FIRST ART SHOW OF 2011!!! LET'S PRAY FOR GOOD WEATHER!!

This weekend, Nature Boy and I are off  to Birmingham, AL. The nerves and sleepless nights have BEGUN!!  LOL. I am very excited, and nervous...always nervous going where I haven't been before!! But, hopefully, we pick up some new friends, and get to see some old ones, and all will be good..:) To top that off --- It's also our 9th wedding anniversary! Wow! I cannot believe we've been married that long...Shocks me, every time I think about it!

I spent all day yesterday reading Dan Brown's book -- The Lost Symbol. It was FANTASTIC, and I didn't want to put it down. Not even to sleep or eat. What amazed me about it was that it 600+ pages, and the time-frame of the book was about a 14 hour span. So, if you like mystery, severed limbs, tattoos, and religion--this book is a GOOD one!!

I painted another painting. It started out as a bird, then became an overly busy abstract, then I finished it...LOL..It was a long (for me) process.

I am tired of painting this girl, but the painting was vacant..so, here she is again! This painting is 24 x 24..so it's big! I am ok with how it turned out. Not one of my favorites, but it'll do.

Then..I redid 3 paintings. Just added to, and took away from something that I had already painted..This one is 16 x 16 inches.....

this one is also 16 x 16:

Then this one (one of my favorites)..this one is 12 x 24 inches, and it was a bunch of those eyeball looking flowers that I did last year. I hated it, in it's former state..so I completely repainted over it..(the two above were just "changed", not completely painted over..)..

I don't know why I like this so well...only that it was completely spontaneous, and unsuspected....LOL..and it makes me smile...which is always a plus.

That's about it..I need to get to work. I spent an entire day reading, so I am behind.
LIVE ARTFULLY!!

24 x 24 PAINTING--FULL DESCRIPTION OF HOW IT WAS DONE-- WITH A LOT OF PICTURES!!!

Hello!! I painted a painting tonight. It is 24 x 24 inches, on cradled wood panel. Nature Boy asked me to put antlers on it..so, I did. I painted it on plaster, with acrylics (Golden's Fluid Acrylics). This is the finished painting:

First, after Nature Boy had made the cradled panel for me. I covered the entire piece (front and sides) with PLASTER. I used a large palette knife, and just went in one direction, then the other, (making an "X" motion) over the entire thing:

After it dried (it'll dry overnight)...I took some Indian Yellow Hue and Quin. Nickel Azo Gold, put it in a small plastic container, watered it down a bit...(not too much, because the plaster is very absorbent...), took a large house painting brush, and covered the entire front with it. I then put some white into my watery paint (just a drop or two), and made some areas lighter.

Next, I took my large palette knife, mixed some white with a little Naples Yellow Hue, and paletted it randomly over the entire surface. I did this quite messy, and very quickly.

Next, I took a stamp pad of Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Ink (vintage photo colored), laid it flat on the panel and rubbed all over it.

After that..I took some Phthalo Blue (green shade), and watered some down in a clean container..took the large house painting brush, soaked it all up and drug it across the painting. I let it drip heavily. Then I let it all dry.

I had a letter stencil sitting nearby..so I thought that I would take some Yellow Ochre and white, and stencil it onto the painting...

At this point, I sat back and looked at what I thought might possibly be the ugliest pile of crud (being nice here), that I have ever painted..::laugh::: I hated it. I made gagging noises. I wanted to puke. Yes!! It was UGLY. So, I got out my trusty blue painter's tape, and taped off the area directly above the letters.

I mixed some Yellow Ochre and White, not mixing them really well..just swishing them around a bit, took my large brush, and painted everything lightly below the tape. Working my way around the letters. I dried that with a hair dryer, then pulled the tape off.

Then, I left a 1/2 inch gap, and put the painter's tape across the painting again. This time, I mixed Phthalo Blue (green shade), Naples Yellow Hue and white. I brushed the top part of the painting with this color. Dried it with the hair dryer, and then pulled the tape off.

