COLORED PENCIL: ROSE PETALS

Every Anniversary, my husband has given me roses, a dozen red, with one yellow rose for each year we were married.  After awhile, it started getting really expensive, and difficult to find that many (we have been married for 34 years now) so he started giving me the most lovely red tipped yellow roses, and fuschia colored ones.  I would save them until the bitter end, when the petals were shriveling and falling off because I loved them so much.  I have even made rose petal beads from some of the anniversary roses.  My favorite way of saving those roses, however, is by drawing them, or painting them.  This rendition is one of my favorites, done in colored pencil and tracing every vein and crease.  Every time I look at this piece I feel happy.  Isn't that what art is all about?

MOUSE HEAVEN

Mouse Heaven

What fun I had drawing this picture!  I was once the cover artist for the Spouse's Magazine at one of the military bases.  They needed something with an autumn theme, and I came up with this.  It was at this time that I discovered a love of drawing animals, because that little mouse really brought a still life to a different level.  I have been toying with the idea of doing illustration for a while now, and will be practicing along those lines with a children's book I have written called "The Mad Mouse and the Teeny, Tiny Turtle".  I look forward to creating the characters and working on expressions and telling the story with pictures.

WATERCOLOR SEASHELL



Grace At Sea





I chose to combine the looseness of watercolor with ink today.  I just love the way that throwing salt onto a wet color causes it to look just like sand.  I kept my lines simple to suggest a small conch shell.  Loads of fun, fun, fun!  Why isn't everyone an artist?!

OIL PAINTING: BOLLINGER MILL

I have been working on this painting for a year now, and am unable to decide if it is complete!  I love the brushstrokes that developed in this painting, and I love how the water looks deep and mysterious.  I spent a lot of time at this old mill and covered bridge when I was growing up, and it means a lot.  I am not so thrilled with the entrance to the bridge...though it is technically exact, it looks rather strange.  I need guidance here, people!  What are your thoughts on the completeness of this painting?  Does the waterfall look like a good interpretation of it?  What is working, or not working?  HELP!!!

WATERCOLOR GARDEN

Moonlight Garden

I don't do watercolor very often.  I took classes from Jake Wells at Southeast Missouri State University many years ago (he does have a book out with watercolors of Missouri's covered bridges).  While I really enjoyed the techniques, and experimenting with salt and plastic wrap, I never truly felt in control of my work and where it was going to end up.  Now that I am older and wiser, I have realized that it is not always a good thing to have THAT MUCH CONTROL! I did a wildly interpretive garden here that was great fun to work with and really loosened me up for a more open mind to watercolor and experimenting with mediums.

Moonlight Garden (detail)

WOLF SKETCH

Ball point pen, sketch book, and a tiny window of time...that is all that is needed to keep me happy!  I admit to not actually meeting this noble creature.  I was watching my National Geographic Channel and an old documentary on the relocation of wolves to Yellowstone Park, and I was intrigued by the diversity of colors that the wolf had.as a breed.  Don't you think that the look in this one's eye is one of wisdom, long suffering, and a bit of contempt for the humans who were trying to guess what he was feeling and thinking? 

GRANITE SCULPTURE

My husband and best friend, Michael, did an amazing job at the Arts Alive art show in Florence, Alabama this month.  You are seeing a detail of a red granite carving called "Dracon" that was inspired by the very first mention of dragons in history from "The Illiad".  Michael has a classical background in literature and history, and (just to embarrass him) has quoted poetry to me over the years.  Yes, ladies, he is the PERFECT husband!  I am always amazed at the depth of his thoughts, and the talent in his art.

BEGINNINGS

I went to University to get my Fine Arts degree in education.  I thought that teaching art to children was what I was going to do.  Fate sent me in a new direction, however, when the government cut art and music programs from the public school systems.  I have since spent my career  teaching art to adults, usually at the education centers on military bases.  Occasionally I was able to give art lessons to children on a one-to-one basis, and truly enjoyed the experiences.  Children are an open book.  They are able to experiment and risk when an adult fights the experience all the way.  You can instruct them on warm and cool colors, and they will paint the sea orange and the sun blue, just to see what it looks like.  I believe that we all start as artists, and then slowly talk ourselves out of it. 

My grandson sent me a picture that he drew this week.  I am blown away by his imagination, his symbolic uses  for the sun and wind, and the beautiful rich colors.  Yes, I am a proud Grandma...but I am also a person with admiration for a budding artist whose potential is easy to see.  I am inspired by his use of color combinations and his simple, clean lines.   Artists get their inspiration from other artists, nature, light and life.  What inspires you?

