I SHOWED UP FOR THE BALL GAME!

Just because I was taking a break from blogging it doesn't mean I took a break from painting. Here is a painting of my granddaughter which will be a gift to her parents.

My title; "I Showed up for the Ball Game", means that I took 4 paintings into a local co-op art gallery to be judged in the hope that I may join as a member. They were very gracious telling me not at this time and were honest enough to share the group critique. I need to get a body of work that is cohesive of my own distinct style. That critique was sincerely appreciated.

If you read my prior blogs it becomes apparent that I have been searching for  this artistic identity and will continue to do so. I asked myself what do I find the most joy in painting? Not the subject matter but the style of painting...at the moment I have answered impressionism or abstract expressionistic. The only problem is that many of the gallery members are doing the same style and I need to find a different interpretation so that my work stands out in the crowd of other wonderful painters.

I now have a specific goal. All of the swirling possibilities are slowly being narrowed down and that is progress, for this I am pleased.

TOUCH OF WHIMSY

     I know I am on break but this bit of whimsy just popped out of me. It will be a holiday/ house warming  gift within the family.

PAINT AND PURGE

Cool Dude- Mixed Media

Every year I reach a point of frustration; where am I going to store all of these paintings? Or my better half mentions how much space I am taking up in the guest room and he is right.

 Then I begin with my: Why do I keep painting pictures if I have no outlet for them, why do I work so hard to once again reorganize my small studio to squeeze everything in? It is no longer squeezable.

I don't have a delete button so I go into purge mode to donate my art work. It is a good time to reevaluate the quality of my collection, get rid of the so so and set a higher standard for myself. It still hurts to jettison my creations but it must be done.

The other thing I can do is stop painting for a while. Don't paint for the sake of just painting but wait until a subject pulls so strongly on me that I have to paint it.

Taking a break.

WHAT'S THE MEANING OF MY BLOG?

SUNFLOWER-seeking the light!

      I started blogging in 2009 just for blogging sake. Slowly it evolved into an art blog and now I feel the need to define my purpose and audience. First of all I write for me; the self imposed once a week dead line makes me be productive and my goal is improving my painting techniques.

    After reading art magazines or taking workshops,  I do the  suggested projects and write about the process on line.  That means my blog is focused on presenting my results and I am really honest about my success or lack there of.  To put a label on my weekly publication would be a Personal Art Journal.

     At the moment I don't have an audience but that's OK.  It would be great to expand my blogging to engage with other artists in constructive text conversations but I think I have to learn a new bag of blogging tricks before that will happen. If the world runs on give and take I would like to share my experiences and learn from those who wish to share their knowledge.









 http://www.verobeachartclub.org/gallery.php   koserme@gmail.com  google +

ART ON THE ISLAND- SINGING OFF KEY

80% done

   The Vero Beach Art Club is creating a new show just to show off their 3D media members. I mainly paint 2D but am happy to leap out side the art box now and then.

    I have a source of big sized gourds that I  paint into a doll of some sort. Here is another Russian peasant that I will enter into the Art on the Island event in February 13-14 2015. It will be held on Marsh Island Clubhouse.

The love of bright colors and the bit of whimsy as a change of pace painting draws me in. Wish me well for the show and sell event:)

I see that the face is too large for the doll so I will redo it again. Live, take a photo and learn.

Russian Doll- Singing Off Key

PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP

Instructor Karen Leffel-Massengill 

     It was a busy week, art club meetings then a Friday/Saturday plein air workshop. The weather was Florida winter wonderful for Friday and Saturday and then the rains came on Sunday. 

Friday we met on an ocean beach to paint waves hitting the sandy shore``karenleffel@comcast.net.

Saturday we changed locations to attempt our skills at painting a waterfall along a flowing stream. Karen demonstrated the "how to" for each scene and roamed around to give each student private attention. 

I had a delightful two days; tired yes but recharged to use my new knowledge. 

My goal is to grow into to my fullest artistic potential. 

China Series- Chengdu Opera

The Classical Chinese Opera was too loud and too high pitched for my western music background. As I mentioned before I had ear plugs on hand for my husband and myself.
This was a different opera and I found it quite enjoyable. The petite Chinese girls were the epitome of balance and grace with their precision dances.

STEP 1

I am attempting to paint this detailed photo first using only negative painting technique. Is it even possible to do a whole painting using only the negative space?

DANCERS WITH MANY ARMS

 During my weekly open studio painting I did the drawing of the photo that I had taken in China.
   
Next I began painting around all of the positive figures; in essence, negative space. My style is  loose & painterly but I have a feeling this one my be on the tight side.

STEP 2

                                                           

I am not pleased with this plus I am out of my comfort zone. I'm not sure if it because I am working in watercolor or because it is too tight for my liking.
 Every painting has an ugly stage boy have I hit mine. Negative painting is out the window and happiness is finishing this in time for my blog publish day.
 Didn't make the deadline!

More later as painting happens.