AN ARTIST FINDS HER GROOVE

Once upon a time an artist had a large canvas which had been a Rothko like experiment. It never  went anywhere so consider it a canvas ground color to try my new expressionist style.

I am attracted to the 1930-1950 fashion so I research some photos on Morguefile.com which share free photos for artists. 

Ground colors.

Here is a photo of my painting almost finished . Can you see the ground color peeking through the blue sky?

#2   Almost there.

#1

Final painting.

To complete the lady reading I added a stylized sky and added some shadows. This was never meant to be a realistic painting merely a personal interpretation.

 I  discovered that I am happiest when painting with lots of color and the freedom to do just as I please. 

Expressionism is not tied to perfect perspective, perfect value or perfect local color. I like mixed media with stenciling and the addition of papers to my work and I like painting people.

So now what do I do with this enlightenment? 

Just paint and enjoy the journey.

TALE OF AN ART STUDIO; GOING INTO THE CLOSET.

Who says one needs more wardrobe storage? For me, clothes not so much, but art supplies and art business stuff.... oh yeah.

I have reorganized my 10x12 bedroom studio at least 50 times! My mind functions best in organization and all of it is labeled (so I can find it). My daughter gave me a labeler for a gift many years ago and it has been well used.

No clothes in the closet.

I have a wooden table that just fit into the closet space so that became computer headquarter, bill paying and canvas storage. A wooden shoe rack made a great canvas storage if they are turned on end. Next I went to Target for some wire closet organizers. These hang down from the  wire shelf rack that was in the closet; always looking for the use of vertical space.

Repurposed book shelves.
Once again I have stored things up to the ceiling, labeled them and reorganize when I see a more efficient way to do things. 

Drafting table by the window.

Did you notice the beads at the window? I got them at a flea market and just had to have them. In my studio anything goes; carpet has been trashed with splattered paint, I painted big polka dots on the walls for color and you did see the beads.  This is my fun spot.

Repurposed sewing table.

One of the best things I did was create a larger surface area to work on. It was always on a time consuming search and find while creating a new painting. My windmill easel is in the middle of the room which takes up the free space to move about easily but after numerous relocation tries that seems to be the best location. In a corner the light was bad, straight in front of the window there is a light glare and my body casts a shadow on the painting surface.

If you are thinking of buying a windmill easel please note that it needs a larger space than my small bedroom/studio. No regrets, it is great to be able to turn the painting 360 degrees and it will lay flat if you want to work on a mixed media piece.

Wishing you painting bliss.

GET YOUR WORK OUT THERE!

SAFARI- PANDA BEAR

Look at that face....what's not to love?

     OK, so I will do the show circuit again. I have decided to do a few select shows with the Vero Beach Art Club and one guest artist spot with Main Street Vero Beach Gallery.

     Panda Bear will be exhibited at the Museum of Art with other club members in our annual Invitational Member's Show.  September 12th through October 17th.

LOCATION: The exhibit is located in the Hazel Education Studio Gallery of the Vero Beach Museum of Art. The gallery is located immediately to your right as you pass the welcome desk. Entrance to the gallery is free of charge.

HAPPY TO DONATE TO A GOOD CAUSE

     Vero Beach is a great place to live with a caring community for so many worthy causes. I was contacted asking if I would donate to a silent auction to benefit the Polio Plus event sponsored by our local Rotary Club. 

Happy to do so!

                                               OKTOBERFEST 2016

                                             Indian River Rotary Club

                                                       October 1st

                                        4-9 Riverhouse, Vero Beach, Fl.

                                      FUNDRAISER FOR POLIO PLUS.

     I decided to donate one of my impressionistic pieces titled "Orange Poppies". Here's hoping it finds a good home and it raises many dollars for the cause.

ONE STROKE PAINTING- AGAIN

 

                                                                                                                                                                         Page 122 in Daily Painting by Carol Marine. I am attempting to reign in my impatient, impulsive painting technique to a more planned one. Took a tomato from the kitchen which will be in a salad tonight, set it up with lighting and colored background papers. I read Carol's instructions like a recipe beginning with the paint set up. Warm and cool of the three primaries with mixtures of each to create secondaries. My hope is that a limited palette when stop me from using every pretty color my eyes sees.

After sketching the subject onto a canvas I started with the #1 spot with pure color, a warm red. Get in, get out with one stroke. Then onto the #2- #5 colors added to the tomato painting.

 

I have broken the one stroke rule already, don't like my carefully chosen colors and think the whole thing is boring.

What's an artist to do? I am going to step away from the book and paint like I'm enjoying it.

The results will either be wonky or a reject.
Nice to have choices.

Day two: cleaned two bathrooms, unloaded dishwasher plus reloaded dishwasher, finally let's go to the studio for a re-do of the amateurish tomato.

I repainted the background with left overs on the palette and then went to town. In a very short time I painted the following. Quick and dirty, it just happened:)

1

2

  

Finished

This is more my style. 

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

1

Once upon a time an artist took a used painting with visions of a new figure scape. She turned the canvas vertical instead of the previous horizontal ocean format and sketched in the forms. Then she kept adding and adding until it was over worked and nothing like the spontaneous expressionistic style she was after.

2

3

 What to do? Get frustrated with all the hours put into a mess then regroup and wait for a new idea to appear. On the way to a volunteer function I thought about "Many Shades of Gray".

4

 Here is my first quick painting; should I stop before I repeat the same dilemma? Third layer of paint, frustration growing then I happen to look at the back of the canvas. It looks old and spotty, not the quality I strive for so....another one bites the dust. 
It is sitting in the garage next to the garbage bin.

This happens to the best of us:(

5

GO WONKY OR GO HOME!

1

Now I am focusing on the works Anne Obrien Gonzalez from her DVD on Expressive Still Life. Looking around the house I pulled out my Fiesta water pitcher, a tin can plus a pair of fish salt and pepper shakers.

First Anne placed various papers on a pre stained canvas which had a simple sketch on it. I tend to use good old fashioned white chalk to make my initial sketches. It rubs off easily as I change my mind a hundred times.

2

My goal was a complementary color theme using lavenders and yellows. Originally the pitcher was empty but that looked unbalanced so what flowers would fit into my plan? Lilacs! 

No lilacs near by so I googled a photo and faked the rest. I used small circle stamps & lacy rice papers to help enhance the lilac feel.   

Just relax and get "wonky" as Anne would say.

3

Step 3 is too bland but step 4  kicks it up a notch.

Turn up the music in the studio, dance around a bit and then have faith in myself.

 Wonky enough?