Tag Archives: challenge

Oct21

What’s An Artist To Do?

Posted on by
Image

Abstract Tiger Lilly

 

Lately I’ve been working with watercolor, and acrylics, and my subject is usually abstract.  This time I decided to dig through all my supplies and find a small sample kit of Aqua-Oils to try.  I’ve had them for a few years, and never even opened the box to look.  This time it seemed appropriate to try a new medium.  So off came their lids, out came the brushes, and the only thing that came to mind were more abstract flowers!

After painting with these oils for a while, I realized that I had a learning curve.  The paints didn’t seem creamy like oils, and not as workable as acrylics, I felt like I needed to build the color to get the results I was looking for.  Maybe they were a slight bit dried out, although they didn’t seem that way.  but hey they were inexpensive and I’m trying something new.

When the whole thing was said and done, I think I just like  plain old oils better.  Many artists love Aqua-Oils, and don’t have any trouble with them.  For some reason I didn’t find them as forgiving as oils, or acrylics.  My purchase was small, and I certainly haven’t lost anything, so I’m happy I had the opportunity to use them.  That being said, I still have quite a lot of those little tubes left, some of them without ever having  had their tops off!   So I will use them until they are finished, and keep trying to get  them working for me.

After all….what is an artist  to do?

Sep20

Abstract Faces

Posted on by
Image

As most of you know from watching my blog, Bob Burridge is one of my favorite artists!  He is loose, and fun to take a class from.  But, most of all his method really works.  I have taken many classes from Bob, and have never been disappointed…not even once.  I have however, left his class dragging, unable to do much else for the remainder of the day.  If the class is a week long class, be prepared to take a week to recuperate.  He has that much energy, and isn’t afraid to share it with all the students!

For me, it isn’t as easy as it looks, or maybe I’m trying too hard, regardless of the reason, I keep trying.  While I finish up the last two abstracts, I thought you might like to watch this video.  Even Bob doesn’t get it right the first time!  By the way, he had a great website with all kinds of information.  Check it out, and sign up for his newsletters…it’s free!

 

 

Aug9

The Watercolors Are Finished!

Posted on by
Image
Fall is on it's Way Abstract

“Fall is on it’s Way”   –   Abstract  2 of 2

After months of agonizing, awake off and on all night, and thinking about them all day, I finally finished.  Once I got my right brain working, and started seeing how the acrylic colors looked over the water colors, I began to really get into it.  The first one I have posted, but the last one is the one above and is now finished.

I know my friend will love them.  They are very colorful and happy.  That is really the only way I could work on them.

They had to let me know it was ok to color them happy!

Are they happy to you, or do you prefer something more subdued?  I always love color, color to me is joyous and happy.  It helps ground me, and energizes me.   We are all so different.  Many of you would prefer softer colors, calming colors, colors that help you relax, & possibly help get you in a meditative state.  I understand that also.

Garden Fantisy 1 of 2

Garden Fantisy
1 of 2

Let me know what you think, what you prefer, and even let me see the kind of art you love.   All art is from the heart,  that must be why we are so darn sensitive about showing it.  No judgement here!  I’m struggling just like everyone else, and the more I do the better I get at it.

My son Chris tells me that,  “it’s the journey, not the finished product. ” 

Art is healing, it’s a process, and we always have it when we most need an outlet.

Aug4

Ending of July!

Posted on by
Standard

IMG_0031 (1)

Can you believe we are starting a new month? I’ve been creating like crazy, and here is my latest abstract. I’ve tried to name my pieces prior to starting them, however they never turn out as I had planned. Lately I’ve been picking my colors, my canvas, and maybe a few pieces of paper or foil that I think might go into the new piece nicely, and more frequently than not……they never make it in.

Bob Burridge always says to name them first, know where you are going, have your colors all ready, and know the design.  I know he is intuitive, abstract, and is in his right brain while painting, but what I don’t know is how he plans all that out.  I can never know where my painting is going, and when I think I do…..It tells me,  “I don’t want to go that way!”  Just like a spoiled child.

 Yes I consider my paintings children. There hasn’t ever been a painting that I’ve worked on that has gone as planned.  I don’t like knowing where they will end up, but what I do like is being as surprised as anyone when it turns out completely and unexpectedly different!

The best feeling in my opinion, is when I start to work in my studio, something starts to look good, and all of a sudden it’s late in the day, and I’ve been working all day without interruptions.  That’s when I realize I’ve been playing with my inner child, and totally in my right brain!  What a joyous feeling.

I hope you like my last painting in July of 2016.  August brings a finished watercolor painting that one of my friends asked me to do. It’s just about dry, and one more last look at the balance.  I soon will be posting both paintings prior to sending them off to their new home.

Let’s start August with a big burst of creative energy!  Meanwhile, I’m going to check in with Zebra Designs & Destinations to see what Z is up to.  I hope you’ll check them out also.   By for now……

Jun23

The Impossible is Possible!

Posted on by
Image
Garden Fantisy

Garden Fantasy

After agonizing over this, and thinking about what my friend would have painted, I finally decided to do it my way!

It’s really finished, I only have two more much like this one to work on, and although I’d like to do them differently, only time will tell if that will happen.  Bob Burridge mentioned in one of his monthly news letters that he was using Cold Wax to seal watercoler paintings, so that’s what I did.  I very carefully covered it with cold wax, and lightly buffed it.  It didn’t run, or transfer, and worked just fine.

The frame is the only thing left to decide on.  I don’t do frames any longer so I thought I’d mount it on canvas with some sort of border.  I’m not sure right now exactly what this means ,because I have to find a canvas that’s the correct size for not just the painting, but a little extra size for a border.

Part of my inspiration comes from Zebra Designs & Destinations.  It’s been a while since I’ve seen a post from Z, so this is a shout out to them as well.  Z is always an inspiration, and living in  Equador, it is so different from the US that I’m fascinated with what goes on there, and how Z finds time to be creative.

 

Jun7

Transfering a Photo

Posted on by
Image

Over the years I have transferred many photos, one that comes to mind is a photo of my sister and myself when we were little….yes we were once little!  It turned out pretty well, but as many as I’ve done, it’s always been a pain to do.  There are many different ways to achieve this, and this is just one of them.  Enjoy!