The Angel Sophia

First solo attempt to put into practice what I learned in Scottsdale a few weeks ago.  It took me forever, and I'm mostly happy with the outcome.  There are a few things I'd do differently, but they are technical in nature and I've made notes on what not to do again.  I'm going to paint in oils for a while next, just so I don't forget how to do it.  I feel very rusty having not worked in oils for over a month now.   It would be fun one day to try oils on this eggshell-like surface, but I don't know if it will be stable or not.  Guess I'll find out when I try!  Starting from the frame and moving into the painting is a really fun process to watch as it progresses and is finished.  

The Workshop

Can't believe I'm just now getting around to posting on the workshop.  Well, I guess I can believe it.  But in the meantime, I've been playing catchup on tax work, house chores, and all the things I let slide when I was gone.  So now I'm ready to post.

Lisa Fitzgibbons is a wonderful teacher!  And cook, and hostess, and carpenter, and painter, and worker - well you get the picture!  She was kind enough to let me come stay in her home for 4 days and teach me how to paint icons and to let me pick her brain on everything I could think of.  And I had already made of list of questions I had struggled trying to answer.

She started with the frame.  She let me choose the framing material I wanted to use, and showed me how to put them together.  So here's a beginning shot:

I was very envious of her wonderful mitering saw, and decided I would have to get one, too.  But, true to form, my sweet husband already had one - it's no where near as pretty as Lisa's, but it does cut nicely and fast!  He has already set it up in the garage for me to use.  So I'm happy!  And it's so fun to use!  

After building the frame, we transferred an icon image to her magic recipe support (I don't want to give away her secrets!) and started to paint.  I had no idea how exacting icons are expected to be to look authentic, but I will say it's a good thing I can still focus on minute details!  As I do more (and I do plan on doing more), I suspect I will veer off at least a little into a looser style.  But I do want to get the basics down right before doing so.

I have very little experience with acrylics, but they weren't as scary as expected.  They do dry fast.  Lisa has tons of tips and insight into what works and what doesn't.  And she was very willing to share and demo.  In fact, throughout the whole process, she would demo on a smaller support to show what she was describing, and then let me do it on my own.  And she was so encouraging, that for the first time ever, I really felt like an artist!

But it was such hard work, that I had to go off my diet and drink a little wine and eat some delicious home cooked meals (including lots of homemade bread!).  But you don't have to feel sorry for me, because I got to sleep as late as I wanted before getting up and getting back to work the next day.  It was great!  No alarm clock, no make-up, no excuse to do anything but paint, eat and sleep.  What a wonderful birthday gift this was from my husband!

Here's Lisa holding the final product:

and here's a little closer shot of the icon:

The last day and a half was spent working on painting, learning tips and new tricks, and putting the finishing touches on the frame.  

Thank you, Lisa!!!  This was a great experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend the time learning so much from you.  For the great lessons, food, conversations and accommodations... Thank you so much!

My first solo frame has already been put together, and I'm just waiting for the last of the supplies I ordered to get going.

Farm Pet

I'm off to Scottsdale tomorrow to learn from Lisa Fitzgibbons.  Can hardly wait!  I also get to spend an afternoon with a very dear friend of many years' acquaintance.  We don't get to see each other often, but it's one of those relationships where you pick up where you left off. 

Farm Pet was just a play-day painting.  My yardman gave me a photo of one of his chickens, from which I worked.  The chicken wire pattern was inspired by my friend Sheri's paintings; only her chicken wires are beautiful and colorful.  

Sanctuary

The colors in this painting are much prettier than my photo shows.  They look faded and a little muddy in this shot, but they are not.  It was a fun painting to do.  One of the aspects I love most about painting is solving the little problems to get the desired effects.  It's such a huge challenge, but so rewarding.  I come to believe more and more that the real value of painting for me is in the process, and not in the product.  Although, I must admit, pursuit of that perfect product (however one defines it - which for me would include both process and product) is what keeps me coming back and trying again.

Autumn's Last Roses

Having done little painting in the last two weeks, I'm posting a piece that was done a couple months ago.  

In a few weeks, I'm going to Scottsdale, AZ to work for 4 days with Lisa Fitzgibbons. I'm so excited about learning lots of new things!  She's going to help me tackle some of the issues about my work that  I need help with, and is going to spend a couple days showing me how she paints and puts together her old world angel pieces that are wonderful.  I'm very much looking forward to being really immersed in painting for the duration.  Here's a link to her site if you want to see her beautiful work.