This left a wonderful little strip of the original background right across the upper portion. I REALLY like the detail of it..and it's my favorite part of this whole painting.

I really liked the painting at this point. I almost stopped..but, decided it needed something more. So, I walked by the tulip painting that I did the other night, and thought that those would look cool on this painting..but I didn't want them purple, and decided to cut them out of  old magazine (1940's, I think) paper. I cut the stems, leaves and flowers out in parts. Just sort of free handed the whole thing, and I took tiny pieces of the blue tape and taped them to the painting, to get a feel of the composition and all...

I kept cutting and taping until I was happy with it...

When I got them like I wanted them, I used Golden's Matt Medium to glue them to the panel. I painted around the flowers with the Matt Medium, and it left a darker line, which I liked. But--since the whole thing had a plaster base, the plaster showed where I had put the medium (which was great)..just be careful if using plaster..and don't go hog-wild with the medium..because it will show up.

I covered the top of the paper flowers lightly with the matt medium, and dried it with the hair dryer..then I watered down a little green paint, and painted the stems and leaves, making sure it was watery enough to show the writing through the paint. I continued, and did the same with the flowers, Then took a tiny bit of white and painted highlights...

At this point..Nature Boy came in, proudly holding his drawing of a pair of deer antlers..and wanted me to put them in a painting somehow..so, I sat back and had to visualize how these "antlers" were going to work in this painting. I decided to figure out how big I needed them, and I drew one antler out on a piece of tar paper, and cut it out--so that I would have a pattern to use. I used the pattern of the girl's face with it, the one that I made a couple of weeks ago..and taped them on the painting. I had one antler, and just flipped it for the other side..outlining the whole deal with a pencil.

I then took an oil pastel crayon and did my heavy outlines, smeared them all with my finger (which I cleaned on my shirt--because that's what I do)..and painted the eyes...

Then I painted the antlers with a chocolate colored Golden's glaze, and highlighted some areas, and painted the lips...and POOF..a finished painting...

Live Artfully!!

SNOWED/ICED IN FOR ONE WEEK...A HORROR STORY..

Ok..Here's some more paintings that I did with the same outline. I can't seem to stop doing them, and feel like I may never paint another owl, tree, man, etc...again..They are so fun to do..and it's challenging  to make them different. But..I do have to paint other things for the show in Birmingham on Feb.5th. It's called Riverchase Loves Artist Art Show, and I am praying that we won't be snowed or iced in! I am excited to get out there with the public again.

We have officially been snowed in for one week. I am going a little bat crazy..and want to drive like a 1000 miles, and not stop.. just to get out of the house, and DO something. Thank God that I have painting and drawing that I can do--because I would be seriously bonkers. I am watching 3-6 episodes of Criminal Minds A DAY...Bones--2-3 times a day..The TV is turning my head into a vegetable of a rotten kind..

I have had several people recently ask me to teach an online class, and one lady that I know in real life (as opposed to online life), ask me to give private lessons. I really wish that I could do this for you all. I cannot. I am not here to teach (though, if you have any questions that I can answer--I am always glad to help you!) I am here to paint and create art. I am obsessive about it. It makes my blood pump. All of my life (starting as soon as I could talk), ALL I have said that I want to be is an ARTIST. I tried teaching....and I am not good at it. I just want to paint. So, I'm sorry..but, there are a lot of people out there teaching some good classes, I just don't have time to be one of them. :(

Pam Carikker's book, "ART AT THE SPEED OF LIFE", which I am one of the contributing artist--came in the mail on Friday!! It's awesome, and has lots of good writings from many great artist, with a lot of really good tutorials and "how-tos". You can order it HERE. 

That is about all for today..I am ready to get to work. I might paint some trees and flowers today...LOL..just for a change of pace.

Live Artfully!!

THREE WOMEN--ONE OUTLINE...SNOWED IN CRAZY!!!

Day 2 of being completely snowed in, and I am going CRAZY!!! But, I have been painting, and eating, and sleeping, and painting some more...Now, the temperature is dropping, and it's icing over..and I may never get to leave my house...sigh..Oh well..I shall just keep painting, and painting, and painting.

