Grief and art

I've had an emotional week

there were several times 

that I felt overwhelming sadness

missing my Dad.

I was out of sorts all week.

 Grief, I know, is a process

there will be days of sadness

and days of a full heart,

grateful that he was my Dad.

I have to feel the feelings

let the tears fall.....

~~~~~

This isn't yet finished

thought I would share it in progress.

This several layers of cardboard.

The surface treatment is an experiment.

I painted the entire surface black

after it had dried thoroughly

I painted the entire surface again

with Elmer's School Glue

then immediately painted over the glue

with acrylic craft paint.

(don't over work it, 

brush on the glue

  going over the surface just once)

Let it dry,

and it cracks.

How cool is that?

It needs a bit more work,

that's for another day.

Have a nice weekend!

Pear #22

Mixed media on 5x7 canvas board

Super easy background.  

Have you ever tried

those patina kits?

This is the iron kit.

You paint the surface you want to patina

in this case with the iron paint.

After it has dried

apply step two

the rusting solution

That's it.

Next I drew in a horizon line

and added asphaltum glaze (Golden)

The paper for the pear was made

by gluing all sorts of odds n ends

onto paper using gel medium

......a seal, alphabet pasta, metal bits

window screen

Then apply gold leaf sizing--I used Wondasize.

Let dry till it's tacky.

Lay a aluminum leaf over the sizing.

Glaze with asphaltum.

Every day I stare off into this pond.

Some days deer are at waters edge.

Most days I see this fellow...

A Great Blue Heron

He wades along the shore

catching fish

Or stand stoicly

for hours.

The pond has gotten deeper

as we have gotten a lot of rain lately

and a beaver has moved in upstream

When the workday is hectic

I take a little break

and get lost in the pond.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fathers Day

This is the first Fathers Day without you.

I would give anything

to hug you

and tell you

how much I love you.

Oh Pop

how I miss you.

Where "art" thou?

Clearly my priorities are not straight.  I spent all last weekend cleaning.  My messy house had been neglected.  It really does feel good to have done that.  Now I can get on with art making......

Working on a few commission pieces.

These two are about 3 1/2" square.

These are for 2 of Kathy's close friends--birthdays

This one is 10 1/2" square.

Kathy's mother passed away recently,

she asked me to do this poem

 along with sweetpeas

for her.

A cardboard piece I started in Katie's class at Valley Ridge.

It's got a ways to go.

I like it so far......

an update on the stains I'm making....

Periodically I need to take the copper bits out of the jar

let them dry and oxidize 

and put them back in the jar.

The turquoise color is quite beautiful.

The other jar with the steel wool pad-

it's completely dissolved

murky, crusty, rusty vinegar.

It's turning out great.

They both will be fun to experiment with.

~~~~~

Last but not least....

Today is my 51st birthday.

Paul and I went out to dinner last night.

Tonite were going over to Marci's for dinner

(she is a fabulous cook!)

nottomention

a coupla cocktails.

Tomorrow is going to be a tough day

as it will be the first Father's Day

with my Dad.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great weekend.

Pear #21

Paul and I drove up to my Dad's last weekend.

I miss him so much.

I wrote him a note and left it there.

We're going through his belonging

slowly.

My Aunt had a rummage sale 

we took some things over.

We were looking at pictures

that I found

from when my Dad was in the army.

Auntie Karen told stories

 the photos came alive.

I loved listening.....

~~~

At one point

I pulled out a piece of cardboard

and painted a pear.

I think this just might be my favorite....

gesso, gouache on cardboard 5x7

I enjoy painting with gouache,

building layers

painting 

dabbing

scrubbing

Doesn't this look like a wall

you'd find somewhere

in Europe

a small village

an old house

plaster falling off the wall

exposing the wood lath.

a layer of beeswax on the top-

it gives the painting a richness

Thanks for visiting