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.

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?

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?

See

Today is my birthday and I just finished this painting...
I'm offering a 8x10 print on luster paper for $18 on etsy here
The original will be on ebay later tonight

Go Aries!

IF = Poise

I did this painting yesterday and named it 'courage'
This morning I found the word for Illustration Friday was 'poise' and this painting couldn't have suited it more.
Now I'm not sure if the title is 'poise' or 'courage'

I'm enjoying working in this size. It's a little bit bigger so I can develop more of a scene. It measure 9" x 7.5" x .75". The skirt is made of tissue paper, I love the effect.

Print is available here
Original available here

Now I have to get back to my housework. We are having relatives from Chicago coming to stay the weekend...

IF = Subtract

I may have stretched the idea of the theme this week.
I used an old book with mathematical tables as the background ;)
Theres lots of algebraic subtraction equations.
As it turns out I used algebra for something! I never thought I would.

This painting is larger than the usual size I've been working in. It is 9" x 7.5" x .75"

Buy print here
Bid on original here

Answer: Swing

Question: What my daughter wishes she was doing right now.

I have a five year old boy and a two year old girl and no swing set.
My neighbors have nice wooden sets, and Lila is constantly breaking into their yards when she thinks I'm not looking. Because she's big enough and smart enough to not throw herself off the top of the slide, I've decided this is the year for us. Actually, this is the month for us. I've given myself a deadline so it's not suddenly September and we're still shopping for just the "right one". I think I've found one that would fit in our small, hilly, wooded, strange backyard. I just need to double check dimensions, talk with the crew (husband and friends) and order it.

Wish me luck, I'm so freaking excited for my kids. They will be over the moon.

Leprechaun Trap

Today Paul and I decided to make a Leprechaun trap. He came up with the basic design and I followed orders. I always have to fight the urge to 'guide' him, but when I let go and let him be the decision maker, it is more enjoyable for everyone.

His sign says "NO TRAPS AHEAD"























So there is a ladder for the Leprechaun to climb up, a golden path to lead him on, the rainbow with some gold pieces behind for the ultimate bait. Notice the flowers...












































Whoopsy, Mr. Leprechaun! Don't be so greedy next time!

But to Paul's credit he is very concerned about the hypothetical prisoner. He wants to add water and food and a blanket to keep the wee creature comfortable.
Lucky for me, Leprechauns are very wily and can escape most situations, so after taking the gold, they usually leave something in exchange, like some chocolate, and are on their way.

IF = Legendary

Who isn’t familiar with the legendary tale of William Tell?

I thought I knew the story, but all I really remembered was he shot an arrow through an apple perched on someone’s head.

It filled my head with great imagery, so a painting followed.

Then I visited wikipedia, to learn the real story. The story of how William Tell wouldn’t bow to an Austrian overlord. How the overlord then punished him, commanding him to shoot an apple off the head of William’s son, if he refused, they both would be executed.
William Tell pierced the apple perfectly.

I don’t know how well my light-hearted painting goes with the dramatic tale, but it’s a great story anyway, and I love how Illustration Friday always stretches me in someway, and I always seem to learn something new.

modernity

this piece is really making me happy.

it incorporates a lot of what i love:
i got to collage
throw paint
do portraiture
have things complicated
have things simple
leave something to the imagination

Spiral Betty

I sketched her face last night.

I envisioned her hair early this morning, like around 5 am, as I was lying in bed, trying to sleep, but wide awake.

The background, a nod to Klimt.

The name, a play on Robert Smithson's 'Spiral Jetty'


Photo credit George Steinmetz September 2002

A collaboration of ideas, and somehow an image emerges.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
I like this one

IF = Intricate

This piece is a bit more intricate than I usually work.
The tiny leaves of the ferns, the marbled map paper, and her face is more realized.
I'm really trying (on some pieces) to develop a more restricted palette. To see that more can be done with less. It's a long and winding path, as most things are.

starflake

lost at sea

growth

IF = Breezy

I was originally thinking of an analogous color scheme, blue to green, but somehow purple ended up in there, and I wanted a punch of color too by adding some bright red.

Upon reflection, it is appropriate, as a weather themed painting. It is quite similar to the unpredictable weather patterns we experience here in St. Louis. For example, yesterday the high was 60 and we had thunderstorms in the evening. Today it's around 25 and we're expecting snow.

I see St. Louis weather in this painting. Is it winter with the cool blues and whites of the sky? Is that spring blowing in and the trees ready to leaf? Who knows...

For sale on ebay

pitcher

I used a muted palate, and tiny little brushstrokes...
it looks calm and serene, just like i was feeling as i was painting it

waiting

there is an air of anticipation about this painting. like the fields are ripe for planting, she is dreaming of summer blossoms, or perhaps someone is meeting her in this seclusion...

print on etsy

IF = Instinct

Interesting bee instinct...
If bees see another group of rival bees hanging around a particular flower, they will go check it out later...

seems like a human trait as well, shoulderpads anyone?