This is a really fun series that I am doing. I drew and painted one yellow lady last week with roses in her hair, and I really liked everything about her proportion, and the way she came out..so, I took some thick tar paper (the kind you roof your house with) and I cut her outline out. I have just been painting her over and over and over...and am having fun doing it. I am hoping to have the same face in about 9-12 different ways for the show in Birmingham on the 5th of February.  I think I am going to make stencils (for lack of  a better word) out of some more of my favorite pieces, and start using them. All I am doing is drawing the outline ..then freely painting the pieces..

Nature Boy has been out playing in the snow..yesterday, he built a snowman. It was hilarious! He took a pair of blue jeans and a jacket and filled them with snow...then, he put a head and a cowboy hat on it..this morning..the poor thing was just a pile of wet clothes...I don't know why it met such a rapid demise--as it's getting colder, and not warming a bit...sigh...

Thank Goodness that we made our monthly COSTCO trip before this snow hit. I am comforted in knowing that I have 60 packets of hot chocolate..over a hundred packets of Organic Oatmeal..and basically enough crackers, meat, veggies and cans of soup to last until June or so..hahahah! I LOVE COSTCO!

Well..off to paint some more! Live Artfully!!

HERE FISHY FISHY....

I finally got around to painting last night, and this 24 x 24 x 2 inch fish is what came to be. I really like him. He's so vibrant, and the colors just POP off of the piece! Nothing much is going on...I have been sleeping A LOT. I kicked the cold symptoms, but it has just left me life-less..this too shall pass..LOL.

That's all folks..I am boring winter mode..Live Artfully!

GOOD MORNING WORLD -- INVITATION ONLY SHOW -- 32 DAYS AWAY...

Good Morning!! Well..all I can say people is...BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR. Yesterday, I was stressing out the 2011 Buckner Art Show Schedule. We want to do this one, not this one..these two are on the same day in two different states...we'll have to get hotel rooms for this one..I think we can drive home for this one..which one has more people...it REALLY stresses me out. I get overwhelmed...I get in a tizzy..like the magical, evil Art Show Fairy is going to come in my house, and banish me at that very moment, if I don't turn in an application--or Zapplication...complete with images on CD..sigh...THEN..I stopped. I took a deep breath. I prayed-- Nothing extravagant, nothing fancy. I just said.."Lord, you took care of us last year, so I will trust that you will take care of us this year." I went in my studio and painted a silly dog. Not so much to make a masterpiece--but, because when I pick up a brush--the harsher, reality-ridden world goes away for a few moments. It is where I find my happy place. It calms me. Then, as I got up to cook Nature Boy's dinner--I stopped by the computer room to check my email. POOF. An INVITATION. To an Art Show. A nice one. In Birmingham, Alabama (read as BIG CITY)...and they want US to show our art there. WOOOHOOOOO!! I began Happy Dancing...I am thinking April..May..June..One down..(all of this is running through my head) ..I continue to read the email...GULP..(eyes slightly bulging..)..in FEBRUARY??? OMG!!! That is unheard of in this area!!! It can't be!! That is in 32 days..OMG..I have, MAYBE 10 pieces of art in my inventory....ARRRRGGHHHHHHH....The good thing about this (besides having a show to do)??
I WORK WELL UNDER PRESSURE. Thank you Lord. Live Artfully!

DAY 2 of 2011--

Well..It's going on the 3rd day of the New Year..and I have done one painting. I had the flu last week, and even though, I kicked it out of my system in 4 DAYS, it left me tired, and very run down...so, I am mentally "limping" through the motions...I painted this today, and it took me nearly all day to complete it...but, at least I don't have flu symptoms any longer--so I really am not complaining.

I will post a post with my New Year's Resolutions as soon as I am not so tired...and other stuff. Live Artfully!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR--2011!!!

THE LAST PAINTING OF 2010--#351!!!! WOOHOOOOO!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Live Artfully!!