COLORED PENCIL WARBLER

I love working with colored pencil.  I have CONTROL!!!  I can push it into deep colors, lots of depth...or I can barely tint the paper, like taking a sepia photograph.  I have been watching some of the new, contemporary artists work lately, and they have done wonderful things with colored pencil.  They make it look so easy, and can really get the most out of the medium.  In my experience with colored pencil, the most important thing about controlling it is using high quality paper or base, and getting a really good set of pencils.  Prismacolor is one of the best I have tried, with lots of pigment and fairly inexpensive.  I would love to try some of the professional pencils someday, as well.  I drew this yellow warbler when I spent some time in Southern California.  We had a lime tree out back that beckoned to the warblers and Western Tanagers.  It also seemed to attract a few snakes, much to my surprise (and my neighbor's, when I spent a few terrified minutes screaming for help.)  I did a bit of experimenting with the layering of colors, trying to get a deep enough contrast to pull out the yellows.  I played with a red undertone in the branches, as well.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day to all

and thank you, darlings,

 for the most beautiful tulips I have ever seen!

ARTIST CHALLENGE #50

I have submitted my "Spring Iris"  to The Artist Challenge - A Private Art Club for the #50 Flower Challenge.  I find the experience always stretches my 'risk muscles' and I love the helpful critique that comes along with the challenges.  This particular painting is frustrating to take a photo of because I painted it to be tipped on it's end, like a diamond.  No matter what I try, I cannot get the photo programs to allow me to display it in that manner, so tip your head slightly and you will view it the way I meant it to be. Techie I am not!  I enjoyed painting this piece so much that I plan on doing more in the Impressionist style.  I loved playing with the brush strokes, and there was not so much angst in figuring out where my stopping point was.  (That is always an issue with me, as I tend to overdo my paintings.)  Anyway, visit my Iris and all the many beautiful floral paintings at the Artist Challenge site and celebrate spring!

SNOW HARES

This painting of snow hares was my first ever oil painting.   I am featuring it today to remind myself how far I have come, and maybe how far I have NOT come.  In other words, what has changed in my work in the past 10 years?  Have I grown?  I looked up an old art instructor that I had about 15 years ago...she now has a website and an art school.  Her recent work and her old work was indistinguishable.  It struck me that I expected change and growth in her, and I probably hadn't done a lot of growth in my own work, either.  So I am looking hard at my work.  I sometimes feel that I was better technically in my earlier work.  I have been moving towards more abstract backgrounds for some of my paintings lately.  I am frustrated thinking about whether it is better, however.  I have even been considering using some collage methods to illustrate my thoughts in some of the paintings, and worried whether that is going in the direction of craftsman rather than artist...I had a rather rigid classical art background that looks down its nose at less traditional methods.  Growth, however, isn't possible without experimentation.  What to do? What to do???  I ask you,  what do you think out there?  Do you have thoughts on change, growth and art in your own life? 

I did this painting with the intentions of a looser style, and an emotional connection to one of my favorite sports.  I failed miserably.  I am unhappy with a variety of things about this painting.  Representationally, it is not quite correct.  The color palette was all wrong for the subject, though it does kind of bring back a nostalgic feeling.  The sea shell is too thick, the bobber is wobbly, the paint is too thick.  Yet I did learn from this painting.  I tried a variety of techniques to get the feeling of sand.  Some of them were watercolor techniques that don't work as well with acrylic.  I tried for an oil painting style with the acrylics, as well.  I know that doing it again, I would do a lot of things differently, but I am trying hard not to feel like a failure with this one.  I am trying to change my "everything has to come out perfectly" attitude and be happy with the chance to learn from the experience. 

"An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one. "Charles Horton Cooley

MORE CONTOUR LINE

  In doing contour line drawings this week, I felt completely happy and fulfilled.  For those few moments, I was able to suspend the criticisms. I took joy in the creating, and the thrill of surprise when I looked at the creation afterwards.  It was exhilarating, free and I was fully open to the experience.  Is this what art is really all about?

I am less confident when I have ideas or am inspired by a thought, because I always have in the back of my mind the worry that the outcome will be less than what I envisioned, and so will be laughed at by others.  I need to concentrate on being more 'present in the moment', and enjoy the freedom of inspiration.  It is the first step, I think, in the journey of creating something that is expressing my own emotions.  I need to acknowledge that my inner thoughts are worth exploring and expressing.

