Be the spark when it's dark...

"Structures #14" by Lisa Call (c) 2003
35 x 29"
(with permission)


"In both relationships and life, trust begets trust.
Generosity begets generosity.
Love begets love.
Be the spark, especially when it's dark.
hubba hubba-"


This message was in my inbox this morning. What a great way to start the day... Pretty deep but then they lighten up the mood with the "hubba hubba". Cracked me up. If you want these sorts of messages in your inbox you can sign up at Tut.com.

Lisa Call, a fabulous textile artist mentioned the site on Twitter...that's where I heard about it. Lisa also gave me permission to share one of her gorgeous "textile paintings". A term that she uses to correctly describe her wonderful works. Thanks Lisa!

Safety Net

"Safety Net" work in progress
14 x 14 inches
acrylic on paper

Another start... I began painting too late in the day for me. My decision making ability decreases as the day goes on. I am absolutely a morning person....yawn. nighty night.

Complications

"Complications" work in progress
12 x 12"
Acrylic on canvas

Quote of the Day:
"Flattery is alright- if you don't inhale"
~Adlai Stevenson

Valentine Vase finished

"Valentine Bouquet"
12 x 12"
Acrylic on archival black mat board

Think I'm finished here... Also working on new compositions in the High Road series, but none of them ready to show... even here. :)

edit... OOps... see the bottom still needs a bit of work. It's so strange that things you don't see when looking at something in real life... are glaring errors when on the screen.

Southwest Bouquet

"Southwest Bouquet"
7 x 5"
Acrylic on college paper

I'm experimenting with different color combination's. A bouquet is just the easiest subject to play around with different ideas.

Have a watercolor class at JoAnn's tonight. Looking forward to meeting new painters. :)

Mutual Admiration Society...

"Valentine Bouquet" work in progress
12 x 12"
Acrylic on black archival mat board

Had a busy day, but did manage to work a bit more on the "bouquet". Need to resolve the bottom... not curved enough.

Peggy Stermer-Cox has honored me with the "I love your art blog" award... Peggy and I are in a mutual admiration society. :) I love her blog too! Thanks so much Peggy... I'm tickled, especially coming from you.
When I have the chance, I'll pass it on...I am also supposed to name 7 things about myself... So I just know you'll be on the edge of your seats, holding your breath with anticipation... waiting for the big reveal! snort.

My Valentine Bouquet...work in progress

"My Valentine Bouquet" (work in progress)
12 x 12"
Acrylic on Black archival mat board

I have been working non-representationally a lot lately. (As in the "Taking the High Road" series) Today, I felt the need to do some work from life. I got a lovely valentine bouquet from my hubby and put them in a vase that has orangey red dots on it. I did some sketches from life, snapped a photo and began painting. Seems like it's always invigorating to change things up. I get rusty with my observation skills if I don't practice!

Quote of the Day:
"Variety is the mother of enjoyment."

Unrequited Love...the challenge.

"But What About Us?"
12 x 12"
Acrylic on acrylic paper

I was invited to join a new Artist's Challenge site a couple of weeks ago. The theme was "Unrequited Love." My painting, "But What About Us?" was what I came up with. It's harder than you would think, illustrating an idea. You should pop over to the Challenge site...There is an incredible gallery... but be warned...it's not really for kids, there are some adult paintings displayed.

"But What About Us?" will be placed into my new Etsy store sometime today...

Hope you have a happy happy valentines day.... share the love baby! :)

Hug your Bunny....

"Hug Your Bunny"

Or... "Bug Your Hunny" :)

Happy Valentines Day! (Tomorrow)

Which came first...the title or the painting?

All sorts of paintings drying in front of my little electric stove... there are more, but I didn't want to zoom out too far. I've been less than tidy with my work habits. :)

My cyber friend, and a wonderful artist, Peggy Stermer Cox asked me a great question yesterday...
Do I get my idea for a painting first, or do I do the painting then title it?

I answered her comment this morning...but I was thinking a bit more about it today.

With my "Take the High Road"series, it's been both, but most often, I just start with a blank sheet of paper or canvas and start playing with colors and ideas. I honestly do have 4 to 10 paintings going at once (depending on size). I start thinking of situations in which I could choose to "take the high road" and then sort of illustrate it in different ways. If I come up with something that i think is a good idea and composition, I'll write the title on the back of the painting or on a sticky note. Then I attempt to complete the thought with paint.

Another process I have is doodling in my sketch book with thumbnail sketches....writing down ideas...or things I want to explore. I've also started cutting out from magazines great color combinations that I want to play with. This is a great reference to go to when I have a "what should I do next" blank mind.

Robert Burridge's workshop was so helpful to me in this respect. His advice about intent was monumental . He says "The goal. The point. The reason. Your intentions. It is your initial impulse for the core of a meaningful painting."

