Concept

Such a relief that the sun is still shining, but here I am on the computer. This is the image I wanted to post last...a small collage painting on board...8x11 but seems to have a larger presence. This one seemed to grow; working layers, then leaving it for other pleasures. What is it about a painting that helps us stop working and breathe in the flavor established? I am grateful to have my guides. Now for the sun!

Shifted intentions

Writing on the Wall
When the image I was looking for didn't come easily in my search, my intentions for this post had to shift. This piece grabbed my attention and jumped to the upload position. This dyptic is not finished...rather raw as it awaits the next stroke, but rains keep coming. I have these 2 panels of linen, about 20" wide stapled onto a wood panel at the back of the painting cabin. With no electricity in a small windowed cabin, the light is less than desired, so I find myself wandering outside looking for the place to paint. As the pine rains needles upon me, I paint at its feet wondering how many needles will fix themselves upon my work. It is an old pine tree, very tall, towering, stately, but with an incredible shed this past week. The weather itself has been unsettled, my spirit has leaps and bounds, and then does somersaults sometimes without the proper landing. I am finding my spirit as I paint in this new home for painting and the paintings are rougher, more immediate, as the energy of this space seems to demand. The surfaces I am finding to use are irregular, rough and what comes to hand. Yesterday there was a large neighborhood yard sale and the prices were very good for someone with little cash available and then the items were left for free pickings. Several items challenged me to rejuvenate them and I challenged several other artists to make their own stab at a redo. A show is beginning to be born...artists working together can make things happen. More on this later.

Alter Ego

Land Scaped, 24x24
Alter Ego, 12x12

Finally I am painting again in the "studio" and it feels good.  Alter Ego, above, 12x12, was begun in the house before I moved to Camp Meade.  It was roughed in using up what was left on the palette but grew into it own just recently.  I've left areas of very thin paint and canvas showing in combination with the thicker wax encrustations.  When it dries I will probably refine it some more, but feel it is formed and quite strongly.  The other, Land Scaped, also has been growing and evolving its layers.  Acrylic wall paint texturized it and then it waited its time.  Once again, I'm not certain I am finished, but it feels near completion.  When I paint within a painting, there is an interaction between what i see, feel, and what is becoming.  After I draw away from the painting, I need to sit with it awhile, take images, turn it, consider what is next and sometimes the painting says to leave me alone.  It is an intuitive process.  From past experience, I know that when I reenter a painting, it can change drastically, making layers upon layers.  I have to be careful about returning with brush in hand if a painting is feeling full of itself.  How much is a painting its own creation or how much is it our play thing to toy with?  I guess these were my questions when raising my boys also.

Painting to Piano

Finding Form
To Bach
January Thaw
I am trying to catch up with myself. I had so much going on, I could hardly stretch and breath. Finally yesterday I made my way to the Camp studio, though a very soft tire tried to discourage me. I at least wanted to see the paintings that I did while Michael played improv piano on Saturday evening. What an evening! The audience filled the chairs in the Wood Gallery and seemed happy to take paper and drawing materials to their seats. I was positioned beside Michael with my easel facing the audience, my back to the watchers....mostly I painted quite unaware of the viewing. The music was enchanting, entransing, and I found myself in its grip even recognizing the notes coming to the end of most pieces...like dancing to music not yet heard, but feeling it enough to follow in the path. Forms and colors met in this dance and I painted a piece to each piece of music, not finished pieces because I will try to find my way back into them to add more layers. I was working in acrylic and most likely I will add oil and textures to many. To Bach and January Thaw are both painted on record albums which have been resurfaced with canvas (black paint) and with wall paper. A record covering recovered to record the music. It is my little play with myself, experiemental and reusing that which is abandoned. The farmer's daughter in me comes through when money is scarce. I am grateful that I have learned to be resourceful...it has helped me so often being an artist and needing to find painting surfaces. So, today, I have time to paint again and I must end this writing and make my way to my studio.

Improv session--piano and paint

Spent much of this day preparing surfaces to paint upon on Friday night when our improv paint meets Michael Arnowitt's improv piano in a concert at Wood Art Gallery. This event was discussed in Seven Days newspaper. We "practiced" on Sunday evening and I was quite swept away by the piece of music when I was painting this piece. "Be still my heart." I exclaimed when the reverberation finally silenced. If my painting could nearly express what the music made me feel, I would be happy....I'll be working in acrylic which is not my mode, but the quick drying aptitude is necessary. Because my paintings are layers of paint, I will be working on them after the music session and can add the oil and wax layers. A couple of the surfaces are unique for this session of piano improv and I will be writing about these experiments when I have them in my hand...as finished....so, more later.

Walking in silk!

What a week it was when the sewing was on the top of the list...last week, thankfully. I challenged myself to make up some new silks for the specific models, all sales staff at Artisans Hand, except Anna, of course, who begged to model again this year. She had so much fun last year. Her blue top from a silk square was a moment's inspiration and made up quite quickly, but the silk satin for Missy's cocoon was a much greater challenge. That fabric is tough to work with, but the colors were just right for Missy and went with her camisole from last year. For Deborah, I wanted a rosy coat and this heavy charmeuse was left over from a wedding dress creation from the summer past; it was asking to be used. For Maureen who is soon to be leaving the area for New Mexico, I wanted to be easy on myself and make her feel the colors of the southwest. She became a butterfly in the "moth cape" and all seemed to enjoy the "walk". As the costumer, I could choose from a wealth of delicious bags and treasurable jewelry, all for the show of it all. Hurrah, Artisans Hand! You caught the crowd's attention and you glowed!

New exhibit up at Blinking Light

Such a wave of activity I have found myself...almost drowning yesterday after I finished the third piece of clothing for the fashion show on Sat. It was a super challenge to myself to sew clothing again. I am not my happiest self when sitting at the machine, but fortunately the heavy charmeuse sewed up without too many catches. On Tues I made the display at Blinking Light Gallery in Plainfield. A whole wall for both paintings and silks. Not too often do I get a whole wall to mix the paintings on canvas with the paintings on silk. I included the 2 pieces which are stretched silk and the exhibit pleases my sense of form and color given the limitations of space and time! I couldn't do all that I do if I fussed too much. Must leave this writing and get into Artisans Hand to lay out the refreshments for the opening tonight. Watercress sandwiches....fun to have so much watercress that I have to be creative with using it and using it often. Painting is 12x12 and called Singled Out....yes, singled out again.

Taking a tiny vacation

After putting up another show of silks and paintings at Blinking Light Gallery, Plainfield yesterday and completing a silk cocoon for Missy to wear in the fashion show on Saturday and getting some more silks dry, I took a bit of time for a tiny vacation....just what I needed and fortunately Camp Meade was just the vacation spot I had in mind. Bruce made a small fire to cook the barbeque chicken while I picked the fresh arugula from the garden. The sun peeked at us through the trees and the smoke smudged us, the tea from herbs was tasty and then we thought of a walk to the river....just a small adventure for a tiny vacation. The water held wonders for us as we wandered and wondered upon the natural world....just what we needed.