THE LAST DAY OF 2010--HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well..it's over..in a few short hours..2010 will be forever gone. Can you imagine? This year has certainly FLOWN by, and most of it seems like a blur to me. All in all--it was a fabulous year!! I am so grateful for it!

A short re-cap of 2010..(more for my future reference than anything..)

*Our first solo show--which we were complete nervous wrecks for..LOL..(seems like eons ago!)
*The start of doing art shows--totally intimidating at first--now..we are all excited about expanding further into the United States.
*My first FINE ART SHOW...I was so nervous that I got sick, and told Nature Boy (my husband) that I was WAYYYY Out of my LEAGUE...but it turned out wonderfully!! Thank you Athens on the Square people!
*I painted slightly over 350 pieces this year!
*Out of the 350 pieces..I have approximately 16 left. The others were painted over, given away, or SOLD (YEAH!!).
*My daughter graduated from nursing school, moved away, and is living happily with her high school sweetheart..and working as a REGISTERED NURSE (who doesn't give her mother free medical advice..but ...you can't win them all!)
*my father passed away--but, since I had rarely spoken to him in 30 years, I really wasn't affected by this.
*I found my best friend's children (she had passed away 13 years ago, and I had lost them)..but, now they are back in my life..
*Through Facebook, I have reconnected with most of my life-long friends!! (I love FB!)..Including my best friend from kindergarden..and so many others. It brings me joy to know all of them as an adult! ..LOL..
*Met a ton of new friends--probably the best part of 2010!
*got rid of the negative people in my life...permanently..hopefully.
*watched re-runs of the Gilmore Girls  over 500 times!! That is 2 times a day, almost every day this year..LOL..and I still am not tired of it...
*got published in a book! Pam Carikker's "Art at the Speed of Life"...It won't formally come out until 2011, but it was a 2010 "thing".
*Finally got a new fridge and stove. I feel like a princess to have working kitchen appliances again!
*Had an incredibly HEALTHY year! Both Nature Boy and I both were beyond blessed with no major health issues this year. One injury to my knee--but, nothing serious. Thank you God!!
*changed my eating habits!! (WWOOOHOOO!)
*woke up every morning, grateful for all that I have, and not wanting more. (Not that I have a lot of "things"--because I don't), but grateful for what I DO have. Love being non-materialistic, and not needing "things"...:::smile::::
*Nature Boy and I have been together for 10 years!! 

Well..that's about it. It was just a lot of work, and more work--but, I had fun doing it, and I like looking back on the entire year, and saying that it went PRETTY GOOD!! Now..it's time to think about what I want in 2011. I have no clue. I want bigger art shows, I want to stretch my artistic wings, and do MANY different things. I want 2011 to be more successful than 2010. I want continued health, and good will towards other people. I want to find a way to "give back" this year. I want to continue to refine what I eat, and lose more weight. Not to be thin, but to be HEALTHY! I want to work on my spiritual/religious side.

I am not posting New Year resolutions this year. I would have to put down.."paint over 600 paintings..", and ya'll would roll your eyes at me..and think me insane. I also don't like putting down expectations that we all know that we aren't going to stick to.

I hope everyone out there has a Wonderful New Year!! Peace, Love and Joy! Live Artfully!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS/ HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Christmas Eve..I just want to take a moment and wish you a wonderful Holiday Season..whatever your religion is, or whatever you believe...I hope it's a good one for you. I take this week, out of every year to reflect on the year gone by, and to plan my goals for the upcoming year.

This is the first Christmas in my daughter's life, that we will not be together. I miss her..terribly. But, am comforted in knowing that she is happy, and with a nice man, whom I love also. So, now, I have two kids..he is the son that I never had. I am happy to know that he loves my child, and is good to her. That is all a mother could ask for.

We went last night to Nature Boy's daughter's house..to give presents to the grandkids. All of us are so blessed to have those 5 wonderful, beautiful children in our lives. I truely love them, and am constantly amazed at the little people that they are!

As you celebrate this Christmas--I ask that you take a moment, and say a prayer for those who are less fortunate, or alone, or have worries. Say thanks and be grateful for what you have.