TEXTURES

In preparation for my collared lizard painting, I have been testing out a few possibilities for textures.  My usual way of doing reptile skin and scales is to individually paint each scale, adding up to 10 glazes for depth.  Truly a labor of love, but I am trying to become more spontaneous with my work.  I want to grow, show more emotion with the paint, and communicate.  With that in mind, I headed for the hardware store and found some concrete board tape to play with.  I thought that it would lay down the darkest 'shadow' of the scales, and I would paint through the mesh to add the highlights.  Nothing ever comes out quite as you think!  For one thing, the kitty decided she needed attention NOW, and jumped into the middle of the first batch of paint swatches.  After cleaning that up and trying again, she chose to dip her tail into my palette.  I had to chase her around the house a few times trying to grab her tail and wipe it down.  Thank heaven I chose to experiment with acrylics instead of oils!  I am still undecided whether the textures are going to work, but I had fun trying, and I now have to sit and think about the lizard and what HE wants me to do...........

HAPPY EASTER!

HAPPY EASTER!

In honor of the holiday, I have made hundreds of origami bunnies to decorate my space.  I love the celebration of spring and life and all things new that Easter promises.  One of my favorite memories is visiting my brother's farm in the spring and seeing all of the baby goats bouncing about like they had springs on their feet.  What an innocent joy of life they had!  I wish for you all that joy of renewal and hope this happy Easter Day.

DOODLES

Doodling stimulates the mind and tunes up the hand-eye coordination.  Plus you come up with the most wonderful ideas when you doodle!  I am sure that Matthew Baker (c.1586) a mathmetician and shipwright, and all around renaissance man,  was doodling when he designed a galleon based on the anatomy of a fish!

"DRAW LIKE DA VINCI"

I have been reading a wonderful book...."DRAW LIKE DA VINCI" BY SUSAN DOROTHEA WHITE.  It is very insightful, and gives lots of practice sessions to help improve your drawing.  I have pulled a few little tidbits of information that has really hit home with me from this book.  

 One question that it asks and answers to a certain degree is "Why do I need to be an artist?"

 1.  Drawing helps us to focus.  ART IS AN EXPRESSION OF EXISTENCE, POWER, AND BELONGING TO OUR WORLD!!

2.  Drawing helps us to communicate what we can't vocalize.  WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHY WE ARE MAKING EACH ART PIECE.

The book also gives a few guidelines to drawing that I find rather intriguing.

a. Draw what happens around you.

b. Be careFREE not careFUL!

c. Creativity comes from chaos.

d. DO NOT ERASE- the lines you draw show movement, life and your own thoughts. 

e. There are no mistakes in your drawings!

I definitely recommend this book if you want to find more meaning behind your drawings, and I am loving the variety of projects suggested.



ORIGAMI THERAPY

When my life becomes chaotic, I find myself drawn to origami...it's structure and order are calming for me.  Today I folded 2 dozen standing rabbits, 3 elephants, 14 turtles, 32 butterflies, and 45 cranes. I obviously have control issues, and life is beyond all my control at this time!  The past 4 years surely have been beyond my control, because I have 9 large glass containers filled with origami animals. What on earth am I going to do with them all?!! 

EARTH COLORS

I love when the earth laughs in flowers! What colors Mother Nature comes up with to inspire us, and what marvels that creep and crawl and grow and flourish!

SPRING MADNESS!!!

I have thus far used a fairly limited palette.  In the spirit of spring, (and ridding myself of depression forever!) I am trying out a new palette.   I use mostly umbers, siennas, and ochres.  Time to expand into rainbow colors!  I have chosen a beautiful Rose Madder, Cobalt Turquoise, and Hensa Yellow to start with.  Expect to see the results of my new color picks soon!

I find that art is a gateway to looking at the world in a different way.  Artists see uniquely.  They search for their reason for being through what surrounds them.  It doesn't have to be visual, either.  I knew of an artist who sculpted stone to cast shadows in a visually exciting way.  His work was two dimensional AND three dimensional.  It gave me goosebumps to look at his work.  And he was blind.  Wow! And I fuss about a blank canvas!  Artists have power to communicate without words, if they can only find their 'voice', their niche, their personal way.  I am finding my voice, slowly.    I am expanding my world.  I am learning what questions to ask.  I have found my rusty gate and I am forcing it to open!  I would be delighted to hear some  of your experiences in finding your own voice.  Please feel free to comment, to share, and to connect.

Invasion!

