The balancing of details

As I may have referenced/suggested/hinted at in previous posts, I'm drawn to detail and most often, lots of it. I decided to explore in my current works in progress, paintings in abstractions, the combination of detail and no detail. 

Shown below are 2 of the 4 (actually the ones I am most pleased by, at least, in this stage of the game) paintings I'm working on - the latest layers of ideas from the other day. I'm liking the bit of small detail amidst the larger splotches of color and forms......

 What do you think?

The detail is somewhat leaf and fish like, I think  :)

 A portion of the larger painting, the detail (captured a bit too dark??) here reminds me of a bubbly waterfall.....

Though some may consider these complete, I know there are many layers yet to do - both in detail and in not. And because I have not been able to actually sit down and paint much lately, I have been instead painting in my mind (a curious idea and certainly one that is not messy!) so that I know how I will proceed next time I'm actually able to pick up my paintbrush and paint.

So as always, stay tuned. I am looking forward to seeing if what I see in my mind can translate on over to reality!

I had an idea and it involved a mock-up

I have found taking the time to do a mock-up certainly helps in the short and long run of things. I tend to, over the course of my day outside of the studio, noodle around my artistic ideas, checking it all out, seeing if what I'm thinking fits and figuring out how to next proceed. If I throw a mock-up into the mix, I can more accurately move into my next step. I'm finding it to be much more time efficient overall, plus it's a way for me to feel like I'm being productive as I have something to show for all of the noodles!  :)

Below shows case in point. I cut samples of different materials (see previous post) and combined them in their desired order, securing them at the top with a brad. Now having done this, I see I need to add another 1/8" to the overall length to give a bit more room for text under the samples. I passed this important tidbit onto my person who will begin formatting the booklet this next week.... Stay tuned!

An awl is on of my favorite tools......

I don't know how to paint!

This is a thought I expressed the other day. My husband just shook his head at me in disbelief. But sometimes this is how it feels as I pick up the brush and look at my palette of color, somewhat doubtfully and undecidedly. But as with all thoughts (well, the majority!), I let go of this one, and dove in.

Each of the 4 paintings progressed nicely with the layers I added (see below). And I can see the path/direction that each will take me (well, to some extent. I'm sure there will be detours along the way as I work my way along.). Regardless, the feeling of intent, the idea of knowing what it is I'm going to do next, is quite welcome. I look forward to my next studio day!

So as always, stay tuned. I will keep you posted  :)

12" square, oil on panel (hanging on an old door to dry - thus the black handle on the right)

10" square, oil on panel (this is currently my favorite)

12" square, oil on canvas

8" square, oil on panel

What's Black and White and can be Read all over?

Give up? It's a black and white photograph of an abstract painting!   :)  (perhaps a poor riddle, I realize!) My instructor said there is a reason why a painting would be reproduced in black and white. It is for the viewer, perhaps a student such as myself, to be able to see the balance and rhythm of it all without being influenced by color used. Of course that made sense!

And as I had my camera on me, I excitedly decided to give it a try. For the first time in this way, I used my camera as a tool. I set the setting to black and white so that when I looked through its lens the colors within a painting were no longer. As a result I found I was no longer influenced by the color I had chosen and found instead a surprising amount of neutral, unexciting, undramatic gray.......

Here are a couple of paintings and what happened along the way in class #6:

I was surprised to see how grey/neutral this was without color!! What I thought was bold and drama really wasn't working, at least not for me..... and so I decided to shake things up a bit......

It didn't take long before I had created some dramatic darks and lights. The grayness was disappearing...... 

This is the end of my work with this piece for today. Definitely a step in the right direction, I think. I'm curious to see it in color (which I imagine sounds strange as you would think I would be noticing the color as I'm actually painting with color and not with black and white. But now I am really able to use color to create depth (in values of gray through my camera's lens) in a very different way than before!)

Here's another:

This is the painting referenced in my post about class #5......

and the magic beings, layer by layer.....

I had no idea the variety of shades of gray I could achieve through the use of color!

And so the fun continues.....

layer by layer, value by value, a push and a pull

by large and small, papa bear, mama bear, and baby.....

inviting the eye to come and stay for (a long) while......

