4 paintings (in process) and a knee

These have changed quite a bit since last time, haven't they?

I felt uneasy about where I was going with the compositions

so I went at with paint and gloved hand.

(not sure of the toxicity of the paints)

I really like mixing the paints right on the paper,

there are really nice color variations

and texture is starting to build.

Still not sure where these are going to go,

but the important thing is to keep working at it.

And respond to what is happening with the paint.

~~~~~

Other news, I had an MRI on my knee (the "good" one),

it turns out that I need a total knee replacement.

 Geez, I just had a partial knee replacement last year-on the left.

The doc said the right is worse than the left was!

I suppose from all the compensating over the years......

It's always something!

Surgery is set for Oct 26th.

Please keep me in your prayers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Missing you Pop

Already it's been a year.

So many times I reach for the phone,

then realize you're gone.

I love you Pop.

Continuing on.....

The paintings in the previous post photos

were making me quite nuts.

Every time I looked at them

I felt so uneasy,

not sure where to go from there.

Decided it was time to write down

what it was that was causing the angst.

They were chaotic,

they needed some direction.

 They needed serious blocking out of areas.

Mixed up some gray from black & white gesso.

Gesso makes nice matte grays.

Went in with a brush

and tried to negative paint

the design compositions the painting seemed to call for.

Bottom right: cruciform

Bottom left: cantilever

Top left: golden rectangle

Top right: man in trench coat wearing fedora ;p

I feel better about these now.

There are areas of rest where the paint isn't demanding attention.

I have to tell you that this not knowing

where the painting wants to go

is very unsettling.

I have many-many paintings that I have abandoned

because they got to a point

where I didn't know what to do

and I was afraid of taking risks.

So in a stack they sit

patiently waiting for me to grow a backbone

and throw caution to the wind.

So my friend, 

this is todays offering-

tomorrow is another day, and I have lots of paint.

Thank you for stopping by!

Mistakes

It's been a bit of a busy week,

wasn't able to work on these 

as much as I would have liked.

....anyway, I added a different red, magenta, blue and yellow.

Where will these go from here?

Their journey continues....

~~~~~~~

On Monday I am going in for an MRI on my "good" knee.

It has been swollen for a couple of months.

The doc drained fluid from it 3 weeks ago

and it's swollen again.

Bummer.

It's always something.....

Thanks for stopping by!

Journey of 4 paintings

WELCOME!

Come along with me,

to watch the unfolding

of 4 paintings.

Their journey begins.....

Every time I look at a blank canvas, board or paper,

there is a bit of angst.

This quote has me thinking differently.

"I begin a painting with a series of mistakes."

Robert Motherwell

Easy peasy.

Mistakes....no problem.

4- 11x10 300# cold press watercolor papers.

So that I wouldn't have to look at that white paper

I started making marks with a charcoal stick.

Next I took red-orange acrylic paint 

and spread it on with a plastic card

no thinking allowed...quickly get it on there.

That's it for today.

You might be wondering why I'm working on 4 paintings.

Because working one painting can get precious,
fear to move beyond your comfort zone.

If there are several going at once 
you are more apt to take risks, 
push it, try the absurd, the impossible.

When their journey is done,

there will either be 1 decent painting

or a series.

Look what I found at Michaels!

How cool is this?!

"Freaky Halloween Fabric" 

It comes in natural, black and green.

Isn't that big open weave fabulous?

Great texture don't you think?

Methinks this will be incorporated

into these paintings.

Stay tuned, there's much more to come.

or better yet,

 consider joining me.

 Post your blog here 

and we can watch each others progress.

Whadaya say?

September 11, 2010

9/11

We

will

not 

forget

God Bless America

A new painting and.........

acrylic, gouache, encaustic medium on cardboard  5x7

It's been quiet here recently.

For a few weeks in July and August,

I was able to take time off of work,

my purpose was to concentrate on art.

An art sabbatical.

Felt the need to set some rules for myself.

...be quiet

...no tv

...limit internet (I failed at this one)

....journal

I got up early.....very early....crazy early

while it was dark

still

and quiet.

And began to listen.

and journaled.

It took time to get past the day to day

goings on,

petty irritations and,

to do lists.

There would be one sentence

that stood out from the others.

I took that sentence and followed that thread.

And kept on writing.

There were days that I sobbed.

I felt paralyzed by the angst,

legs as lead,

the sting of raw emotion.

It was then that I would go into the studio.

and worked on getting those emotions out

onto canvas, paper and board,

with paint, paper, ink, and wax.

The journal had become my most powerful tool.

Weeks later, I still rise crazy early.

 The early morning solitude

has now become a routine

as journaling has.

I'm feeling much more connected with myself.

Thank you for visiting!