Little Clay Church

I purchased this cute little Mexican clay church a couple months ago, and finally got around to painting it, in a fictional setting of course.  It was too late by the time I figured out that what was bothering me was the fact that there was no door.  Oh well!

White Dove

One of my looser paintings, this one is done in mixed media -basically oil over layers of acrylics, paper and alcohol inks.  The ink bleeds through the upper layers of oil.  Oh, and there is also a little squirted on house paint under all that which leaves a linear pattern throughout.  11 x 14 on Raymar board.

Silver Gift

This is the second painting done of one of my friend Sheri's gift wrap subjects.  I think it's one of my very best paintings ever.  I love the subtle muted background and box colors that really set of the persimmon orange.  It's a strange size because I had my husband cut the masonite to fit an old frame that otherwise would never have been used.  But it's roughly 13 x 16.  Oil of course.

Autumn Gifts

My friend, Sheri, loaned me all sorts of fun boxes and gift bags from which to choose still life subjects. One was this fabulous shiny, glittery purple box.  I really wanted to paint the glitz on it, but could not figure out how to do the sparkles without making it look like it had a case of the white measles.  So after several tries, I just focused on the general value of each visible plane of the box.  The bow on top is just made up, but I think it worked out pretty good.

The same day I purchased some beautiful persimmons at the grocery store that I had wanted to try to paint.  I think the purple and orange do nicely together, and am happy with the muted background colors.

Pink Tulips

I'm playing a little catch-up with posting some paintings I did a few months ago, then I'm going to start posting my newer ones.  I'm always a little worried that I'll run out of paintings to post, but then I'll just have to paint more, right?  Unfortunately, I cannot paint everyday.  Hopefully, I can paint at least once a week.  But in my mind, I'm always painting....  And I do think there is much to say for ruminating on ideas and thoughts.  When I try to rush the muse, it never seems to work.  

I like the happy, peaceful, simple feeling of this one.  If only my life were like that!  Still, I'm extremely grateful for even the chaotic times.  I know I'm in Good Hands.

Against the Wall

Done several months ago, this painting was just another stab at trying to find that approach with which I feel most comfortable painting.  It seems to be a moving target.  I just want to have fun painting!  Sometimes it is fun. Sometimes it's discouraging and disappointing. It's always challenging.

Floral Frame

There are parts of this painting I really like, and parts that are awful.  I love the floral framework... it was just downright fun and automatic.  On the other hand, clearly I have no idea how to paint cats, and my faces are always unnatural looking (I think).  This gal's ears are bizarre, and both look like they've got those huge pierced holes in the cartilage instead of the lobes.  Oh well!  Better luck next time.  I may need to paint over this one trying to salvage the floral framework if possible.  Live and Learn!

Life Saver and Leaves

This is another of the exercises I did after reading Life, Paint and Passion -the book I mentioned a few posts back.  Your guess is as good as mine as to what it is or what it means, but out it came!  Actually, I'd have to say that it is nothing and it means nothing in particular, but It just IS, and it was fun to paint.  Though I did a few more of the exercises, I think it's time to go back to posting some of the other recent attempts at more recognizable compositions.

Merry Christmas!!!

Cynthia's Ornaments

Cynthia Pedregon was an amazing woman with incredible talent.  She passed away earlier this year, having blessed everyone who met her.  I don't think I've ever known anyone with a spirit that was more open to God - No matter what His will, she was a willing and eager servant.

Cynthia was extremely talented in numerous ways.  She left behind a lovely tearoom and shop, The Peach Tree in Fredericksburg, Texas, which was founded and is still run by her beautiful family.  The tearoom is renowned for its delicious fare, and the shop for its wonderful taste.

Cynthia had her father's leather tools, and she used them in making these lovely Christmas tree ornaments (she also made some for Valentines).  They are my favorites, and I always wrap and unwrap them with loving care to preserve them.  Each one is a special reminder of a very dear and precious woman, whom I am so honored to have known.

You are very missed, Cynthia, and very appreciated.

I love these ornaments because so much of her went into their making.

Isn't this the way it should be?  We should all leave behind something of beauty and love to bless those who come after us.  I'm looking forward to seeing Cynthia again, to thank her personally for how she touched my life.

