The "Series"

This is a successful attempt at the elusive "series" concept.  I always find it difficult to stay in a particular style or zone when painting so this time I pretty much worked on all 6 at once.  This works for me!!! I've finally found the answer. This series consists of 2 @ 30" x 30", 2 @ 16" x 16" and 2 @ 12" x 12".

The only problem is that I am now working larger (36" x 48") and space is very limited.  I can see a re-organization project of my little 'studio' space, which is a portion of a family room type area.  I'm going to need to figure out a way to get the panels up on the wall to work on as there is no room for multiple easels.   I need a heated garage!!!

Productive Painting Time

                                         
                                           "Mind Games"

Summer weather is still here - the garden is calling to me BUT so is painting!  This 12" x 12" x 1.5" painting came together rather quickly for a change.  It is a relief to get a little one that I like in the middle of struggling with a large canvas - 36" x 48" x 1.5" and 3 works on paper to go with it.

The large one and companions are beginning to take shape and my mind is in the right place to tackle that big project.  My paintings are intuitive and emotional and a fairly clear head is needed to work out the puzzle that this kind of painting is!

A little diversion is sometimes needed - this painting was diversion #1 and a thorough house cleaning today was diversion #2.

Tomorrow it is Onward with the Brushes!!!!

A New Series in "My Style"

These two paintings are the first in a new series I have been working on lately.  This style combines collage, printmaking and mixed media painting on canvas. For years I have been experimenting with many mediums and techniques and this is the end result!  For some artists, myself included, it takes a long time to develop an individual 'style'. I now feel that all the time spent learning is coming together and I'm very happy and relaxed painting in this way!

More to come!

Focusing

This was a very busy and rewarding week - almost two weeks actually.

I've decided that a blog post each and every week is too much so I have geared down to twice a month. This way it gives me more time to finish things and possibly have something to say!

One of the 6 white canvases has turned into a vase of flowers.  It started out as an abstract but morphed along the way.  I'm thinking the deep freeze we have been in here this winter must have something to do with it.  Two more 8" x 8" canvases have been started - it would be nice to have three similar ones to be a little series but I won't know until I get going which direction they will take.  I am hoping for more vases with flowers!

This week also been a crocheting and knitting time. It all started with a friend wanting me to teach her how to crochet an infinity scarf.  I now have completed two of these scarves in different patterns and colours.  Turquoise for one; chartreuse for the other!  Next on the go is a knitted dish cloth - why I'm doing this is a mystery - the yarn just called out to me in the store!

I also read Neil Young's autobiography "Waging Heavy Peace" - an exceptionally good read!

So the next two weeks I will be on a mission to focus on more vase with flowers paintings with the goal of keeping my head in 'series' mode and not flying off in all kinds of other directions!

New Printmaking

Printmaking has been calling to me again lately and these two 'Flower Pot' hand coloured relief prints mounted on cradled wood panels gallery depth are two from a series of 6 that I made for a spring garden tour show called "Plantastic".  I am very pleased to say that 4 went to a new home that day!

I am now working on 3 more plates in a "Flower Pots" series featuring pots from my gardens.  These are small gems at 6" x 6" and the new additions to this series will be 8" x 8".

It is fun to do some printmaking again after painting and collaging this past winter.  I like to mix it up - it keeps me on my toes!!

Perseverance

This painting is the third one in a little series of small test paintings for a new technique to add to my collage works.  All three were done on board and then matted and framed at 8" x 10" and this one at 10" x 12".

 I am happy with the outcome and am now working on two canvases at 12" x 12".  There will be more to come in progressively larger sizes.  The first one is done but I will wait and post them both up together.

It is getting easier for me to stick to a series for a while.  I've always gotten a little bored with the concept of the same theme but I am enjoying exploring an idea for a bit longer each time. 

The end result of a cohesive showing of works is a good reward for sticking it out!

New Works

Still working away with collage.  Drawing is starting to creep in.  These two are studies for larger ones to come.  I'm having fun!!!

More Minis

Two more minis for the Art Delivered project. Working so tiny (6" x 6") with collage is a bit fussy but they turned out well. They look good hanging in a vertical row.

Cloning

I've just finished varnishing this painting which is a semi-replica of a previous one. The first painting, 24" x 12", goes very nicely in my newly renovated guest bathroom so I decided to do another one in the same vein on a 24" x 18" canvas that I had.

It's not easy to do the same thing twice! There are subtle differences such as 9 leaves in the first one and 7 in the second and the border treatment is a different technique. It was a challenge and I'm happy with the results.

Now on to another sunflower painting which will be on a 24" x 30" canvas in a landscape format.

Today is Day 14 of my 6 to 8 weeks in a non-walking cast for a broken ankle. Since I can't get out, I have decided to do as many paintings as I can. It's keeping me occupied and very happy!

The Progression of #2

When I look back at all the stages of this attempt to do a 'series' from a painting that had been completed a few weeks earlier I realize what not to do next time. I'm thinking it would be a whole lot easier to have an idea first of all and then to begin two or three at the same time and work on them simultaneously.

I struggled to finish this one because I was thinking too much. My usual way of working is not to think at all and just let the painting evolve and that is why, after thinking my way to #4 above I became very unhappy and indecisive and when that happens, out comes the gesso! I almost covered up my three flowers but at the last minute decided to try and save them.

The resulting painting is in a much higher key but they are about winter turning into spring so I might not tone it down (but then again, after a few days I might change my mind and mute the colours a bit). Anyway, it is done.

Now on to complete the two vase paintings!

Working in a Series - Stage 2

Day 2 - I have put my flowers in place and decided where the frozen ground will be as well as the green areas. Tomorrow morning I will finish those two areas and then work on the outer collage some more. I hope to be finished with this one by the late afternoon. When I can put the two canvases up side by side or one over the other I will be able to see if a third will work.

I am now taking my painting apron off and putting my cooking one on!

Working in a Series

My very frustrating efforts of the past few months got an affirmation last week in the form of a critique. I brought my canvas that I thought was finished to a critique session with a well known Ottawa art teacher and contemporary artist to get some comments so that I could see if my direction was worth continuing and what areas needed improving. To my surprise there was not one negative comment on my experiment and a suggestion that I should consider working in a series.

After spending some time on the internet looking for ideas on how exactly to do a series of work, I got started this morning. Since my first canvas turned into some odd little flowers wanting to pop up through the frozen ground the second one is to be the next step in the gradual thaw of spring. I am thinking of the circle of the seasons and the changes that occur with each day. Even though I am looking out of my window at ice and snow on the river I can hear a change with the birds that come to my feeder. The cardinals are singing and starting to stake out their territories. There are a lot more squirrels now running about and my dog wants to be outside all day to chase them.

I am also trying to finish two 12" square canvases that turned out to be flowers in vases - a series of two.

Once I get these practice ones done I will pick a theme, choose some sizes and start another series which, I am feeling, just might be flowers and gardens, abstract, of course. That's what happens to my brain after looking at ice and snow for 4 months!

I am excited about my attempts at collaging and painting together on a canvas support. It's amazing what a tiny bit of positive reinforcement can do for the creative spirit!