Monday, April 27, 2009

if=theater and 1st Interview!

I just had my very first artist interview!
Check it out at Liz's blog primoriginals

Her work is lovely and inspiring, I especially like the art pendants in her esty store.

Thank you Liz!

Here's my Illustration Friday offering























I have an optional title "Stage Fright"
which applies to me and my life in so many ways. They say all the world's a stage, that's unfortunate for me

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

She Knew























She knew it was against county ordinance, put she loved him and couldn't let him go...

print here
original here

Sunday, April 19, 2009

IF = Impossibility























If seemed like an impossibility to her that it would ever stop raining
and be sunny and warm

Acrylic, oil pastel, pencil, vintage atlas, matte medium
Painted on wood 9" x 7.5" x .75"

Print here
Original on ebay later tonight

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Transparent























I used lots of transparent glazes on this painting. To make my glazes I use Golden fluid acrylics and mix with my matte medium. I can control the amount of saturation using this method. I can get washes with just the barest hint of color, so I can apply layers and layers, building up the darker areas.
Sometimes I like to work quickly, boldly, and sometimes, like today, I like to take my time and watch the image emerge.

print here
original here

Monday, April 13, 2009

Paper Dress























Restraint seems to be the word of the day. I restrained much of what I normally do in a painting. Minimal brush strokes and work on the face, the background is simple simple simple.
I used some text from a vintage geography book to establish the dress, added many overlapping pieces of aqua tissue to apply color then drew a simple outline.
I think it is very effective. I think sometimes I may be 'self-indulgent' when creating mixed media pieces, too in love with the process and not concerned enough with the result.

Original on ebay later tonight
Print HERE

Friday, April 10, 2009

Pink Horizon























This is a first for me, (I think)
I don't believe I have ever painted one of my figures in anything other than a dress.
Funny to realize. I think I will do some more

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Dream























I love these colors, Phthalo Blue and Raw Umber.
It's my favorite way to make black. It makes a dark, earthy color. I TRY to never use black from a tube, but i do use ink. I am finding my paintings are just a little bit softer when I don't even use the ink.

The life so short, the craft so long to learn - Chaucer

Print mounted on wood, available HERE
Original on ebay HERE

Sunday, April 05, 2009

IF = Talisman

3. Talisman: anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions.























The monarchs arrive, for a day or two every summer, then they are gone. They conglomerate around my purple butterfly bush, all oranges and blacks, and I feel lucky. I take my children outside and they laugh and chase the butterflies and I feel lucky again.

Mixed media collage on 3/4" select pine
9" x 7.5" x .75"

Print here
Original on ebay later tonight.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

sunny























I like the contrast in this painting.
the colors are bright and happy, but the figure looks so melancholy.
The stark shadow so dark compared with the whiteness of the sun.
An interesting juxtaposition.

Dancing Queen

In yesterday’s news the story that made me chuckle was the scandalous piece about Michelle Obama touching the Queen. This is a big no-no in royal protocol. No one touches the Queen. If she does extend a hand for a handshake you are supposed to offer a limp touch in return.
They were posing for pictures and the Queen put her arm lightly around the waist of Mrs. Obama and Michelle did the same.
An innocent gesture?
Or a bold attempt to humanize the monarchy?

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

A I

Have I mentioned I’m addicted to American Idol? Judging by their ratings I’m certainly not alone, but I’m always slightly embarrassed to admit how much I enjoy this show. I always pick a singer and root root root for them, and occasionally I vote. In previous years I have supported Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia and David Cook. I’ve lost a few times with Bo Bice and Clay Aiken. But it seems I generally like the person who ends up winning first or second.

This year I’m crazy about Adam Lambert.

He certainly seems to be controversial. You either LOVE him or you HATE him. I’m think that’s good in an artist. Don’t you?