The Eye

OK, I agree that this is weird.  It's definitely not something I will keep, but it was another of the exercises I painted after reading the book cited in my last posting.  And I have to confess that it was very interesting watching the evolution and outcome of the piece as it developed.  I truly did what was suggested in the book - which was to just paint without preconception or intent.  And I did learn that something within takes over when given the chance.  8 x 8 oil on stretched canvas.

Brushstroke Textures

Just another fun play-day.  This was done about a month ago after reading a very interesting book entitled Life, Paint and Passion by Michell Cassou and Stewart Cubley.  I had stumbled upon their website here, and was very interested in what I found.  Even thought I might want to go to one of their workshops out in California, so I did my research and ordered the book to learn more.  I really enjoyed the book, and learned alot about my own mental blocks to art and painting in particular.  If I had to describe how I benefited from it, I'd have to say that it has helped me articulate better what it is I want to do with my painting and how to do it.

  (Bear with me here - this is not from the book, but I'll circle back around to it.)  Visualize a line at the left end of which is a painting that exhibits total control, perfect mastery of materials - a painting visually exact to the subject, an identical rendering in every detail, recognizable instantly with skilled workmanship throughout.  Now at the right end of that line visualize a painting that is 100% spontaneous, almost unconscious in its design and execution, free formed with uncontrolled color, texture, line, values, etc.  Somehow this second painting has a very appealing emotional factor not because of what it is, but because of what the viewer can see of the artist's self that poured from the artist through the brush to the canvas.  Not so much the image the artist was trying to portray, but the natural and unforced way in which the artist painted.  

I'd like to be about 3/4 or 4/5 of the way toward the right end of that line.  As a naturally left-brained, triple A type personality, it takes alot of effort to get over to the right side of my brain.  Fortunately, the more I do it, the easier it gets.  That 'zone' one gets into when lost in the process is the sign that I'm moving in the right direction (for me).  But it is still a struggle to let go of control and just paint.  My goal is to paint freely but with enough control, but not too much.  Make sense?

Back to the book.  This book is about just painting.  Whatever comes out is ok. If you're standing in front of your canvas and are blocked on what you want to do, just dip whatever brush you can grab into whatever color paint it goes to spontaneously and put any mark whatsoever on the canvas.  Do it again.  It doesn't have to be anything, just do it. Don't take time to analyze or control.  Don't make decisions, just let your painting arm do what it wants, one stroke at a time.  Repeat.  Repeat again.

So the painting above is one of those exercises.  I'll post a few more soon.  They're not supposed to be anything in particular, but sometimes they morph along the way.

Finally, I'm glad I got the book and did the research I did.  It's helped me tremendously.  But it also made me realize that one of those workshops was definitely not for me! At this age, and not being a really new-agey person, I think I would be so out of my comfort zone with some of the goings on out there.  But I do recommend the book.

Lives in the Middle of NoWhere

This was just a little exercise.  I can't even remember where I got the motivation for it.  

Fall Flowers

This was the first painting done in my new studio, which I am absolutely loving!  It's so nice to have a place where all my goodies are stored.  And nice to be able to walk away, then return in 5 minutes or 5 hours... even in the middle of the night, if need be.

Today was Thanksgiving, and there was no time to paint.  But it was a wonderful day.  I have so much to be thankful for!  And I am deeply grateful for God's many, many graces in my life.

The Maine House

This was painted from a photo on my dear friend, Ann's, blog site Hill Country House.  It's mixed media, and as it was drying, the alcohol based ink started to bleed through.  Hmmmm.  I went back to a few other mixed media paintings I'd done and noticed the same thing had happened on some, but not all of them.  How weird.   I don't know if it's the particular colors of ink that bleed, or maybe the brand of oil paint over the ink.  But I like it anyway... it's different.

Interspecies Communication

I think this is a 16 x 20, but need to confirm that.  One day I just had to paint something, ANYTHING, and this what I ended up painting.  When we first moved to Fredericksburg about 13 years ago, there was this little green frog with orange toes out on my porch one day sitting on the arm of a chair.  I've never seen one like him either before or since, but did get photos to prove the old gray matter wasn't acting up.  So despite the composition being totally fabricated, it did originate from an actual sighting of a green frog with orange toes.  Turns out they are not too uncommon around these parts.

