questions.......

This has been a week of questions from people who have visited my website. They were all similar questions about my process - well actually I had three emails - it isn't like I was deluged with people seeking information about my process - The basic question was how do I start a painting and then build it up - well anyone who follows this blog has a good idea of how the work gets built up - love it, hate it, love it, hate it!!! - then you have some layers!!! - the starting process isn't rocket science either - I hate to waste art supplies!! so when I clean my brushes, and I do clean them after I'm done working for the day - early on I didn't and had to throw brushes away and REPLACE THEM!!! $$$$$$$ ten minutes of clean up at the end of the day has saved me $$$$$$ - I highly recommend it - anyway I clean my brushes on painting surfaces - sometimes these are old paintings, newly hated pieces and sometimes brand new surfaces - I have two surfaces I have been using for this part of the process that I thought I would show you and show you where I begin a new painting - below is a board that is pretty well covered - you can tell what color palette I was using - anyway, I then look at the surface and find places that I like....


from the board above, I chose this little section - I like how it has begun to layer, the scratch marks and even a bit of form - this is where I will start the work....


below is another board I've been using.....I found two places that I liked on this surface



this is one of the areas I like.....

here is another section that interests me......

so that pretty much gives you an idea of the beginning part of the process - pretty basic - Happy Saturday everyone!!!

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it was just a whisper......

This little piece finally claimed its place today. This is it's third incarnation. I picked it up again after I'd cleaned my brushes on it for the past few weeks - you know how it goes in my work space - love it one day and hate it the next - get it back again but it still doesn't say anything except "I'm back and I could pass but I'm feeling a bit hollow? Right?" And of course it is! Very hollow that is! Today this guy whispered a memory to me. Mission accomplished.


This is mixed media on board, 10x10, 'She Knew My Sister'

We've had wet snow here all day - it's one of those days where you want to curl up with something hot to drink and a very good book - hope this finds you all hopeful with spring right around the corner.

under way .........

That's right! Things are truly under way in my workspace - paintings drying everywhere and they represent finished work, work in progress, and work that is in desperate need of redoing - it seems that much of my time is spent moving them around - paint on this one, scrape off paint on that one, carve into this one, turn those to face the wall because I can't bear to look at them right now - move a few into the house to dry faster, move some back out of the house to start all over - constant motion - however I did finish one the other day, well, almost finished - I knocked down some of the blue in it today, but it's subtle - that subtle thing seems to be so necessary to me - I know I could just leave it, but a little raw umber rubbed into the blue seems to make it just a bit richer, just a bit creamier, more textured - you know what I mean....



This is 48x38 mixed media on board - 'She Stepped In Blue'

hope this finds you all working hard! Oh, and did I say I love my ipad? Oh, yes! I love it! So worth it!

me and my little G4

My G4 refers to my little Apple notebook - I've had it for over seven years. We have spent almost every morning together wandering cyberspace with coffee in hand - we've vacationed together - we've spent sick days in bed together - some of the letters are disappearing from their keys - the outside is scratched and a bit dented in some places - it has been in for repair only once and that was really just a checkup - it knows where I want to go and gets me there without a problem every time. It is one of the best buys I've ever made. Well two days ago his new brother came to live with us.

There he is below - brother ipad - the moment this came on the market I knew I wanted one. I have had years to form my 'user' habits and this guy seemed right up my ally. After having it in my hands for two days, I feel certain this investment is as good as when I purchased my little notebook. This little guy will slip in my bag and do everything I need on the go. Email, internet, mapping and my portable library. It can do alot more, but those are the things I have come to rely on. My laptop will still be in use everyday - my husband will use it more and most likely it will still be my morning companion - I like a regular keyboard - there is alot more I could say about this new addition, but just know I love it!


and for the art part, here is a little piece I finished a few days ago - another circle thingy.....

this is mixed media on board 10x10 - Happy Wednesday!

something new.....

About 4 months ago I ran out of two of my 'go to' colors - titanium white, and yellow ochre - they are two of my staples, so no time to order online - I got in my car and drove to our local art supply store - even though we are a small town, we have a wonderful art supply store and the only reason I don't do more shopping there is because I've gotten so used to shopping online - click, click, click and I'm done and back to work - anyway, off I went - low on money and time, I grabbed the two large tubes of color that were on sale - I went immediately to my studio to continue work when I got home - squeezed out my first blob of white, loaded my brush and MY OH MY! I was painting with butter! Serious?! What is this? This is M. Graham paints! These paints are so pigmented that just a little will cover!, hear me, I said Cover! a pretty good area - I quickly squeezed out a little blob of yellow ochre to see if it was the same - yes! the same! Well lucky me - a time crunch manifested a new product for me. I haven't looked back. If you are not happy with the brand of paint you are using, give the M. Graham line a try. I use oils, but I know they make other paints also.





Also, here is a little painting I finished yesterday. Mixed media on board 10x10



Hope you are all busy making art! (I always hope that :))))