Tax Day Weather

Ewwwwwww. I've been gathering my tax information for the last few hours. This weather matches my task...

It will feel GREAT to get this taken care of.

Quote of the Day:
"Sometimes the best helping hand you can get is a good, firm push."
~Joann Thomas

Support System 2... work in progress...

"Support System 2" work in progress (not nearly done)
15 x 15
Acrylic on paper

Sort of a frustrating day of painting.... don't know why... just couldn't get out of my own way.
Have another couple of paintings going at the same time... some more promising than others.

Gorgeous weather today here in Michigan.... 50 degrees and sunny! wow! Snow is melting at a rapid pace.

Circumventing Obstacles...

"Circumventing Obstacles"
8 x 8 inches
Acrylic and pencil on paper

Still working on small compositional "sketches" ...Playing with colors, shapes and ideas. This is my favorite part of painting. I've started some of the larger canvases using these smaller studies as road maps (so to speak) We'll see how successful I am at sticking to the small study.... :)

Sanctuary

"Sanctuary 2"
watercolor and ink on paper
8 x 8 inches
Another watercolor class sample for the auburn hills JoAnn's store.

A study in glazing and mingling color.


Going with my gal pals to the Snowflake Ball at Addison Oaks ballroom this evening. My husband has a hockey game (he's an assistant at Lake Orion Varsity Hockey) so I bugged my friends to make it a girls night out. I'm sure we'll have a great time. It's the Orion Art Center's big fund raiser... so we'll have fun, and support a good cause.

It's almost 50 degrees here... The air smells so good!!!

Brainstorm....

"Brainstorm"
5 x 5 inches
Acrylic, colored pencil, ink, varnished

Input...output.... The swirling excitement of a brainstorming session.
Exciting and a bit dangerous sometimes with the wacky ideas we come up with. This painting really doesn't fit with my current work... but it came out anyway. :)

Quote of the Day:
"Everything that is worthwhile in life is scary. Choosing a school, choosing a career, getting married, having kids- all those things are scary. If it is not fearful, it is not worthwhile."
~ Paul Tornier

Support System....

"Support System"
7.5 x 7.5
Acrylic on paper

(used to be "lil help")

I have a whopper of a cold... the mushy headed kind... So around 3pm, I left the studio, made myself a cup of tea and sat in the recliner with a blankie and my library book.

I chose the book because of the cover. (I am so predictably VISUAL) I was looking for light reading... an amusement for when I'm too tired for thinking and don't want to watch TV.

It's called "In the Land of Second Chances" by George Shaffner. I really enjoyed it. (Now remember, I am very easily amused) It turned out to be a philosophical exploration which I found fascinating, but done in a very entertaining way. One of the things he talks about is that there are 4 kinds of people. (I'll be paraphrasing here...)

One kind are the people who need assistance to survive... the very young, the very old, the sick.

The second kind are those who take care of themselves.

The third kind are those who take care of themselves and care for others too.
"The lifeblood of society: giving parents; genuine leaders; people who devote their lives to medicine, law enforcement, fire fighting, national defense, and charity," Shaffner says.

The fourth kind are the people who take from others for their own gain. (Leaders who end up being this fourth kind are especially bad)

Man.... how clear cut is that? There are some religious elements in the book.... talking about reincarnation... God.... life after death. There are some amusing parts though too. It isn't really DEEP.... but it's interesting, and entertaining. I give it 3 of 4 stars. :)

New Favorite Artist: Sheila Norgate

"Adult Dogs Change their Coats Once a Year"

By: Sheila Norgate (with permission)

Mixed Media

40 x 30

Available at the Diehl Gallery

I just love Sheila Norgate's website.... (I stumbled on it through Robert's Genn's newsletter) Her work is just wonderful too... But what struck me about her website is that she really lets her personality shine through. I'm guessing that I probably would really like to hang out with Sheila. She has a great sense of humor which is very important in my friend selection. :) I clicked through just about everything there... And was lingering on the small works for sale.

I guess my point is that...

• If I hadn't found her site so charming... I probably wouldn't have looked at the whole thing.
• If her site wasn't so charming... I wouldn't have lingered over the smaller affordable works for sale...
  
• If her site wasn't so charming... I wouldn't be hoping for a few more sales of my own, so that I could buy from her!
  

Makes me realize how very much my site needs overhauled. Ah... so little time...so much to do!

"Stay the Course" Work in Progress

"Stay the Course" Work in Progress
8 x 6
acrylic on collage paper

Working on more compositions in my "High Road" series in this smaller format, then if they work out...I'll paint them again larger. This one isn't finished...but I like some of the things that are happening.

Some of the titles I worked on today are:
"Cross Purposes"
"Circles of Influence"
"Divided We Fall"
and
"Lucille Was Finding it Hard to Be Taken Seriously While Wearing a Float Tube"

Stay tuned! :)