Studio

I finally have my own studio.  I'm so excited!  I spend as much time as I can in it.  Today I painted all day.  I did yesterday, too, but yesterday's product was a total wiper... ugh.  So here is a little walk-through of the studio, which used to my our daughter's bedroom.  

First, I found this wonderful Mexican tin-topped table almost a year ago, bought it at a very good price, and stored it in the garage until I could use it.  It's very heavy (took 3 big strapping young men to get it upstairs).

I wanted to show you the floors and walls before I moved everything in.  I had my all time favorite artist/painter, Tom Proche,  put down a good quality plywood, which he did in 4 x 4 squares.  He then painted them in a very neutral checkerboard pattern and finished the floor with a protective coat (not that it matters - I fully expect the floor to start showing wear and tear almost immediately, but I was determined to have that protective coat on!).  The plywood floor was put down to protect the wool carpet beneath.  I had each wall painted a different color.  

The South wall above is a light pumkinish color with a wide purple stripe on the right.  I wanted the stripe to be a 'dedicated' space for my color charts, so they wouldn't look like I just stuck them up anywhere.  The West wall is a darker orangish-red color.

The North wall is almost the color of celery that's been in the refrigerator too long.  And the East wall is a blue-ish gray.  We left the ceiling like it was - a very pale blueish tint.  I didn't even change the curtains, figuring that once I get a bunch of paintings hung up, it would all come together.

So above is the South wall again, only this time with almost everything in place.  The table is my framing station.  I've even hung the roll of brown paper dust covering under the table for easy access.  The drawer houses most of my framing tools.

Looking West, the cabinets and built in shelving is where I keep my still life props.  The old pine bookshelf is where all my reference materials live.  Above the pine bookcase is an origami mobile my daughter made, and was kind enough to let me hang up there until she gets a place of her own.  I think it looks wonderful there!  The door to the right of the pine bookcase leads to the bathroom area.

The North wall is my painting station.  I LOVE having the North light; and although it would be nice to have two windows on the North side, I'm amazed at how much wonderful light I'm getting from just the one.  I can really tell a difference.  I keep all my oil paints in that little rolling cart toward the right.

Above is the East wall.  The little desk is a used one I bought when I was in college almost 40 years ago (yikes).  It's my little paperwork station.

Another shot of the wonderful Mexican table!

Inside the closet above and below.

My daughter had the wonderful idea of hanging up the smaller paintings to save room.  What a clever idea - it works great!

The bathroom area.  The shelving with all the supplies does have a cabinet door... I just left it open so you could see how convenient it is to have all those jars and cans right there!

That's it!  I'm a happy painter.  Thank you, Tom, for doing such a fantastic job!  I love everything you did to the room.  It's just what I was wanting!

The Odd Couple

This was just a little play piece.  I had a small frame that needed to be filled, and since I haven't done much painting lately it was just the ticket to paint without self-imposed pressure.  

The hubby and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Carmel where the weather was perfect, the food was great, and I even slept in one day until almost noon.  What a treat!!!

I'm chomping at the bit to get started painting in my 'new' studio, but first there is laundry, grocery shopping, errands, etc. to take care of.  Maybe in a day or so.  Hopefully!

Dress Up Birthday

When she was about 5, Jordan's birthday party was a total dress-up affair.  I'm talking dresses that dragged the floor by about 2 feet, big gaudy jewelry, hats, lipstick, etc.  And then of course, there was a lovely tea party with scones and tea, and lots of giggling.  It was fun!

I'm in such a good mood today, because I have FINALLY switched internet service providers to one that actually is faster than dial up.  Our last provider wasn't dial up, but it may as well have been - it was the pits!  So now I'm hoping to get back on the blogging horse, and try again.  I've got a bunch of new paintings to post, and even some pictures of the studio that used to be our daughter's room.  It has undergone a major facelift (just paint), and it's my own little space that I love.  When I finish getting the paintings hung, and the workspace organized, I'll post some pictures.  

Mountain Farm

This is another of my larger pieces.  I think it's 3 x 4 feet, but would have to double check that.  For some reason, I think rabbits are fun to paint.  I'm not really crazy about them as pets, but do like to see them cuddled.  I think I had too many lucky rabbit's feet when I was a kid... ugh.

