Merry Christmas, Glad it's over!

I'm so glad it's over! I had a great time and I think the family is happy too, but it feels good to be heading in the direction of warmer weather. In a few months I will be back in a better painting schedule. The warmer weather always makes it easier to paint. Over the holiday I worked on a new horse painting. It is much smaller than the previous two. I also worked on another abstract poured painting. I will post pics of these later.

This is a painting from last year, when it was consistently 20 degrees outside, might not be cold for some but for this southern girl, it was not fun! I loved researching this project. It was a quick one, since it was cold I would get a few done and run inside to warm up. The paint was really thick and if I left anything out it would be frozen.

This is a closeup, you can tell how it was quick strokes, a gesture of a mandolin. It was also painted on extremely layered paint, I think I used house paint for the background, and of course polyurethane.

Even with the economy poor I believe this year will be a year of awakening and creativity for many of us. I can feel myself opening to something better.

New York Poured Painting

I painted this after my January 08 show in New York. When I was there I felt sucked into a large organism; this painting has the feeling of rushing water, (or people). I used strong bright colors because I was overwhelmed with the intensity of the city.

I am feeling a creative surge coming on; the past few months have been dry in terms of new ideas. It's because I haven't been sketching, this is crucial to keeping my juices flowing.

This is a close up of the bottom half.

This is the second close-up, it's hard to capture the depth of this blue through film. There are layers that can only be seen in person.

"New York"

24/30"

Mixed Media on Canvas

700.00USD

Spirit

This is made from tinted and glossy polyurethane, spray paint, and oil paint. The spots of silver and gold were not intentional. When I poured this it looked nothing like the final image. The silver spraypaint gathered into pools. A closer view reveals layers of color and interesting accidental shapes.


I love to use this technique it feels like I am standing back and watching it grow. These paintings have an inner glow.

And a literal glow,...this is the same painting but lit from behind.

This process is strange for me because it is full of surprises. I can pour something and love the gesture of it and by morning it can be a dissappointment. My luck is about 3 out of 5 will show some promise of being interesting.



This is a section of the painting. The colors are raw. When you look into the darkness you see layers of color. It feels like looking at a nebula, or into the depths of the ocean.

Another layer

I've been working on the slow final steps of the choctaw painting. Today I have been looking for every possible hair on this little guy. I will work my way around the painting, one small section at a time and the final stage will be the "living with me" stage. I will spend a few days looking for areas that need to be strengthened.

"Golden Choctaw" .... Finally

I feel like I am finally done. I spent a few hours being picky yesterday. The photo doesn't look exactly like the painting. For e.g., the nose is not as blue. The eyes seem to be reflecting on another time. This beautiful creature cannot be forsaken.

I can feel the saddness.

Week 2 of Horses

Work thus far: I've worked the background, using a dry brush to soften the colors. The fence needs straightening, I've added the highlights. Both horses need work on their faces, it's coming along though and I have full confidence in the finished product. I'm itching to do some work for "myself." This week should be productive.......

Home Portraits

This is first in a series I am working on called "Home Portraits" I have a photographer take pics then paint from that. I love how warm and mysterious homes look at night. It is when we enjoy our home the most--night. These are 24/36" and are commissioned for 400.00

This picture is taken at an angle because the shine detracts from the colors.

The First Layer

This is how far I got Thursday night. I painted the first layer of color with a large brush and concentrated on bright colors and general areas. I need to refresh my paint supply before I can get back to work.

There is still much to be done.



This is a shot of both choctaw paintings.

Process of painting Choctaw

The drawing phase. I drew the gestures and the blocked in the the angles of each line, later on thursday afternoon I worked on the contour lines.

This is 2.5' by3.5' on canvas.

Work

It's time to get out the sweaters, 25 tonight. Leaves were crunchy with frost; by noon they had wilted into wet socks. interized the house today, planted bulbs and worked on another coat on my choctaw painting. It looks better already. My hope for winter is that I will get extra time to paint. Our 2.5 acres will be put to rest and I will have extra time to focus on just becoming better.

This painting is 3/4 feet, apprx. It is based on a map of the Persian Gulf. The blue spots are the oil and gas fields. It is an inspired piece not an exactly copied. The first layers are spray paint, enamels and polyurethane. The fields are oil

I am on a deadline to finish a home portrait for a open house gift. This painting will be smaller than what I normally work on which is at least 24/30. Since it is a gift I don't need to spend too much on paint and supplies.

I am itching to create another poured painting. They are a release from working for others. I love how they grow quietly inside until one day serendipity. The paints do according to my sub-concsious and create colors and movement that you only see in water or space. My real love is these poured pieces, with every layer they change. I feel I am freezing a moment of some movement. I need an audience though and I still haven't found the group that will get my work. This copying is not ultimately what I am meant for. I know I have a voice and it continues to say: "Look closer"

"Night" 24/48" I painted this after my show in New York. I'm sure it was influenced by the power of the city.

It was

It's for sale: 600.00

The Choctaw

I met the Choctaw! Calm, kind eyes, they are incredible. This weekend I had the opportunity to meet a stallion and foals. I am excited about this project.

Do you have to be a horse person to appreciate these creatures? I don't think so. The lines and colors of these horses are not matched anywhere, but they carry the same value as anything of beauty.

There beauty is hindered and about to become extinguished. From what I am told, there are only around 250 left in the world! What an honor to be able to paint such a rare creature.

A Typical Day

It's dark outside when I wake up. I slip on a sweatshirt before I get out of my cocoon. The cold irritates me. Breakfast is started children gently arosed from dreams. Eggs fried, eaten, table cleared and wiped. The cold is bracing at first, gradually the car thaws and we are a ball of heat barreling through fog to get to football practice. Cows dip lazy eyes into the layers of fog, emerging with the same breakfast everyday. Kisses and Goodbyes.--- The sun is awake and ready to lift the fog. When I get home I make the bed, sweep up Pyrenees hair and begin to settle into my new painting. I believed it was finished, but living next to my easel has forced me to look longer and harder. There are a few sections of the sky I think need smoother paint. This series is based on photos taken at night; homes aglow with human activity. Homes are appreciated at night. It is the only time we are together. In this particular painting ("The Farm") the house is empty, a mud room is illuminated, no boots or umbrellas. One window to the right is lit up with a basketball net. It has a mystery to it, dark around the house and evidence of what once happened.


My Choctaw horse needs another coat. I believe I can make it even stronger. There are a few areas that seem off, ---just slightly.


I paint until about noon. I sprint through the neighborhood, fending of loose dogs, and paying attention to the moment by moment changes of autumn. Running is a forced activity that feels so good I wonder why I hate doing it.











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