Encouragement

Doesn't it feel good when someone says something nice about your art or about you? 
Recently, I was talking with a friend on the phone and she was telling me about this great book that she had read entitled Wilderness by Lance Weller.  She was so captivated by the book that she decided to do something she had never done before and that was to wrote the author and let him know how she felt.  Now, Lynn, my friend, is a voracious reader and has enjoyed many great books, but this one had a profound effect on her and on her life.  Never expecting to hear from Mr. Weller, she walked into her house after an unusually sad day and there was a letter from the author expressing his sincere gratitude.  It really doesn't matter how famous you are or what your accomplishes have been, we all need a little "pat on the back" now and then.  So, don't be shy about passing out those complements or just thanking someone for a job well done. 
If you have an artist friend or a fellow blogger, write a nice comment on their blog or share their Facebook page on your profile or say something nice about an image they post.
Wouldn't it be a great goal to say something encouraging to at least one person each day? 
I know that could make my day and I am sure it will theirs. 
With this post, I have included a painting of yellow roses and white flowers.  It is an oil painting of an especially beautiful bouquet that I photographed while attending a wedding in California.

New Birth

Last week, my first grandchild was born....a little boy, so sweet and so small.  I think about him all the time and every time I close my eyes, I see his little face.  It was love at first sight!

I follow Donna Iona Drozda's blog, Following the Moon, and in her last post she wrote about celebrating the arrival of a new natural year and about renewal and the birth of new things.  I can not think of any better way to celebrate a new year than with the birth of a child and I find it a perfect way to reflect upon the experience of rebirth and renewal.  To associate that with my ART/LIFE, I purchased a Visual Journal sketchbook and plan to use it to capture images of  the new grandson, Owen, as he grows.  I will photograph or sketch him each month for at least the next two years creating a visual journal of his early life to be given to him on his second birthday (or maybe I will continue it longer?).  The first of such images is pictured here as the first installment in the series.  It was created from a photograph taken shortly after his birth.  Charcoal was used for the preliminary sketch, then collage materials and finally acrylic paint.  I will post others as they are completed. 

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. 

The Clock is Ticking

Make every minute count....the clock is ticking. This is my collage project from my Artful Women group on Friday. We chose a photograph of a bird and used other collage materials and paint to create a bird medallion. Each month this group of women inspire and challenge me with their knowledge of materials and techniques and their ability to stimulate creative thought.