Another nephew is getting married this next week.  Wow.  They grow up so fast!  Maybe I should do a painting of him as a naked baby from some old photos.  I've got a really cute one where the dimples in his chunky behind show (he was only a few months old!).  That might embarrass him....

Gift Bag

Just a little gift bag with green tissue paper I tried to paint.  Great exercise.  I've found a few different colored bags since this was done, and am anxious to try painting them.  I like the simplicity of the whole thing.  It would be fun to find and paint some colored gift boxes, too.

Moving all my art supplies into the upstairs room is wonderful!  I didn't realize how spread throughout the house everything was... now everything is in one place.  The entire day was spent organizing... I love it!  Even got out my label maker to label things.  How OCD is that???

Sheri's Canvas

My dear friend, Sheri, gave me a large canvas.  I saved it until I thought of something I really wanted to paint.  This was it.  The photo is darker than the actual painting, but then I never claimed to be a good photographer!  It was a very fun painting to do, and I'm going to hang it above my stairwell at the entrance to my 'new' studio.  

Now that our daughter is off at school again, and is not planning on coming back to live, we are turning her room into a studio.  I'm very excited about it.  I've got my favorite house painter working on ideas to paint the room and flooring for the studio, and he'll be able to start in a few weeks.  Tom is so good at whatever he paints... he is a true artist!  I trust him completely and know that whatever he comes up with will be fabulous.  I'll be sure and post pictures when it's done!

Sheri, thank you so much for the canvas!  I will always appreciate it, as I appreciate you.  You are a true blessing in my life.

Munchkin at Five

This was our munchkin at five years.  Hard to believe she's now almost twenty.

Although I haven't posted in quite a while, I have painted off and on.  Lots of  'wipers' lately, but a few good ones, as well.  Thank you to those who have stuck with me.  I promise to try and do better.  

I'm in the process of turning our upstairs into a studio.  I can hardly wait to have my own space where I won't have to clean up the kitchen after I paint.  I found a wonderful old Mexican metal topped work table to put in there, and I've already organized the big closet with all my art goodies.  Tomorrow, the wonderful artist who has painted my entire house comes to advise (and maybe begin?) on painting the walls upstairs in such a way that it all looks inviting and complete.  I'm so excited!

Mmmmm, Kumquats!

Long time, no post.  Oh well, it's actually been somewhat of a relief not to be thinking that I really should be posting.  In fact, I haven't done much painting lately either.  But this is another mixed media piece.  Can't remember if it's 16 x 20 or 20 x 24, but I think it's the latter.  The left bird definitely needs some grounding so he doesn't appear to be floating.  That's easily enough done, I just need to do it!  Other than that, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  I love Kumquats!  We used to pick them from my  grandparents' tree when we were young.  Or maybe it was their neighbor's tree - oops.

Painted Prints

If you've not subscribed yet to Interweave's daily emails, think about doing so.  They are full of inspiration and ideas for painters, drawers, stitchers, those who keep journals - actually anyone who pursues visual creativity. 

One of the ideas that showed up in the inbox a week or so ago was to use fun foam (or funky foam) as stamps.  So for this playful exercise, I first drew out on tracing paper what I wanted to print/paint.  Then the image was transferred to the fun foam, which is just a thin sheet of foam with an adhesive backing (got it at Walmart in the craft section).  Next, I cut the shapes and placed the sticky backside on a piece of clear plastic.  I should have used a bit larger margins when cutting the clear plastic around the foam shapes, because it would have allowed more finger space to pick up and remove the pieces.  

I had five different colored backgrounds I wanted to experiment with.  Some of the foam pieces were 'carved' into (pressed into was really more like it) in varying shapes from lines to flowers, leaves, circles, etc.  I painted one piece at a time with acrylic paint, then turned it over and pressed it into the backgrounds, working from the edges inward.  It was somewhat like fitting pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together.  Finally, I added a few stampings I had cut from wine corks.  Then a little touchup with a small brush where needed, and that's it.  The whole process was very interesting, but a little tedious.  Next time I would only do one, although the extras might make good gifts.

Hippie Bird

I made this little fella of paper mache when making the pomegranites and bowl a while back.  He was just an afterthought to use up the last bit of paper mush and glue.  

Well, I finally finished him.  He's got a cute little personality.  Kinda reminds me of a hippie or flower child.