Stay tuned! I look forward to sharing what I learn next  :)

Abstract Painting - Class #5

I walked out of class #5 having been introduced to the idea of creating "drama" and "boldness" with the brush and color. The idea is to have bold drama consistently throughout, to invite the eye and keep it interested. Now, that is the idea, which I found to be much easier said then done.....

The above image is a detail of a larger work in progress - according to my teacher, this shows exactly what is meant by "drama" and "boldness".  The image below is the full painting, which shows what isn't there, what is missing throughout the rest of the piece..... I am now able to see the difference!

Play time!

This last weekend I participated in the largest art tour of the country, Art-A-Whirl. I am, nearly always, inspired by such an event; I love sharing and telling with others about the creative path I find myself on and the work that has resulted from this journey. In turn, I learn about new ideas, thoughts, and perspectives - all of which I find invaluable. It can be from a fellow artist down the hall or a someone I had never met.

My inspiration started earlier this time around. I left Friday evening with an idea from such conversations and went home to research the encaustic world further. With the whirl of the weekend, and then work, I had to put my play time in the studio on hold for a few days....

Jump forward to yesterday when I visited a local gallery to specifically see the work of Bethany Kalk. Combined with her wonderful imagery (inspired by nature - what could be more wonderful?) and painting with wax technique (oh! the layers and delicate line highlighting select forms) I was ready to jump in and play (though it was hard not to be fearful after seeing such work).

The following images are the result (please excuse the glare! (I may need to recapture to give justice to, what I think is, my progress made.....)):

I explored layers and colors

in a very different way than before.

      

But of course, there's a Tiny Little House....

The completed 6" square painting on wood.
I wonder.... what shall its title be?

What do you think?  I would love to know!

I'm curious to give this combination another try.... As always, stay tuned  :)

Musings from the Studio

Both shows I've been working towards have been delivered. One show is up, the opening has passed and all is well. The second is in the process of installation with the opening this Thursday.

My studios are looking bare and empty without the ideas, the works in progress floating about on all levels around me. I'm a bit at a loss as to what to do next. Start on a new piece (I have an idea for a new "Tiny Little House" piece)? Tie up last year's paperwork? Work on my pattern portfolio? Update website and such internet-relatedness out in the universe of it all? Granted the possibilities are endless and that doesn't help....

I'm also toying with my theory (posting on January 8th) about not putting out into the world creations/pieces I don't love. I had a friend over the other night who inquired about my "Tiny Little Houses". As they are all in a gallery showing right now I just had one to show her.  It was one I had set aside next to my hot plate - to be melted away the next time I turn on this part of the studio. I said as much. She in return expressed her enthusiasm for the piece pointing out an area she loved - what I didn't see she saw. And this has thrown my theory into tangled knots.

I was tempted to just give her this piece as she obviously loved it - much more so than I. And she had a happy home to take it to. But I stopped only because it did not live up to my standard of what I want to go out into the world. And because I am the creator of the piece the law of such is mine to write.... Or is it?

The development is expanding....

Neighbors?!

I started expanding upon my little houses idea with larger boards. This is one of my latest, in process, a few layers (of wax) in, and yet a few layers to go before its completed.

Prepping for tomorrow's painting day

Ready to go!

I'm looking forward to pursuing the ideas that have been tumbling around in my mind since before our travels. I pulled out the wood cradles this morning, looking and feeling for the 'right' size. The ones shown here are the winners - I figure they can be both horizontal and vertical in nature....

Breaking in a New Brush with Green

There is nothing like a new paintbrush! and so yesterday morning I started work in detail with with my favorite, Winsor Newton, Size 1, Series 7 Miniature.

The precise line that can be obtained from a virgin brush is unlike anything else. I find the experience to be absolutely delicious!

My "green" palette was what I worked from and you can see the result above on my latest work in progress.

Yummi-ness!

My current work-in-progress is on a companion door to the door that my most recent completed story, My Inner Reptile, is painted on. This canvas has the knob which I think adds such an unique 3D feature to the piece. This 3D element also seems to follow/mimic the circular orbs located on the lower right and left areas within the painting....