Last year I was invaded by red wasps...my studio was completely taken over by about 30 of the little darlings.  While I am a softy when it comes to creatures, I am NOT willing to give up my studio to the enemy!  This year, the wasps are out early and in force.  I have taken some photos to get to know the enemy better and try to talk some sense into them.  We are in the midst of negotiations right now, and the wasps are not listening well, but we WILL come to a compromise, I am sure of it!

In Unison

In the spirit of having more fun with my sketches, I drew this.  In my mind, I am equating all of these happy, singing faces with the unity of artists...the family of people who understand one another and support each other.  While my life is a bit barren right now of that unity, I know it is out there, and I am working towards building my own community of art supporters.  We all need that feeling of belonging and unity.  And I am singing for all I am worth!

Bird Sketches

The birds are busy in our backyard, showing off their breeding plumage and eating extra sunflowerseeds, and building nests.  I had an especially agressive mockingbird defending his territory this week, and tried to sketch his attitude.  I also sketched a cardinal that was looking a bit scruffy, almost shaggy.  He must be having girl bird problems and went on a seed binge!

HOME AGAIN!

 It is lovely to be home again.  The dogwood trees are blooming and it is warm enough to drag my easel outdoors to paint!  I am ready to concentrate completely on getting ready for my June show, and actually have a bit of panic setting in about whether I will have enough paintings.  My sculptor husband has juried into an art show in Florence, Alabama with three of his works.  The show runs the entire month of May this year, with a special outdoor opening of artists and craftsman May 15 and 16. I am especially proud of him!  My own art show will be at the Missouri Educational Nature Center in Cape Girardeau, MO.  I will be showing works pertinent to the nature of that state, and I am delighted to be featured in the state where I spent most of my childhood, and went to college for my fine arts degree.  The sun is shining, the earth is waking up, and SPRING IS HERE! 

Sketchbook Hell

I learned something incredibly helpful today.  I was looking through a new book, "Sketchbook Confidential" by Pamela Wissman and Stefanie Laufersweiler.  It has tips from the private sketches of over 40 master artists.  I noticed that their sketches were much freer than mine, more expressive and creative, and in flipping through several of my own sketchbooks, I found myself rejecting many sketches because they were not perfect, they were unfinished.  The tiny 'clue bell' went off in my head - I wasn't sketching at ALL!  I was doing complete pieces and missing that all-important step of capturing the essence and emotion of the subject AND the moment.    Dear! Dear! Dear!  I am going to have to go back to step one and relearn a few things.  Especially: my sketches should be my learning phase, not perfect every time.  Will I EVER become an artist?!

I find lizards amazing! Odd thing to say, but from an artists perspective, think of the color! They change color with their environment, and attract a mate by flashing brilliant colors to announce their availability.  I would love it if my hubby would turn neon blue and flourescent orange to signal his interest!  Wow!     Today I sketched an Eastern Collared Lizard, and the ink didn't do it justice: however, this is a preliminary 'get-to-know-you' drawing in anticipation of a painting I have in my mind.  I want to break away from my usual high detail painting and do something flamboyant. Lots of color and a bit of texture, large canvas and fun, fun, fun!

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE...

  I have LEANED on my art the last few weeks, something that I have never done before.  There have been many tumultuous times in my life when I have been unable to focus on the creative side.  My daughter once asked me why I couldn't paint during those difficult times, releasing the anger, fear or grief into that emotional medium.  I told her then that I couldn't paint unless I was at peace...I was wrong!  I simply didn't know how to express those feelings.  I didn't think I had it in me.  Experience is teaching me otherwise.

  I am finding new joy in painting my way through my emotions.  I have a million and one ideas bombarding me right now, begging to become emotion personified.  I can't explain why I have been pushing my emotions down into a tiny place inside me, but I feel as if there is a butterfly trying to break free, and if I am brave enough, you might just see a whole lot more of my creativity soon.  I am excited! I have a feeling of anticipation, like something new and joyous is about to happen.  I can hardly wait!

Iris Painting

After several days of intense study (remember I am NOT tech savvy!) I figured out how to download a picture on this alien computer.  I am really proud of this painting!  It is a departure from some of my more somber paintings, and it is a lot looser in style.  I had loads of fun trying to get that luminous quality that irises have, and I wanted a joyful emotion to shine through.  It is a small canvas...5"X5", and I turned it on an angle to get the most height and more, to look at it in a different way.  As a child, we are open to tipping our heads sideways, and turning upsidedown to look at things with a new perspective.  I wanted that childlike quality of seeing with this painting.