Lights and Darks

I am working on it looking good and contrasty from far away. Up close, there are a lot of little details. This was fun. Here it was a few weeks back. Yep, it's really evolved. I am finally starting to like it.

My Valentine's Day Heart

Crouching over without gloves I scooped up handfuls of fresh snow. The dusty flakes wouldn't stick, so I used my warm palms and fingers to slowly sculpt the snow into a sticky mass. With icy wet fingers, I was able to eek out an iPhone photo and a short love note.

Dusting off my fancy red coat, I picked up the bakery bag from the salted hood of my car and warmed my fingers on the large paper coffee cup sitting next to it.

Ah submission! Letting those creative moments happen. Knowing when they are waiting.

Chattering

Next to each other, I can see my voice come through strongly. I had watched Melinda-Stickney Gibson's video, Paint and Solitude. She shows how her works in progress are hung next to one another - and how "they talk to each other". I can see that here ... but it wasn't until my teacher also mentioned the same type of idea, that I made the move myself. 

Painting on right is almost done, I think. Compare to last week, do you see any differences? There is actually one difference - hint, look at white square.

Complacent Progress

Je Pleure Non Plus has progressed and I am liking this work a lot. It's not there quite yet, but it's making me very happy, thus, I don't think the current title (I cry no longer) is going to stick.

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way -- things I had no words for." ~ Georgia O'Keefe

Je Pleure Non Plus

(36" x 24")

(12" x 12" the right side is slightly cut off)

Both of these paintings have morphed from the ones shown last week into the ones posted right here (works in progress).  This week, a record setting seven hours of painting in a row. My class was three hours and I stayed after for open studio. I cranked the classical music. Me, my work, and alone in the beautiful studio with floor to ceiling windows that face the woods. It was one of those fresh snow days where the velvet black trees pop against the bright gray sky. At home, I spent the evening looking at other artists' work and am enthralled by Melinda Stickney-Gibson's existence. Today I was so happy and emotionally solid. I also knew that I needed to rest, not in the sense of being still, but more of a break from the heavy flow of emotions that were cursing through me while painting. 

Coats of Many Colors

It's about layers and layers and letting go ... right here, it's early as far as layers go.

It's never to late too get dirty or wash your hands.

And certainly, it's too soon to "be done". My family was wondering why I covered this up. "Oh, it's not ready yet!" Like meditation and trying not to let your mind wander and think, I try not to feel the pressure to finish or produce a final. If I go there, my freedom is totally cut off.

I Heart Felt

I bought the mittens from this fabulous artist who made my purse that I love so much. Three years later, my hubby scooped up the iPad cover, not knowing that he was purchasing from the same creative and wonderful knitter/felter. Anyway, I'm always looking at the iPad cover and enjoying it like a view. The colors are so rich and fun. The contrast of a completely new factory-produced technology living in a completely old-world hand made wool shell is also thrilling. 

A Lovely Abstraction

I see little paintings in the palettes.

But, I see bigger things in the paintings themselves. I am in love. Officially cannot stop thinking about abstract painting, yes, just like when you meet that special someone.

Making it Merry & Recycled 2012

An old shoe box with white artist tape and a carefully selected magazine page torn to size. A "shoe in" for an easy wrap job without a bunch of paper or bows. Add your own inscription in metallic ink for the finish.

Just Like Mom's Lemon Cookies?

Arlene used to make these for her everyone, but her youngest son, perhaps loved them the most. He'd often receive a box of these from Mom on Christmas. When we cleaned out my in-laws cupboards and home, we were very lucky to find this recipe in a small, well worn, dotted with oil Pillsbury cookbook from 1969. The recipe had a "checkmark" penciled in next to it. We knew all too well what that meant. Here's to finding the needle in a haystack! And to my MIL for her many years of hard work, her joy in baking and for taking care of so many people at Christmas time. She made some of the best cookies I've ever eaten.