cardinals... bright red?.... or not.

waiting for "red fox color" ink 

Had an interesting discussion over at my Facebook Page, when I claimed that the red cardinals would be too much after the fox was printed in his correct red fox color. I had quite a few "But I love the red cardinals" comments...

This was my response....

"I'll have to wait to see. When I start a project, whether it's paint or print or collage... I try to decide my "intent" before I start. That way I have a focus... This print is about the fox. I have to be careful not to fall in love with any parts that end up good, but don't support my "why"...My concern is that the cardinals would call attention away from the star of this particular show. I won't know for sure until I see it with the right fox color... You two have made me decide on my next linoleum project though... and it will be about Cardinals! I love them too!!! Thanks so much for your input... Seriously, I appreciate it!... because sometimes I get too much in my own head, and lose perspective."

Since I posted that comment... I've decided to do a few prints with a Grey Fox and the bright red cardinals...

Because I can. 

the one that got away

"Stellar" photo of a fox just outside the studio window on left....and the preliminary sketches on the right.

I was so excited to see this visitor outside the studio window... Just grabbed my phone, snapped this shot (whaaaaah) and now I'm trying to make a linoleum print of him... or her. How can I fail with such terrific reference shots?

There have been two foxes hanging around lately... hopefully I'll get another chance.

first try

Here is my first go at the linoleum block. It looks more like my dog Major than a fox. :)
Working on rendition number two now.

pinch me

 Yes....Pinch me. That's my painting on Toni Clark's new book, just released.... So excited for her, and for me. :-)
Amazon:
Barnes and Noble:

whirling dervish

3 at a time.... 

Paint has been flying... and I've been prepping for a couple of classes this week. More Acrylic Fun... (oh yes... way more fun) and Mono printing with the Gelli Plate. Both will be in Leland at the Old Art Building.

This new work is having a mind of it's own.... sort of. The one on the wall is the most complete...Working title is "Wind Dance"... it's been giving me fits actually.... stating then obscuring... there is a lot of action on that canvas.

black eyes with stripes

"Black Eyes With Stripes" 12x12 Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Acrylic Paper

And here is the second of the two paintings I painted live at Oliver Art Center's 'fun-raiser' last Friday evening. It was a terrific night. Lots of fun was had by all the Art Center Friends....And though it was a bit intimidating... I lived to tell about it. :-)

fun raiser

"Fun Raiser" 12x12 acrylic on acrylic paper

Last night was Oliver Art Center's Fun-Raiser. I painted live and donated the painting to the silent auction. I tend to say YES before I realize what I've gotten myself into. Let's just say it's a bit intimidating to be painting in front of a large group...and let's just add on the auction sheet sitting next to you... luckily I didn't have to wait too too long before there was some bidding. Aaaack! I worked on two paintings at a time, and the winner get's to pick their favorite after there are a couple of finishing touches, varnished and framed. This one is the first one dry....I'll post the other one tomorrow, and let you know which one they picked.

circus act

"Circus Act" 12x12 acrylic and oil bar on canvas panel

Repeating a subject pushes you into different places. I'll do anything to escape boredom.

wip (work in progress)

Can you tell that I'm way more excited about the one on the left?  Need an "about face" on the one on the right. Drastic measures are in order to keep me interested. :-)

here kitty kitty

"Here Kitty Kitty"  12x12  Acrylic and oil bar on Canvas Panel

I don't have a cat. I have never had a cat. But I do really like cats. How long do you think this bouquet will tempt him before he needs to swat it?

Add caption

Woke up this morning and decided that the kitty paws could use a bit of a shadow...and added a couple of dotty stuff on the far left to repeat the white dotty stuff... Hardly EVER go back once it's signed, but couldn't leave it be.

joyful noise

"Joyful Noise" 12 x 12 Acrylic on Acrylic paper

Lots of troubling news lately..... That's when I love to go to the studio and immerse myself in glorious color.

bouquet on dots

Bouquet on Dots ~12x12~ acrylic on canvas panel

I'll be painting bouquets for the next week. Practicing for a live painting event at the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort, MI next Friday night. I used a limited palette.... Quinacridone Crimson, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Thalo Turquoise and white. (Mary Todd Beam's favorite palette)
I like painting these...Does it show? :-)

farmer's market

Farmer's Market Bouquet ~ 12 x 12 ~ mixed media

We had some friends come and visit us over the weekend... and one of the things we enjoyed was the Frankfort (MI) farmer's market on Saturday. Our friends bought us this charming bouquet from one of the stalls. It was hard to pick out one... they were all just so fresh and beautiful. I thoroughly love fresh flowers...and a mixed summery bouquet is my favorite.

This painting started out on a bright orange background... and finished up with some oil pastel marks.

I'm trying to get in a painting session each day over the next few weeks... I'm going to be painting LIVE at a fundraiser on August 8th. Need to work the kinks out. (yikes)

Just making things up

"July 4"  12x12 Acrylic on Canvas panel

Ok.... now I'm just making things up. :-) One of the pleasures of being a painter. See the cool and interesting trail I've created? Like how I've made it pretty easy to get past those hills? You're welcome.

(It's also a study in greens and aerial perspective).

orchard dawn

Orchard Dawn ~ 12x12 ~ Acrylic

It's been a while.... I just jumped in yesterday. That's how I have to go about it when it's been a while...

