Tag Archives: inspiration

Mar7

Whats Next?

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Our Daisy dog

Cats, dogs, flowers, houses, trees,  what does one tackle next as a creative endeavor? We all want to do something different, but we’re probably subconsciously attracted to the thing that works the best.  On the other hand, don’t we like the challenge?  I do.

Even if it doesn’t turn out perfect, and we all know perfect is not probable!   I don’t even like perfection,  that is for cameras, not artists!  I uploaded a sketch of Daisy, our dog to  work on, and with a little effort it could be just a little wonky.  I love wonky, it makes me happy and creative.  It takes me to a place I was never allowed to go as a child.  So the wonkier the better…

There are other subjects I could paint, but while I’m finishing up the painting of my purse……

I’ll form a plan for Daisy.

The purse, well…after painting two, I’m getting over it.  Purses no longer intrigue me, and I’ll be lucky to finish this.  The cat has given me more trouble than I could imagine, as cats tend to do.   Whiskers…no whiskers?  Stripes, or no stripes?  Polka dots, or not?   Whatever I do seems to not be the way I had imagined it to look, consequently the cat has more layers of paint than my kitchen.    It’s all good, and it’s all in the name of experimentation.

The end result of the purse is yet to come, so  for good or bad, it will be finished!

Mar4

Making a Sharp Left!

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Paint on leather

Paint on leather

One thing I can tell you for sure…I get bored easily. Most of the artists I know, create in many different ways. We all love to try something new. New colors, new paper, new techniques and the list goes on and on.  A few weeks ago my critique group decided we’d do a together project and see what turns out.  We decided to paint purses.  So off we all went to find a purse we each felt was worthy of painting.  I choose canvas, others choose leather, some genuine PVC.

While I was struggling with what to put on my canvas/dacron purse, a small leather travel purse called my name at the top of the shelf in my bedroom closet.  It was used one time, I’ve had it for twenty plus years, and I paid a fortune for it in the Cedros District of Solana Beach.   A trendy part of Southern California you only shop at if you feel like spending lots of money.    I wanted something I could travel with that was small enough to eliminate a regular handbag with all the stuff we carry in it.  The purse was so small that I couldn’t get sunglasses into it.

Perfect Guinea Pig for an art project!

Why not paint something on this little purse?  After all I never use it, and it’s been up there for twenty or so years.

So for some reason it seemed right to paint a dragon-fly on it, and well… flowers seemed right too!  It’s the first purse I’ve ever painted, and as you can see it won’t be the last!

Gesso on canvas

Gesso on canvas

Now that the small purse is finished, I’m working on an abstract design for the canvas bag.  I wanted it a little wonky because, well I’m a little wonky and my style is a little wonky.  It all fits don’t you think?

The colors will come next, and who knows what they will be?  I just know that I have red, orange, and gold gesso to work with and anything else I’ll just have to work out with what I have.

Wish me luck.  Painting on a black surface like this is tricky, and it takes a lot of gesso and a love of wonky!

 

Feb24

Making Changes!

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Orchid in Abstract

Orchid in Abstract

Good morning everyone. Since I wrote this a couple of days ago, I haven’t any idea if it’s raining at the moment, or if the sun is playing with us. It’s been chilly here in Southern California, and since I live ten miles off the Pacific Ocean, it’s a bit damp.     Just so we’re clear, in no way am I complaining!  I’m only in Southern California….not Main or New York, or even Michigan. The people who live there have reason to complain about cold and dampness.                                                                        No, I’m not complaining.

Its been a long time since I’ve been able to actually gather enough thoughts to sit down and blog. . Today, Tuesday, I sat down with a big, warm, coconut infused Yerba Mate tea and decided I needed to pick myself up, and make some changes!

Changes come in all kinds of ways, sizes, shapes and forms. Of course the first thing I need to do is make time for you, and my blog.  The next thing is letting all of you know that KarenSamenow with StoneSoup will now be known as Karen’s Stone Soup…

Since some of the changes are to my  blog, and Yes they will be positive changes, and some changes are to my home!  As much as I love the colorful background of my blog, I’m going to replace it as soon as I can learn how to do that.   LOL   Some changes have already taken place.  Like me even thinking about changes!

Admittedly, I have lost touch with the workings of blogging, and I’m working at getting back to a place where I’m fluid at posting new items of interest within my blog.   Blogging is a full-time job, and  I also have interests in  creating my art, my family, and exploring and/or traveling. I belong to an  art group where we critique one another, explore new ideas, or sometimes just stop and relax with a cup of something good!  We support each other through great times, and sad times. Sometimes that means just setting aside creating, and being supportive.  So twice a week is going to be a standard for me, or I won’t have anything to blog about!

It is my hope you will like the changes as much as I do, and find it easier to negociate  your way around Stone Soup.  Thank you for being here, you are the people  keeping me going and giving me inspiration.  🌞👩🏻‍🎨☔️🕗

Feb21

Spray, Spray, Spray!

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It’s always cool to know how to create a rain effect on a canvas, or maybe an XBOX, or even something else unexpected. My son is very much into spray painting, and I have to admit it fascinates me. So far I haven’t figured out how to incorporate spraying into some of the things I’ve been working on. On the other hand, maybe I need to do some experimenting, and figure out a way to make it work!

Since I focus mostly on traditional types of painting, I thought maybe some of you might be interested in something out side the box.   Many of you might not think it’s so outside the box at all.  Here it is…

This is only the beginning, but it’s something I hadn’t thought of, and maybe worthy of experimentation!

Feb14

Happy Valentine’s Day

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This is a cute idea and while it’s cute, I apologize for not being more creative!  There may be some of you out there that may like this idea more than others.  While it’s cut and creative, it’s also easy to put together.  It’s also something that could be given to a Grandchild to put together themselves.  I like that it’s easy.

Happy Valentines Day to all of you.

Feb10

California Vibe!

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David Lobenberg nails it for me!  I love his style and relaxed way of teaching.  AND… I love the California Vibe he adds to his watercolors.  It is said that watercolors are the most difficult.  In some ways I would agree, in other ways I have to say that once I learned watercolor, the transition into acrylics and particularly abstract, were way more difficult.  It doesn’t have to be that way, but I always make things harder than necessary.

David makes it look so easy I want to take his classes, how about you?  This must be why I live in California…