Evening Rose

When painting white flowers, the power lies in the stark contrasts between the pure white areas of the flower and the almost dark cast shadows.  The reflective gold in the center creates a glowing appearance and brings the flower to life.  White on any object reflects the colors around it.  The Impressionists recognized this when they moved from dimly lit studios to the bright sunlight of outdoors.  What beauty and vibrancy they found in the shimmering sparkles of light on water or the dappling colors reflected on a frilly white dress.  One of my favorite paintings in the Chrysler Museum, the Daughters of Durand-Ruel, is an example.  It was painted by Renoir entirely out of doors with lively brushstrokes and a palette of dynamic and ever changing colors.

A New Year

It's a new year and a time to again resolve to be more diligent about writing my blog.
I have spent some time re-reading my notes on blogging and pondering just what my blog is about.  I chose the title for my blog "In the Moment" to write about not just my painting, but about what I am doing, thinking, making, and discovering at any given moment.  I have spent most of my life planning the next day, the next week, the next month, but as I get older, I want more and more to just be in the moment.....to appreciate the here and now. 
Mostly my blog will be about painting, my passion.  But, I also love to knit, crochet, bake, work in collage and mixed media, and try lots of new things.  I have a new grandson who is occupying a large portion of my heart right now......so my blog can be about all of those things.

My newest project which turned out a little funky is felted flowers that you see pictured in the post.  I love the colors and curly petals, but they didn't turn out exactly as I had expected.  The movement of the petals is simillar to the movement that I capture in my paintings, so I think they relate.  I am going to work on them a little more and make pins for my artsy friends.  I hope they like them.  Check out the patttern for Lion Brand Wool. 

Vanishing Bees

A few weeks ago, I saw a movie entitled "Vanishing Bees" and attended a discussion afterwards where I learned about the vanishing population of bees in my local area and around the world.  Our food supply is being adversely affected by this problem because we are dependent on a healthy and populous community of honey bees for an affordable and fresh supply of fruits and vegetables.  Unfortunately, in Virginia, as well as in other parts of the United States, beekeepers are loosing 30% to 40% of their bee population every year, as compared to 10% to 20% just a short time ago.  Beekeepers can not prove, but are reasonably certain, that the use of systemic pesticides is the cause of our vanishing bees.  The EPA, created to protect the public from harmful practices that threaten our environment, has inadequately tested the long term effects of pesticides on  honey bees.  One farmer in the movie referred to the EPA as "pestitutes" because of their illicit behavior when it comes to protecting the public from harmful pesticides. 
Unfortunately, the use of pesticides has increased over the years with the increase in mono-cultural farming.  Most of the problems could be solved with the return by farmers to diversity farming where a variety of fruits and vegetables are grown, creating a more balanced eco-system.

We, as consumers, are all beekeepers and can help sustain the bee population by simply making the right choices three times a day.  The right choices are, whenever possible , to eat fresh, locally grown food and to buy organically grown fruits and vegetables.  I have chosen to really make an effort to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables (so easy in the summertime) and to buy organic foods as much as possible.  The painting I have included in the post is of a pomegranate that has a flower that has to be pollinated in order to bear its delicious fruit. 

Creating a Painting

Stuck inside with frigid temperatures and a winter cold is a great time for getting some painting done.  Recently, that was my predicament and I began a four part canvas, each panel 12" x 12".  The Artist Gallery that I am a member of is having a show this month entitled " One Foot Square".  I began the paintings by covering each with a neutral grey gesso.   I had recently taken a workshop with John de la Vega on "Improving Your Painting in Two Days" and that was one of the things that I adopted for my own paintings.  The grey value allows me to visually identify light and dark values and color intensity as I begin a painting.  Generally, I work from a  photograph as I did in this particular case.  When I work on a large canvas, my photograph, which is often cropped or in some other way altered, is divided into four sections as is my canvas, facilitating more accurate transfer of information.  The image is then drawn on the canvas with a brush and a reddish-purple oil color mixed with liquin.  Sketching the image with a brush is very important to allow freedom of movement and a sense of spontaneity and rhythmic quality in the final painting.  A thin layer of paint is applied to establish the color values and develop forms in the painting.  This is the most exciting part for me as I become totally immersed in the process.  The subject of the painting is completely forgotten and only becomes evident as the process precedes.  Subsequent layers of thicker paint are added layer upon layer.  Every stroke is important and has meaning for the final finished painting. 

My Forgery

The exhibit this month at The Artists Gallery is "Fabulous Forgeries", where artists re-create the work of the masters by using the master's style, or taking the master's work a step further, or re-creating a master's work with a touch of humor to pay tribute to that master.  My own style most closely resembles that of Georgia O'Keeffe, so I always choose one of her works as my tribute.  I had the privilege of visiting the O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe several years ago, affirming my belief that she is one of the great American painters of the 20th century.  I am in awe of her intimate relationship with nature and her unique ability to capture that on canvas.  Her work is so compelling to me that it is never far from my mind and heart.  This year for my painitng, I chose to create an original compilation of her paintings by including a portrait of Georgia O'Keeffe taken from a photograph by John Loengard, along with four of her paintings.  They are Red Amaryllis, Sky Above Clouds III, Near Abiquiu, New Mexico, and Grey Cross with Blue.  Copying another artist's work is not only a learning experience but a kind of spiritual connection like no other.

Painting

This week is less cluttered with things to do than last week, so I am getting some painting done. Finished work for the Bloomin' Art show at The Artists Galery. Now I'm working on a piece for "Following Her Passion", an invitational women's show also at The Artists Gallery.
Attached are two paintings that are now at Beach Gallery on Laskin Road in an exhibit celebrating "The Art of Gardening" and the 77th Annual Historic Garden Week in VA. Work is on view until April 24.
Seems I am always struggling with the feeling of a lack of content in my work or that is how I perceive others would view my work. I am in love with painting, with form and color and with the ability to create something beautiful that will make a spiritual connection with the viewer. I like making paintings that have the sole purpose of making someone happy and thankful that they are a part of this awesome natural world in which we live.
If you haven't already, watch the show, LIFE, on the Discovery channel each Sunday evening at 9 p.m. It's just a little peak into the the mysteries and beauty of life on our planet earth.