It's easiest to leap if I start on top of a painting that didn't work out...and that explains the strange textures here and there.

janice

Janice... 4x4 acrylic, fabric and stitching

Another Every Day Angel.

vince

Vince ~ 4x4 acrylic, fabric and stitching

I think I'm keeping this one...He will be my guardian muse angel....for the studio. :)

precious

"Precious" ~ 4x4 Acrylic, fabric, stitching

Any "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" fans out there? While she doesn't really resemble Mma Precious Ramotswe... she reminds me of her. Here's more about the series if you're interested...
I'm still having fun with these teeny tiny made up portraits... I'll have to do some manly angels soon, I think.

hannah

Hannah ~ 4x4 acrylic, collage, stitching

She seems so sweet to me.... and not just because of her halo.

norah

Norah....see the shiny bits?

Norah ~ Acrylic, fabric, stitching

I slopped some hair color onto the pristine white paper background... so I decided to try colored backgrounds to cover up my mess. I like it! I stitched the wings and then painted some iridescent medium on them.
It's interesting to me that they seem to develop personalities as I refine their features.

sara

"Sara" 4x4 acrylic, fabric, stitching

Having fun with these....Trying to figure out how to frame them to their best advantage.

they walk among us

4x4 inches... acrylic, fabric, stitching on watercolor paper

In my daily travels, I come across lots of Every Day Angels... trying to celebrate them.

the gang's all here

Lots of little collages all lined up and ready to go

I have framers fingers... lots of picture wire was tied and cut today. These wee beauties will be available at Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, MI.....other than the two that have sold since I posted this picture on Facebook. (Thanks!)

caution tape

Caution Tape
6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

I stole this title. From our youngest son's new song... of the same title. The song is not yet mastered or mixed... if it was I would definitely share.

paper quilting

Paper Quilt 6
6x6 Acrylic collage and stitching

Slightly new direction..... Still playing with the paper printed with the Gelli Plate!

gazing

Gazing
6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

I think I'm out of that gorgeous turquoise paper... Time to use the Gelli Plate again... So much fun.

sunbeams

Sunbeams
6x6 Acrylic Collage and stitching

Still at it..... Cutting. Pasting. Sewing. Mini bits of fun.

a good egg

A Good Egg
6x6 Acrylic Collage with Stitching

Slipping into a more vibrant palette.... A bit circus-y?

cabana

Cabana
6x6 Acrylic, Collage, Stitching,

Still using the reams of paper I made using the Gelli Plate. I'm enjoying this process...It's a nice combination of painting, collage and quilting-ish. Some of these will be available at Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, MI this season.

true confessions

Lake View 2
12x12 collage
this is where it is at the moment.....trying to salvage.
I'm not sure if I'm done or not...I'm mad at myself.

Where it was yesterday....
after I had the bright idea mid painting, to turn it into a landscape.
Geesh.

One of my constant struggles in painting is having an idea or concept, and sticking with it. The smart thing to do when these "other" ideas come up is to write them down and try them on the next painting. Stay the course. But if I'm the least bit distracted.... I veer off course into another idea. 

The trouble with this, for me anyway, is 

1. I never complete the original idea...which is sometimes a good one.

2. Because the base of the second idea is on top of a different idea...it's not a good solid place to start.

I've been lazy. 

The best way to stop this flighty behavior is to actually write the concept down on tape or a post it...and have it right near my palette. 

To remember the WHY I'm painting this in the first place. 

Where's that sticky note pad?

construction site

Construction Site
6x6 Acrylic Collage

I love the smell of sawdust...I'd wear it as a perfume.

balance

'Balance'
6x6 Acrylic collage

Wish it was as easy to achieve in life as it is in collage...... I'm balance challenged.

northern lights

'Northern Lights'
6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

Still playing cut and paste and sew with the Gelli Plate papers that I made....You'll be seeing these for a while... I made LOTS of paper. :-)

Muse

"Muse"
6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

Still snipping, gluing, stitching... I could stay in the studio for a really long time doing these.

mini collage...with stitching

"No Plan At All"
Acrylic collage with stitching
6x6

"Sky At Night"
Acrylic Collage with stitching
6x6

I've been in the studio... almost exclusively. I occasionally emerge...blinking.

I've been making papers using the "Gelli Plate". It's a bouncy rubbery gelatin-like substance that allows you to make mono prints with-out a press. I'm addicted! Now I'm trying to use all these amazing  papers I've made. 

Fun with the Gelli Plate

Using "Gelli Plate" You don't need a printing press. Fun Fun Fun!

I'll be teaching a new class in Leland, MI this August 26th, 2014. Mono Prints using the Gelli Plate. So I've been playing and experimenting. These would make fabulous backgrounds for paintings. Some of them feel like close to finished works as they are. Can you hear me OOOOhing and AAAAhing?

pushing and abstracting

Turns out... I can go pretty far with abstraction... I could go a little bit further to a Rothko-esque place, but I won't. (These are all things I'll be teaching in a new class this summer.)

making your summer plans?

Jumping into the New Year with some fun class offerings for 2014.  I'll be teaching "Getting From Here to There ~ Abstracting your subject"  at the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort, MI. (July 15...full day).. As I look at this example though... I'm thinking I'll abstract it even more... going for a progression of more and more abstraction... How far can I go?!? Stay tuned. :-)