Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Gratitude and a link
FASO, (my website provider), randomly selects and posts one of my artworks. Today it was "Gratitude," a plein air pastel of the garden outside my Studio. It is tucked away somewhere in my flat files but I was happy to see it again online.
If you have time, take a look at A follow-up to my last post on my Golden Years blog.
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Saturday, April 30, 2022
AIS 2nd Annual Associate Member Online Exhibition
Very happy to be included in the American Impressionist Society 2nd Annual Associate Member Online Exhibition. Take a look here.
Friday, April 22, 2022
Heartsong Revisited
About a year ago I completed a pastel painting, framed it and hung it in the guest bathroom. Today I unframed it and fixed a small area that has been bugging me.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Studio Stuff Sale
Thursday, March 31, 2022
March! Spring is springing
Monday, February 28, 2022
Every Day Mocha Moment
In follow up to yesterday's post, here are the first two steps of today's painting. These paintings aren't completed in one day but I will need 10 - 12 of them in about 8 weeks so my goal is to start a new one each day or two. After the blue pastel pencil sketch, the acrylic foundation is next, then to the oil easel for a couple sessions. After that, each painting will sit (and dry) while I figure out what to do with it next.
Sunday, February 27, 2022
My Every Day Project
My horoscope today tells me to write my story and share it; add illustrations. So, here I am this Sunday morning to share the backstory of my latest series, Every Day. This project will take me into gardening season so I have about 6 weeks to develop it. It is a body of work of every day still life scenes from where I live, Mill Pond Cottage.
Each of us has had an opportunity over the past two years of COVID to enjoy more time in our personal spaces - not just our studios but whatever encompasses what we call home. I believe it is important to express gratitude and appreciation for every-day small pleasures. For an artist, many of those pleasures are visual.
These still life paintings may be the lead-in to a series of interiors, something I've wanted to do for a few years. There just aren't enough hours and/or energy in the day and life gets in the way. Well, that's the my current story.
And, now a few illustrations.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
The Meet Me There Project Wrap-up
I've been working on my "Meet Me There Project" most of the month and it has been a good way to loosen up at the beginning of a new painting year. But suddenly, it is nearly the end of January and I have to move on to other commitments. These mini pastels can be viewed larger by clicking on the group image or by visiting my website.
Saturday, January 15, 2022
The Meet Me There Project
A new project for the new year! Mini landscape memory paintings in pastel. Each painting is pastel, 3.5 x 5.5 inches, matted, and ready for a standard 5x7 frame with glass. Free shipping within USA. We each have memories of places we've been, real or imagined. Sometimes, we see them as we are drifting off to sleep.
The "Meet Me There" project: I've just completed number 8 of 25.
Friday, December 31, 2021
Happy New Year 2022
Today is the last day of 2021 - a year of challenges, even in the Studio. This year I finally addressed my long-time issues with the acrylic medium. I changed my attitude, changed my working environment to give the medium more respect and committed to a thirty-artwork challenge on 6x6 inch panels that I called "The Acrylic Project." It was so much fun that after the first thirty, I painted another 15. After the first few faltering steps, my new attitude kicked in and I had an amazing experience. I've never painted so quickly or sold so quickly. Thanks to everyone who supported my experiment. I still have a few available for purchase if you would like a momento from 2021. The Acrylic Project.
I view acrylic as a playful medium, a way to sketch with paint. I love the loose, fresh result and have given some thought to how I can incorporate acrylic into my work that is larger in scale, and more contemplative; a complete thought rather than a quick impression. In the coming year, I plan to continue using acrylic as my foundation/impression and oil as my resolution/completion.
Just before the pandemic, I delivered a series of oil still life paintings to one of my galleries. Then, COVID. Recently I picked up the work from the gallery and selected a couple of the paintings for rework. One of them was "Tomato Time," oil, 20x16 inches. I feel I can improve on the composition and brushwork.
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Thankful
Leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner wait in the refrigerator as we begin to decorate the Christmas tree. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for family, friends, good health, and I'm thankful for those of you who still read my blog after thirteen years - my first post was January 2008. You can see my first blog post here.
Tomorrow, I will add the final painting from The Acrylic Project 2021 to my website. Here are the paintings that are still available, for you or as a gift for someone else. I am happy to ship your purchase (free) to another US address.
Friday, October 29, 2021
All Together Now...
A couple weeks ago I received a gift bouquet from my niece. It is almost ready for the compost but before the flowers are gone I'll use them as subjects for more small acrylic paintings.
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Mid October check-in
Does anyone read blogs anymore? I wonder. Am I writing this for you or for me? For both of us I think because I plan to read this blog when I am old. When I am old...ha! This is my birthday month and as always, a time of introspection for me.
This morning I spent some time with "Monet at Étretat" (a gift from My Biggest Fan) and though I got only as far as the Director's Foreword by Amada Cruz, already I have come to meaningful words that apply to me.
Cruz writes that Monet's time at Étretat was a difficult personal and professional endeavor whose outcome was uncertain and that he was initially unsatisfied with his work. There is loneliness in a quest to forge new artistic territory in an authentic and meaningful way. I am reminded that as artists, we share a common bond of creativity and all its challenges and joys. Though I am alone in my Studio today, trying to figure out what to do with a painting that has been waiting resolution for many months, I feel kinship with all artists, including Monet. It comforts and reassures me.
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Another attitude adjustment
I have fancy plein air equipment that I have collected over the years. It is in nearly new condition because though I've used it occasionally with pastel, oil, and even watercolor, I have not become a fan of painting plein air. Or, at least I wasn't until today.
This morning I took my Open Box M (recently converted to hold a State-Wet palette for acrylic) outside the Studio to the flower garden. There isn't much left out there except the sunflower sentinels with their bowed heads.
After painting the small floral still life set-ups in my studio for the past couple months, this open-air experience was unexpectedly freeing. Wheee! What fun. Big brush, big strokes. Surprisingly, by the time I had had enough (about 15 minutes) I was happy with the result and was feeling I may have found the plein air medium that suits me. A couple things contributed to success:
1. The goal was to paint an image that will inform a larger, Studio work.
2. I like to paint fast and acrylic dries quickly so I can make corrections and adjustments. And, I don't have to stand at my easel outdoors very long (I'd rather be weeding).
Monday, September 20, 2021
Wax and Buff
Friday, September 17, 2021
The end of the Acrylic Project.
Thanks everyone for your support of my 30-painting Acrylic Project. Here are the paintings that went to new homes. A couple went into the trash and a few more have an undecided fate.