Today I continued laying out the colors and blocking out the forms with a not-so-often used larger brush (the result is shown above). Now I'm eager to start laying in the details with my favorite tool, a water-color brush by Winsor & Newton.

I had an idea and it involved gold leaf....

As much as I wanted to say this painting was finished, I  knew deep down it wasn't. How did I know? Because I had an idea that I kept shooting down and trying to forget - all to no avail as it kept hounding me. So I gave in and am thrilled I did so! You can see the latest detail/addition to my painting, My Inner Reptile. I still have a few more layers to do, but that is all, and then for sure it will be done  :)  As always, do stay tuned....

Brussels Sprouts? Hedgehog Gourd?

Hmmmm.... Certainly a little of each perhaps is influencing/inspiring the forms in my new painting. This is the companion door to the canvas of my most recent painting, "My Inner Reptile".
I'm really excited to continue the building up of layers.... This morning I just finished laying out the forms. Now the details....
As always, stay tuned  :)

The latest capture

It was the right side I concentrated on during this last painting session. Primarily the red-ish grape-like orbs. I'm very much aware of my desire for depth and it's hard to not use my usual, yet favorite, mix of color to create the darkness of shadow.... I'm not committed to this approach yet, but will see how it feels as the rest of the painting comes to a close. As always, stay tuned  ;)

Winged creatures

I'm lately inspired by wings, large or small. From dragonflies to wasps to birds to even the faded almost transparent petals of a lily (though not a wing, the veins throughout resemble such), I soak the details in. This fascination seems to have found an outlet in my latest painting (above). The detail of this work in progress shows what I define as wings. From my book, Dictionary of Symbolism, I find wings typically, symbolically suggest "an elevation of, or improvement upon, the merely corporeal, subject as it is to the earth's gravity".   Personally I see them as veins of life....

The ideal....

From the zucchini chocolate chip cookie recipe to phrases like "....come back for a potholder hug...." -- these visuals of the Kingsolver family's experience have stuck with me after the last page of this memoir was turned.  The idea to nurture ourselves through our choices, creating a lifestyle that supports us on all levels is goal-worthy. Challenging it may be at times, and overwhelming if not taken step by step, day to day balance is where it is at. That's easier said then done though, isn't it?

There are times where I want to live my life more like my painting. When I paint I let go of control, of time; I let the forms and textures guide me. It is here I can get lost and the clock does not matter. Yet I find my hurdle is to be able to break away from keeping house or working or running errands to paint. Why is it so difficult to do what one loves? Thankfully, life is a work in progress. Each day that begins anew gives us another chance. As the last sentence in the book stated, "a nest full of little ding-dongs, and time begins once more."

And the off-white doors beckoned.....

It didn't take me long to start seeing an image in the foundational layers of my process. I'm loving what is emerging! I think it's somewhat Alice in Wonderland (which I've now have seen it 4 times and each time just gets better!) inspired and intestinal influenced....

I painted

and it felt sooooo good! This last month was spent on the frames (referenced previously) and I missed the smell of oil paint and bringing an image to life with my brush.

So I picked from my various paintings in progress and chose one I had started some time ago. I was inspired to paint large today and this fit the bill as it is an entire door (though the image itself is only on the lower 1/3-1/2). I'm eager to continue.....

Oh dear, it's been a while since I've written....

I haven't forgotten; I just haven't known what to write about when there's been so much to write about! I'm inspired by so much right now: my new purchases from Wet Paint: a paint brush (Monza #4, Short Round) and colour shaper (soft Cup Chisel #0); a story emerging from the layers in my painting (the work in progress up above); the return of the robins (I believe it was this past Friday); the planting of seeds (dinosaur kale, giant groundcherry, elecampane.....) from Seeds of Change; a slice of leek morphing on my kitchen counter (the rings of green, gold, the miniature detail in such thin delicate sections!); the arrival of the pigs (not to mention the baby chicks and soon to be arriving piglets and lambs!) at Gale Woods Farm; the publication with so many ideas from Surface Design Association; the noodling around in my head on new patterns (stay tuned!) to create for my grant proposal.....

May you be as inspired by your environment as I!