together

whew! barely got this one done. I just kept working on it. I would add something and walk away, then think about it, and come back and add something else. I love it, it is so painterly and free
when i'm doing tight, illustrative work, i don't get the same joy, the pleasure of the spreading paint around, and letting it tell me where it want's to go.

on ebay

flowered

This is a linocut I did called "Flowered"
All I can say is "how fun!"
If you have never tried, I recommend it. I got the lino block at a craft store and it was so soft and easy to cut. The cutting tools were easy to use too, able to do quite delicate work, though some of that get lost in printing.
I did an edition of 8 prints. This is 3 of 8 and it is available on ebay.
The bottom is numbered, titled and signed (name/date) at the bottom.

diamond

This painting has kind of a stained glass look. It wasn't intentional at the onset, but developed that way. The colors are all sort of muted with turquoise being the most saturated.
I'm usually terrified to start painting with out a plan,
but when I do,
just sometimes,
it all works out.

on ebay

Happy Mother's Day and Goal for May

I hope all the mother's have a relaxing day ahead of them, I have a brunch, then a trip to the brand new super mega JoAnn's. I think dinner will be at my parents house. So lot's of driving, but no cooking :)

I take my last final on Tuesday, and would like to start something for the month that I will be out of school. Sunday through Thursday, I want to do a painting a day, so you will be able to find some sort of new artwork here. I'm taking Friday and Saturday off as my 'weekend'.
I did something similar in January, but I posted new work everyday, I think I missed two days the whole month. It was an incredible journey and my work really evolved. I'm ready for that growth to happen again.

I will start today with this new painting. I have been experimenting with thicker paint application (impasto), working more intuitively and everything is looser. This will be listed on ebay tonight for buy it now $75

I titled the painting 'Beginnings'

time flies

but I have not been having fun.
I have been swamped with end of the semester papers, projects and exams
I have been stressed out and overwhelmed
and not much fun to be around I hear

So I turn in one more project tonight, have one more exam next week and I am done!!!
for a month.

Then summer session starts.
I originally had planned to take 2 classes. After some soul searching and reevaluating my priorities, I decided to just take one class. And in the fall, just take one class. And in the spring, we shall see.

When I am in school, that takes priority, and everything else has to line up behind. Well on my list of priorities, school is around number 4 or 5.
So I am slowing down. It will add a year till graduation, I only have 9 classes left. But I don't care.

I do care about my family, my personal artwork and having time to explore other interests.

So expect to see more of me here, soon...

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

She Knew

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

print here
original here

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

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

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

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

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

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?

horizon

hummigbirds

I’ve been sick this last week. Some respitory thing, which is annoying, but more annoying is how tired I’ve been. Like go to bed at 9pm tired. And I wake up tired. And I’m tired in the middle of the day so I need a nap tired.

But I think I’m finally getting better and have been trying to speed along my recovery.

Yesterday I worked out for 16 min on my wii fit. Today I tried to drink a lot of water. Right now I’m eating a salad for dinner.

When I’m not feeling well I crave heavy, bloating foods, you know, comfort food. Pizza, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and lots of it, forget normal portions. After the enormous lunch I ate, I figured a salad was on the menu.

I have to say, I am not enjoying it very much. Hopefully my body will appreciate all the extra nutrients and not having to digest a bunch of red meat and repay me by giving me a little burst of energy.

This painting was a bright spot in my day yesterday.

IF = Celebrate

night dancers

click on the image to see it really big!

IF: Time

her hands pointing reminded me of the hands of a clock

lovely wood mounted prints available here

blue morning

by the sea

on a side note...
you know how to go to some blogs and you click on an image and it opens up much larger in another window? Will I would like to do that but have no idea how. If anyone can help i'd much appreciate it.

ancient

good gravy it's 31 days!

reflective
kinda how i've been feeling. looking at all the art i have lined up on shelves over my table, seeing the changes, noting things that are constant

what a wonderful experience this month has been!

i will be starting something different for february.

art every other day. i hope you all stay with me for it. i love your comments and my stat counter shows a slow increase in visitors.

my brother Tim, who watches my children twice a week, made this beautiful snowman with my son.

i am so grateful, as i have no idea how to make one.
but i am quite sure this is the best snowman i have ever seen.



favorite part? the hair

30 days

here is an oil painting of me and my naughty children

29 days later

hold on

lame, i know

i don't know where the day has gone
i guess between sledding twice, skating lessons with Paul, pizza afterwards...
long story short, i don't have a completed painting.
this is what i have done so far



i'm really not sure where it is going either.
most of it may get painted over
so tune in tomorrow to see the results...

27 days

necessary

I used beeswax to adhere the collage papers and to coat the image. i scraped in around her face and rubbed oil pastel into the grooves.
fun!

I can't believe the month is almost over!

blue dress

I have to thank Misty Mawn for challenging us to the 31 days of art in January.
January is a long cold month. I usually experience a let down after the holidays, and all I see ahead is long, grey days.
Because of this challenge I have been much preoccupied. My days have been filled with Quinacridone Burnt Orange and Yellow Oxide and Titan Buff.
I have experimented more and I believe grown more than I have in a year.
I will take from this the knowledge that hard work will get you everywhere.

I believe in February I am going to slow down just a bit. I will be attempting "Art Every Other Day"

Then who know? In March I would like to go back to art every day.

We'll see.

day 25

look closer

one week left

feathers