Icicles

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I was drawn to the cool silver color of this satin bow because of the snow and ice in my world right now and probably here until June! The ice and snow is amazingly beautiful and I wonder if I will ever get tired of seeing it. This is only my second winter here in Chicago and being a newbe every falling snowflake, glazing of ice and even the slush is wonderfully gorgeous! It is definitely worth getting a little cold to be lucky enough to see these beautiful sights.

The thick silver paint dripping over the edges of the warmer cream tissue, what else could it be but the draping of icicles after a great winter storm? So, If you are lucky enough to have a winter, bundle up and go take in the show!

Ginkgo

Well I could write pages on this painting and the experience, but I will try and keep it short. Suffice it to say, I feel like I have finally painted the painting I've been trying to paint for years, and I think it is all due to my little experiment with the abstract paintings. I strongly encourage everyone, not just painters, to try something out of your comfort zone, see what insight it may bring to you. I think our subconscious leads us toward things we need to experience, who cares if we look crazy! Who cares if we don't do it well! Just try it, whatever it is, as long as it is legal!!


This painting is titled Ginkgo. I hope you are lucky enough to have a Ginkgo tree nearby, they are the last trees to change into their Fall outfits. Here in Chicago Fall is breathtaking, full of oranges, reds, rusts, and ochres. Then, as if for the final curtain call before Winter the Ginkgos, whose branches extend way past their trunks in crazy right angles, explode into gold. This year it was too brief a show, just like a shooting star! But never fear, this winter storm today has lead me straight to a fabulous silver satin ribbon.

Royal Party

Yeah! I am so glad to have this painting finished, not that I haven't loved every minute of it, mind you, I am just a wee bit nervous about having enough paintings ready for the December show. I wish I could post the entire group as I will hang it, which is with about an inch of space in between each canvas. I may have to break down and buy Photoshop if I am going to continue these split paintings, unless someone out there has an idea of how to fix this on going problem of mine. Anyone????

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me along the way with this piece too!

"Heartache"

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Amazingly this is the first true red bow I have ever painted. This true red was inspired by seeing the website of Duane Keiser who has fantastic Utube video demonstrations, one of which is a gorgeous candy apple. I just could not wait to dive into red after seeing it!

My heart literally beats faster when I paint red, how about yours?

"Nesting"

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I am sorry I could not get the picture straighter. My photography skills have been terrible the last several posts. Must be all the over consumption of caffeine! I will save this little one for the show as well, and hopefully get a better picture of it before it makes its way to Atlanta. I think this painting will be best seen in person no matter how good of a photo I get anyway. I do love how it turned out and feel it captures the 'hushed' mood I've been in as of late.

Morning Glory

I don't know that much about plants and flowers, but when I lived in Atlanta I did try my best to grow things. I loved growing both Morning Glories and Day Lilies. Both have blooms that only open for one day and by late afternoon they have already started to fade. This time of year the Morning Glories start to produce their seeds in little papery round pods that are fun to gather up and toss about the yard for next spring. It is a flower where time is counted, spent and is waiting.

As far as the painting goes, I loved painting the tissue just as much as the velvety bow. I enjoyed layering all the rainbow of colors that actually make up this "cream" tissue. What fun!

I am starting to prepare for an up-coming show in Atlanta which will be taking place December through February. This painting will be available through this show and I will keep everyone posted as the time draws near.

Thumbnail sketches

Oh my gosh! How gorgeous is this vintage plum velvet!?! Okay so I've had purple on my mind as of late, likely caused by a collision of many ideas and sources streaming in all at once showing me purple. I so wanted my next painting to contain several presents in the same composition. I played around with several presents trying to figure out a theme or idea. But this guy just seemed soooo very demanding, so right now he's got all my attention.

I've been starting these demo posts by showing the set up and beginning oil sketch, but I realized that is leaving out a bunch of steps. First step for me is inspiration, and I see it everywhere. I have ten paintings being painted in my head all the time, so I keep a personal journal where I keep these thoughts. Then suddenly one idea, thought, color, feeling singles itself out and wham.... purple velvet. Next are these tiny thumbnail sketches where I play around with composition and see which format will best suit what I'm trying to say. The top two sketches I envisioned as another split painting. I like the middle idea, and may come back to it, but have settled on the bottom right hand corner composition. Hope this hasn't been too boring.

"Summer Leaves"

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I've been trying for two days to get a decent picture of this painting and still haven't manage to get one. I'm not sure what is going on, normally the light is so great in my studio that my photos turn out perfect. The greens are actually much richer and warmer. Anyway, at least you can see the painting and an example of the frames I've been using for these smaller sized paintings. These "floater frames" allow the edges of the canvas to be seen, which in this painting I left the earthy orange color that served as the canvas undertone.

My original inspiration for this painting came from the variety of greens that late summer brings and the beauty of the dappled shadows that will soon be gone once all our trees lose their leaves. This is one of my favorite times of the year in Chicago, almost over night the leaves change. No, not their colors yet, but their sound. The wind plays a new song.

"Patience"

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Somehow, some way, this painting decided to change course. The present just no longer looked as if it wanted to wave and flap about, suddenly and wonderfully it just seemed still. I suppose sometimes on some days you desperately want to flutter about, and sometimes on some days
you are willing to spread your wings and simply wait - content.

"Sprite"

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Well this was just four square inches of fun! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.