Thursday, February 19, 2009

Odds and Ends

Today was filled with errands, chores, and preparations for an art workshop this weekend in Port Hadlock, WA.  The workshop is being lead by an artist by the name of Don Tiller (http://www.dontiller.com).  I've been intrigued with his work, because of his whimsical themes and use of layering glazes.  I've been teaching myself how to use glazes and  enjoy discovering the effect and love the depth it adds to acrylics.  I anticipate learning a great deal.

I did manage to spend an hour or so adding more layers to  a small series of "guitar players" that I began last week.  I will post them later.  

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Pretty Birds


I  completed a group of 3 bird paintings.  (I tend to work on a particular series for awhile, then switch to another for a change.  I later return to the series and continue to add to it.)
My "Pretty Bird" series began about a year ago with  an experimental piece I did with acrylics and mixed medium.  I knew I wanted to paint more of these, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I knew what was to follow.  I was surprised with the urgency in which I painted these.  It was like a gestation...when it is time for the paintings to hatch, I must attend to them. 

The Blue Window


I've been busy painting, marketing, and giving birth to my "Studio Notes" blog.  
Paintings first, I finished the painting I began when I started this blog and am happy with it.  It was challenging for me Not to get too caught up in details too early in the painting....see "Blue Window".  


Tuesday, February 3, 2009

New Start

1/17/09

Today was a great day in the studio!  First and foremost, I now have adequate lighting!  I am SOOOOO happy!  Alex put up the track lighting that I bought a few months ago.  Creating a studio is akin to creating a painting.... progress is sometimes slow.  
I was so excited to have the lights up that I promptly started a new painting that had been gestating in me for months.  I dove into it and had a very nice "beginning" stage set for the painting in just a few hours.  I sometimes think this is my favorite stage of a painting.  It usually goes quickly and I get a good idea  if the composition, values, and pallet are going to work or not.  This is the time to re-work any of these elements, before I push it too far.  I gave myself a "thumbs up" on this one.  
The painting is a scene from my sister's guest room window looking down onto her neighbor's home. It caught my eye when I last visited her, so I snapped a few photos of it, knowing then that I wanted to try to capture it on canvas.