Saturday, September 25, 2010

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!

Monday, September 20, 2010

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.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

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!

Friday, September 17, 2010

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!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

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?

Saturday, September 11, 2010

September 11, 2010

9/11
We
will
not 
forget

God Bless America


Friday, September 3, 2010

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!