Sunday, January 22, 2012

Alfresco with Friends


RECEPTION DATE:
February 1, 6-8 at City Cafe, looking forward to seeing you!

The first in a new series of paintings - Cafe Scenes.  I have been wanting to paint these cafe scenes for probably 10 years now, but, I have always been intimidated.  The thought of painting each and every person in the scene has been so overwhelming to me.  Finally, in Pat Kochan's class, (a studio class where you can work on whatever you want or apply what she is teaching to your painting), she gave me both encouragement and some tips to get me to paint the photo of the above.

Breaking the photo down into a very simple value sketch and then only focusing on values and large shapes of value, I was half way through the painting before I knew it.

I am working on my second cafe scene.  I attempted pouring techniques.  So far, no good.  We will see how it comes out.  Here I used juicy paint wet onto dry quickly over the large middle value shape.  I like how the colors mingled into one another creating new colors and just implying what is going on.

This painting is framed and hanging in my show at City Cafe.  I hope to see you at the reception!  Please bring your smiling face and friends!


Sunday, January 8, 2012

More Gold Leaf

10 x 10 gold leaf and watercolor
Sold.

Here is another experiment with gold leaf.  I first applied watercolor using a lot of water and dropping in strong pigment.  After the watercolor dried, I added the gold leaf.  I posted this on Facebook asking what else should I do to complete it.  I did get some great ideas, but, better, I got a buyer!  She loves it the way it is.  I am going to add just a bit more gold leaf in the watercolor area.  So my point on this, art is truly subjective.  The beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Like me on Facebook and say hi!

Oh, p.s., I have some good news.  On Friday, January 6, I met with a local restaurant owner.  He loved my art and agreed to let me hang my work in his restaurant and give me a reception!  Details to follow.  It will probably be in March.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Happy New Year!

Untitled
12x12 acrylic on gold leaf

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and I wish you all a great new year!  I have been saving this painting for either a Christmas or New Year's post.  Now that we are already 3 days into the new year....

This is acrylic on gold leaf.  In person, it is bright with shimmering color.  It was hard to photograph because the gold leaf would reflect the flash of the camera.  I chose this photo because it best represents the gold leaf.  Where it is dark, it is really violet, magenta and emerald green mingling along side each other with little sparkles of gold shining through.  It is very festive and when I saw it coming together I thought of the celebration of Christmas and the New Year.  These are by biggest annual celebrations I remember and look forward to growing up and all of my life.  A time to celebrate, be with family, give, share and to look forward to what is to come.

This painting makes me think of the new year, too, because it makes me think of the excitement of what is to come, chance, opportunity, newness.  I was not thinking of these things when I was creating this piece.  I think I feel this way because my eyes never get tired of looking at it.  The gold leaf and the variations of texture and pattern just keep my eyes moving.  I have to say, I was very excited when working on this piece, fearless with no preconceived ideas.  I only get to look at it on the screen, however.  I gave the original to a friend for her birthday.  It fits her personality perfectly.

This year I am setting a goal in my artist journey, but, I am not going to share it in case I don't achieve it.  I just wanted to state that I am setting a goal versus all of the years past of just painting and cruising along.  But, look at this cool list I found below.  I can at least feel good that I can check off some of the rules below.  The one that always works if you are down, #7, always create.