back from the 'in between'....

I picked up my painting tools again today. I really had to force myself to go out into my cold damp workspace, but out I went. I started by cleaning up my sewing mess - OMG! I'm not one to mind a mess, but this was off the chart - then I started looking at the pieces that have been drying - most of them needed touch ups, so I went into that mode - moving from one to another and finally settling on one little piece that just didn't have it going on anymore and found my way back in - the photo below is how I left it this afternoon - as I was turning out the lights, I realized it still needs some tweaking - it's better, but not quite there yet - it is mixed media on wood, 10x10...




the painting below I finished a couple of weeks ago and felt it was still okay, again, 10x10 on wood



then I had a nice surprise in the mail today - my friend Lynne Hoppe sent me a tube of paint she didn't think she would use (I'm so grateful, thank you Lynnie) and also inside the package was this wonderful painting she did - she works very small in moleskin books and used books - it's only about 3x4 and just wonderful - she does mainly faces, but also fanciful objects, animals and other magical things - this little guy is now attached to my easel and will be my special guest for awhile - definitely check out her blog here.



We are very soggy here but it's going to get much colder again - cups of hot tea back on the drink menu.

in between......

In the 'in between' - that's where I am right now - in between painting and painting - more clearly put, it's time to clear my head a bit - full on painting is exhausting as most of you know - so it seems to happen about the same time each year - January - it's now that I usually put down my paintbrushes and bring out all the bits and pieces that have accumulated over the past 11 months - assemblage always seems the way to go - it's a very random act - sorting, cutting, arranging old work in new ways - I painted on yupo last year to see how it would take oil paints - I pulled one of those paintings out and to my surprise, it was completely dry - it was not very good, so it got cut and sorted and then became my base - I started sewing all the bits on the back of the pieces I had cut up - it left wonderful stitch marks on the front of the painting so each day I ended up with two pages, front and back - I could sit quietly among the last 11 months and create visual diaries - I'm still working this way and I thought it would be fun to share a few of them - if you would like to see all six pages you can go here. Don't have a plan or purpose for this work right now - my head is clearing - that was the only plan - below are a few of the finished pages.









Hope you are all creating with passion!

consistency...

Consistency is my mantra. It's our path to getting on the road to be the best we can be. It gives us an advantage, a head start. It takes away much of the angst about our work. If we work consistently, we gain a strong base to work from. What seemed difficult last year is now our familiar playground. Gaining technique and knowledge about what we do, allows us to head into the unknown and discover things we didn't even know were there. I made a painting about two months ago. It never really spoke my language, but it was a good exercise in color and form. The painting is below.



this is mixed media on board, 48x38. It sat in a corner drying until about a month ago when I just couldn't stand to look at it anymore - I moved it next to my workspace and started cleaning my brushes on it each time I painted. It started to interest me about a week ago. It had finally become unknown territory again. As I was finishing work yesterday I started to work on it. Two hours later I had finished a piece that spoke my language. It's the piece below. Because this is a large work it is hard to get a very good photo of it, but you can get a general idea. Much of the detail doesn't show up.



This painting is one that found its way because of consistency. It finally gave back and became a true visual diary for me. One of those gifts for showing up everyday. And because this experience isn't exclusive to me, I was thrilled to read Bridgette Guerzon's blog this morning and learn of her recent experience of consistently showing up and reaping the rewards. Definitely visit her blog and see her gorgeous work. Hope you are all working hard and reaping the rewards!

prepping.......

It's been all about prepping boards and paper to work on - I usually like to almost finish a piece and then call that the prepped surface. I love having surfaces ready to go when I'm ready to dig in. The photos below show details of a couple surfaces I've been working on. These are both on board. The last photo is of a finished piece on paper. So that's what I've been doing. Basically staging my workspace for some extreme work in the next couple of weeks. I might even vacuum the floor. Hmmmmm, that's real iffy though. Hope you are all riding out this month of January.











this is work on paper, 24x19 - mixed media - 'She Saw The Collapse'

2011

I have one major goal for 2011 - to get better at what I do. And the only way I know how to get better is to work consistently. So?, that is what I'm doing. Working. Just me and the paint. Finding ways to dig out of comfort zones, saying yes even when it's a total disaster, living with the unresolved, and on and on........the photo below is a little 10x10 mixed media on board - it's a touchstone to begin the year.