11-28-09

I'm making slow progress lately on the paintings in progress; it's a busy time of the year!  A couple of things have happened lately.  I sent ten images of recent paintings to an expert to be critiqued.  I wanted to know why my paintings don't get selected for alot of the shows to which I enter.  It's actually a little scary to do that, because you have to be ready to hear criticism.  I was, though, and what I got from it that was most valuable is that I've lost some of my "painter-ly-ness", and I think it's because I've been painting mostly from photographs.  I'm getting pretty good at copying a photograph, which is making me a pretty good artist.   I don't want to be a pretty good painter.  I want to be a GREAT painter!  I'll spend the rest of my life striving to reach that goal.  That's half the fun of it, really.

I've decided to start painting mostly from life.  I'll be doing alot of small practice paintings, and will be calling them my "Plein Air, Alla Prima".  They'll be just as described.  I'll set up simple still-lifes, or go outside somewhere and paint a scene, giving myself one hour from the moment my brush touches the canvas.  I believe this will help me become a better painter, plus it's fun to paint like that!  Here's the first one; I'd like to do one a day, but haven't done it - need to organize my time better, obviously!  I might go to two hours after a few one-hour sessions - depends on how I feel about it at the time.  The cool thing is that I'll be enjoying myself!

The picture is less bright than the painting really is - I kind of like it.

Next year about this time, I'm planning to have a one-woman show.  I love doing that!  I don't know any more details than that, but will start planning it after the first of the year.  I'll have plenty of paintings for it; so far this year, I've completed 20 paintings, and will be up to at least  22 or 23 by the end of the year.  That's alot of painting!  It's really been great, and I do think my paintings are better than they were at the beginning of the year.  I look forward to continueing my "Painting Frenzy", as a friend and fellow painter called it.

11-12-09

I'm posting an "in progress" photo of Bob's and Chrissy's paintings - they're coming along.  I'll be starting on another mailbox painting hopefully tomorrow - I had almost forgotten about that series!  I plan to have a show next year; I don't have details yet, but will certainly let you know.

The shoe series should be finished by the end of the year, and I've decided to hold the originals for my show, but I have prints available.  The series is designed to all go together, so that's the way I'd like to show them.  They will look great in my show!  I have the shoes now for the final painting, and will be starting on that painting very soon!

I'm still waiting for the rest of the pictures of THE guitar, so when I get those, I'll be starting on the musical instrument series.  I'm really looking forward to that!

11-11-09

I made progress on Bob's painting, "Buddy & Pepper by the Pool" yesterday, and today will be working on Chrissy's Caterpillar.   The mailbox series is calling me, too, so I'll be starting up on that again.  That means I'll be working on three series, which will keep those creative juices flowing, for sure!  The one and only mailbox I painted has been sold, but I have lots of photos, and 8 X 8 panels that I prepared just for them. 

11-06-09

Folsom Lake College graciously allowed me to go in and photograph some musical instruments - it was very cool indeed!  I'm compiling quite a few images of musical instruments. 

I must apologize; the photo of Regal is a little off.  For some reason, my computer reads the greens as bluer than they are, especially if it's a green-ish blue.  I had forgotten that and posted it before I corrected it, so I'm posting the corrected image now.

As you can see, there's quite a difference.  This is much closer to the original!  I should be receiving the black heels that I'll be using for the last in the series.  They are gorgeous!  I won't say too much, but the format will be different for the black one, and it will be designed to fit in the middle of the five.

11-04-09

Here it is - Regal is finished!  That is number 4 of 5 in Phase I of the "Goin' for THE LOOK" Series.  Next will be the black one - I think we can all relate to black heels!  Women - because we wear them, men - because they like them.   Part of THE LOOK is, of course, the purse, which will be Phase II.

The other series I'll be starting is the musical instrument series.  I'm still milling ideas around for the title of the series, but so far the best one is "Art & Soul".  I like that.  They kind of go together.  I'm very excited about the first one, which is that fabulous guitar, the  '59 Gibson L5!  I just got more pictures today, and will be getting even more, so who knows, I might have to do more than one!  It's a gorgeous guitar!  There's lots of sentimental attachment involved in an instrument like this; it's been loved, and is part of a family history with wonderful memories surrounding it.  I look forward very much to painting it.

11-03-09

The purple shoe is finished, I think.  I've learned from experience to wait a day to decide if it's done.  I almost always do a little tweaking.  I'll post a photo in a couple of days.

I'm looking forward to a day of photographing musical instruments on Friday - I'll have masses of photos to choose from!