for a coffee break then coming back with fresh eyes, I actually like the clash of styles. I always say that art is the best place to exhibit any rebellious tendencies! Besides, formal frames can sometimes cut off the energy of a composition too abruptly. Every painting does not need a frame, but finishing the edges should always be considered.
A continuing saga
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
“This could be your last chance, Sweets. I’m moving on up to Oregon.”
The Studio Affair saga on previous blog posts: October 20th, 2009, October 28th, 2008 , October 30th, 2007
That’s right, me and all the skeletons in my closet are moving to Oregon, so the painting now is all about walls. I’ve bought a small 4 x 6 sketchbook, hoping to sneak in some time to do a few thumbnail drawings of my travels this year.
The past six months: starting with driving up to Madison, Wisconsin at the end of April to set up the Dancing With Trees Exhibition. After the show opening, it was back to Dallas then shortly afterward to Singapore for 3 weeks. That was amazing! Two days after returning from Singapore I drove up to Ottawa, Ontario to visit our sons. At the end of June, I then drove back down through Michigan to meet my internet artist-friend, Virginia Wieringa (triple amazing!) then across to Wisconsin to pack and pick up the DWT show, then through Chicago to drop off Morning Light 01, through the U.S. Midwest and back to Dallas.
Two weeks later I drove up through Oklahoma and North Dakota into Saskatchewan, then into Alberta to visit family. I took so many photos on the drive east across Canada two weeks later (mostly tree photos of course), through the prairies and the Great Lakes region back to Ontario, where I stayed for another 2 weeks. Then back down to Dallas again! During September we found out that my husband is transferred to Portland, Oregon for work. So the first week of October we both drove west in separate cars, across the Continental Divide, in awe of the gorgeous red rocks and incredible geography in AZ and Utah, finally reaching our future home west of the Columbia River Gorge, and just east of the Pacific Ocean shores and north of the Sequoia and Redwood forests. I drove back to Dallas with a truck and trailer to refill, and will make the trip across only one more time before winter – hopefully the weather holds up. I’m excited to get to work again after such a crazy year of travel – lots of inspiration.
Mary Ann Pel’s Bench
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
Mary Ann’s Bench, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper
Illustration of a bench dedicated to a client’s sister by the staff at the University Arboretum, Madison, Wisconsin
Morning Light – commission for a second version
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
Above: Sept. 12th detail
Morning Light 02, above: upper detail of 60H x 40W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas in progress, commissioned work (NFS)
Phase 01, 03 and 07 show various changes and adjustments made as I attempt to paint Morning Light 02 as close as possible to the original version. As this is a unique individual painting in its own right, copying is not the goal. As work progresses, the most important thing is to find the same light and ethereal qualities as in the first version.
On exhibit
Friday, July 9th, 2010
On exhibit at Oxide Gallery, Denton, TX are: Milkweed Melody, 27H x 33W inches framed Oil Pastels on WC paper, has brassy-gold frame painted with an extension of the drawing. Bonsai Garden, 12 x 15 inches graphite on paper, and Lilacs, 36 x 24 x 2 inches acrylics on canvas, gallery wrapped sides painted, narrow frame, which can be displayed horizontally or vertically.
Stars and Fireflies
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Home from Singapore for a few days, and having to go north to pack up the Dancing With Trees exhibition, I drove up to Ontario first so I could see my sons in Canada before Christmas. At night in the fields and trees from Tennessee to Michigan there are stars and fireflies in the trees – so magical! Until I can express it in paint, here is a quick photoshop impression.
Golden Lotus Banana Flower
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Dwarf Yellow / Golden Lotus Banana Flower, Botanic Gardens in Singapore, 9H x 12W” graphite on paper with 11H x 14W inch white mat. These blossoms were about 14 inches across. Exotic and unusual!
Lilacs
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Lilacs, 36H x 24W x 2D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted, narrow frame tidies edges. Hang vertically or horizontally.
Process details, left: a damp cloth is used to remove areas of wet paint to soften and create texture, also dripping water over damp paint and scratching with fingernail under a cloth. Sturdy home-built stretcher frame. The painting can hang horizontally or vertically.
Basic Drawing workshops in May
Monday, April 26th, 2010
Iris, 24 x 18 inches Oil Pastels on paper
Basic Drawing and Color Play
Workshops
Dates:
1) Saturday, May 15th 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2) Saturday, May 22nd 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ages: Young adult (16) – Adult – Seniors
Experience Level:
Beginners to Experienced Artists, maximum number of participants: 6
The Workshop:
We will sketch simple objects using a variety of loosening-up techniques, graduating to a more complex still-life arrangement, fun with color, then a longer study period in the afternoon.
Supplies:
Bring favorite reference photos or items that you’d like to study, sketchpad and supplies that you usually work with. A variety of papers and drawing supplies will be on hand to experiment with during class. Also bring beverage and lunch.
Fees:
Registration (pre-paid) – $50.00 Oxide Gallery 501 West Hickory St., Denton, Texas 940-483-8900
Registration Deadlines:
March 12th and March 19th – Maximum Students per Class 6
Norway Maple: finished, combined posts
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Norway Maple, 36H x 48W x 3D inches acrylics, gel paste on canvas, wrapped sides painted, navy colored narrow frame.
Thumbnails: Combined, edited posts of progression between Dec. 8th, 2009 – March, 2010. Started December 8th, 2009: modeling gel is available in varied textures, finishes and viscosity. Acrylics paint can be mixed with the medium or when dry paint can be applied over top. 3) January 18th, 2010: applying modeling paste to the base painting and sculpting with a small trowel.
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Jan. 28th:– used a dry brush so paint would catch mostly on the textures, and kept the feeling soft. Intentions are to maintain the fresh pure colors. Studied from a distance for about a week after this stage to contemplate what the next move will be.
Feb. 27th: lighter background colors were added in order to open up the space.
Feb. 28th: Adding a solid patch of turquoise to lower left and some tiny details like that may ground the whole thing, but that’s about it; am leaving it out of sight for a while. This really is a carnival of color, I love it!
March 9th: Subtle changes since last post…have been working more on tones in the background which weren’t planned initially; I had hoped to use only pure colors without the usual layering, but it’s otherwise too hard to look at. Also am connecting a few shapes horizontally, and it’s almost “there”, but ‘2D Pinecone’ was started in the meantime to avoid overworking this.
March 6th: Thanks, Virginia for taking the time to write and digitize a detailed, objective critique. I sure appreciate your opinion about what might improve this.