tired

so very

I am finishing up a bear of a paper. It will end up over 15 pages, 12 pt type, double-spaced, times new roman. Subject? Adolescence. It involved three observations, one formal and two informal. Plus reading lots and lots of journal articles. I started about two weeks ago, because somewhere in my education I learned not to procrastinate. Now in my real life I procrastinate all the time, but in school life I start early and divide things up into manageable tasks, and work on some part of it every day. The paper is a paragraph or two away from being done, then tomorrow will be spent on editing, and Saturday I turn the darn thing in. Saturday night much rejoicing will commence. Then after a brief reprieve on Sunday, I will begin my last paper I have to write for the semester. Subject? Kachinas. A silly little flip of a paper, only needing to be 3 - 5 pages.

But I am tired. I was infected with a cold/flu thing last Wednesday, and have been achy, sore throaty, runny nosey and sleepy sleepy.

I want to paint, but find myself with no energy, physically or mentally. I just want to watch Celebrity Apprentice and go to bed. Is that wrong?

Perhaps tomorrow...

mmmmmm, texture

Sold

big etsy

Another listing for etsy just went up.
this one is big, over two feet tall!



a close up



SOLD

under water

I live in the midwest, Missouri to be exact. If you haven't heard, were currently being flooded. I live on high ground, but about 2 - 3 miles from my house, is not.


That ribbon of highway is the one I usually travel, I44, somehow it is still open. The cross is 141, which I take constantly as well, and as you can see, it is indeed closed.
This picture was taken yesterday. The water is supposed to rise until it peaks sometime tonight.

etsy

I have added a new oil painting to my etsy. It's small and sweet and just right.

Sold

Pomo

Theres a group of Native Americans that existed in the California area, known for their extroadinary basket making skills. These baskets were so finely made that they actually cooked in them. Pottery and ceramics were not widely used. To cook in them they would fill them with water then take some stones from the fire and add them to the basket. The heat from the rocks would boil/steam the water and whatever food they added. Pretty clever.

The Pomo were so skilled that they would purposly skip a space of their design so it wouldn't be perfect, as only God can create something perfect.

Eventually the women, who were the weavers of these fine baskets, started having contests. First, who could make the largest basket. That eventually gave way to who could make the smallest. The picture below is the only one I could find on google. I actually have seen a slide of smaller baskets, so small that several could fit on a dime. These baskets are just as carefully made as a full size one, as the design woven in, had to fufill certain requirements.

IF: Heavy

heavy heart

View this painting for sale later tonight - $.99 starting bid! - click here

lady in waiting

I have two more paintings done, but you can't see them yet.
Such is the life of an oil painter.
I get to wait, and wait
and wait
for my paintings to dry.
sigh
I have tried out the water-soluble oil paints, and am thrilled with the results.
Basically the same properties of regular oil, but none of the toxicity. I can happily paint away in my poorly venalted studio with no ill-effects. However now that spring is coming I can open the window.
The funny thing about my "new" oils is that they take even LONGER to dry than regular oils. I bought some medium to mix with the paint to help speed the drying, so we'll see if that helps at all.
But soon I'll have my new stuff up, I'm thinking of adding them right to my etsy because the one lonely painting I had there is now sold.

IF: Garden

Secret Garden

IF: Leap

Lovers Leap

View this painting for sale later tonight - $.99 starting bid! - click here

oil vs acrylic

I've noticed in a lot of the art I like, particularly my fellow blogger, ebay artists, and etsy artists, very very few will incorporate oils. I wonder why this is. Is the the intimidation factor? Not being familiar with them? The ease of acrylics? The speed of acrylics?
I have worked primarily with acrylics the last 3 years, and recently in the last 6 months or so, have begun exploring oils.
Wow
Where have you been all my life. They are so beautiful.
lush
sensitive
bold
ethereal
forgiving

I've begun doing backgrounds and underpaintings with acrylic because I can get a lot built up very quickly.
But when it's time to paint, I get out the oils.
Yes, there are problems with them.
The clean-up
The odors.
I think I'm a bit delirious right now because I've been painting in my basement studio, with the windows closed, because were in the middle of a small snowstorm, and my turpenoid jar open.
That's the part I really don't like, the fumes.
But everything else I either deal with or Love Love Love
I work sporadically. I walk away from the painting alot. I can always pick back up at most any time and continue.

Just wondering what others thought...

she says