Well..that's about it..I am going to paint today..because that is what I want to do...everyone have a MERRY CHRISTMAS/ Happy Holiday Season. I love you all. Live Artfully.

I COULDN'T DO IT!!!

Well..my "gluing in journals" lasted about 2 hours..and I was bored stiff the whole time...LOL..Anyway..I started this round painting. It's the coolest board...It's 15 inches across, the edges are about 1 1/2 inches, and they are rounded smooth..Home Depot was selling them as tabletops, I suppose..seems too little for a table to me...but oh well...So, I started painting, and it came out to be an owl, which I hated..so I sanded away..added a ton more paint, and sanded some more..and then this emerged.....Live Artfully!!

CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.....

Something just occurred to me..I use a lot of pictures from books and magazines for inspiration and reference..and I have them everywhere...tacked on the walls, lying around in huge piles, they fill drawers, shelves, boxes..etc...I have an insane amount..LIKE I could possibly draw/paint them all or use them as elements in painting in the next 200 years....I also have empty journals of the same magnitude, lying around, waiting for me to art journal my way through them..uh huh..that is going to happen in this century...RIGHT...I will hold my breath, and WAIT for it to happen...LOL..so today--I have decided to take control of the images that rule my studio..I am on vacation (I swore that I wasn't going to paint until the first--and well, we SEE how THAT has been working)...so, today--I am going to be over-indulgent and I am going to take my glue stick, and fill those journals with all those images...I may only get a couple done, but that is a start....and it'll be nice to have my inspirations, or a tiny part of them..in books..that I can just look through..and find what I want..at least that is the plan...I am also going to drink hot chocolate, and maybe..JUST MAYBE..I won't stop to paint just a LITTLE...LOL...surely I can go ONE DAY without picking up the paintbrush...SURELY...Live Artfully!!

ONLY 5 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS...

Some things amaze me...the way time flies (whether you are having fun or not) is one of them. This year is ending FAST. Have you thought yet about your goals for next year? I am having a heck of a time wrapping my head around finding art shows and applying for them. It is a rough job for me..because I am one of those people that cannot plan in advance...I like having no committments, and you just can't do that and do shows. They want you to sign up in January for a show that is in Oct...How do I know what I'll be doing in OCT?? It's 10 months away..LOL..

I have just been trying out new things..different styles..I feel like it's time for a bit of change..not completely..but just a little..I am excited for 2011 to get here. I am defining my goals, and am ready for the next step up..whatever it may be..to take my art to the next level.

I got Nature Boy a new miter table saw for Christmas. He's already using it, as we don't really have Christmas with presents under the tree. We just go and buy stuff..and say it's for Christmas..LOL. Anyway..he was out there yesterday making me frames, and adding sides to my plywood for paintings..and generally playing with his newest man-toy...LOL.

Nothing much is going on..this will be my first Christmas without SHE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING (my daughter), and I miss her terribly. She moved to Orlando at the first of the year, and is constantly working now..being all grown up and all. I am proud of her, but wish she lived closer by.

Well, that's about all...Kinda boring..Sorry...Live Artfully!

SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR ME...

Well..we've been iced in up here for a few days, so I am painting SPRINGTIME...LOL..Imaginary flowers to keep the thoughts in my head from freezing...did I mention that I strongly dislike SNOW??? LOL LOL...Christmas is 9 days away, and it really makes you stop and think..where did this year GO??? It seems like yesterday that we were doing shows for the first time...WOW..this year has been AMAZING!!! Oh well..back to the studio..must paint more happy spring flowers...Live Artfully!!

SUNDAY REVISION of PAINTING

Worked on her a little more...

GOOD SUNDAY AFTERNOON!

Just painted this...I think she has the perfect nose. FINALLY..noses are so hard to paint. ...Anyway..just hanging out and painting, and being cold...watching it snow outside, and fighting winter hibernation tendencies--I REALLY think that I was a bear in another life...lol.Anyway..I am going to paint some more. It's a perfect, peaceful Sunday....Live Artfully!