Long, Cool Drink

Just finished a colored pencil piece I will be sending off soon to one of the miniature shows. The piece is 2.5"x 3.5".  I really enjoy the cp's and intend to do more in the future.

I saw this lady along with a number of others in Illinois on a motorcycle ride with my husband. I nearly always take my camera when we ride if we're going where I may find "reference". :-)

A "miniature" wall and some new work

I ran across some small plate holders at a huge discount and thought they would work well for my miniatures when they are home between shows and for my tiny new miniature art collection. It will grow. :-) We had the eagle all alone above the couch and he's HUGE, but that wall still needed more. He always looked forlorn and lonely. I am much happier now. I think I will go and see if they still have any long ones left and put up 2 more. :-)


I've also been working on a couple of other new pieces. This eagle has been sold to a collector but he's still with me waiting to finish curing so he can be varnished and go to his new home.

Another eagle...

A miniature raccoon done in casein and scratch on white clayboard (WIP)

Latest on mini WIP carving

Worked on it yesterday and today (around the piano lessons) and he's getting to not look so "naked" as a friend so delicately put it!!! Boy, those pelicans have "nasty" feathers on their backs- try to make sense out of those groups!!! It's taking me a lot of studying, and alot of "more reference, more reference" and "where WAS that other shot of that area" to get it!!! I think you can see the detail here and the lifting of the feathering...


By the way- the body from neck to tail is 1.75" in length. So that should give you an idea of how tiny the feathering is. You can also see I've undercut the one lifted wing on the top. I have more undercutting under the wings yet, but that waits until the last minute once all the rest is done.

Miniature Carving WIP

Well, quite a bit of time has been spent carving this fellow, although you may not think it looks like it! My carpal tunnel certainly does! Wrist is hurting big time from harp and carving... Yikes. My 2 loves. I can deal with the pain just as long as it doesn't make it impossible to work. The first photo here was from 2 days ago. May not look like much progress, but I put in quite a bit of time just getting that far.

Today was spent mostly working on the head area. The detail is very intricate and time consuming. I am looking forward to getting to the feathering soon I hope, altho there is still more to do on the underside and also to finish off the head and neck, plus detailing a bit on the wings. As I write this I realize I still have quite a bit left to go. Once you start to see a "face" it seems like you're getting somewhere I guess. It took me awhile to envision the bill but I finally was able to put it all together. Now if I only don't slip up when I'm sanding (I power sand)- one slip and it's all over. Bad enough on the full size pieces, these miniatures haven't a bit of error margine at all...

Experiments in Colored Pencil

In my search for artwork that can be done at times I can't be in my studio I keep coming back to colored pencils. I find my strength in the "art arena" seems to be anything done in a "drawing" style. Such as scratchboard, pastels, colored pencils, and ofcourse illustration done with pen and ink or graphite.
I had my mom here for a few days again to give my dad a short break (she has alzheimers for new readers). When she's here I can't be in my studio, thus this is part of the reason for the search. I have to say if I can get it worked out to my satisfaction I think colored pencils will be the answer.

Experiment #1 was done using MDF board. It was going well until I needed to put more layers on in some areas and the board wouldn't take any more. So I sprayed it with workable fixative- either it did NOT like the board or it was because it was the bottom of the can. I'm suspecting the latter. It was like I had sprayed the piece with varnish- so that was it. I couldn't do another thing. :-( It was looking somewhat like a watercolor before it was ruined.




2.25"x3.25"
I finished this piece done on Arches water color paper yesterday. I was able to achieve my darks that I wanted, but still not really happy with the support. I'll keep experimenting.

BRIO Art Gallery

I am pleased to announce that I will be represented by BRIO Art Gallery in Galena, Illinois. The gallery is a beautiful space filled with lovely works and I am honored to be among their artists.

http://www.briogalena.com
Phone: 815-776-1010

Please drop by and check out my artwork there if you're in the area. And say "hi" to Marsha for me! (The owner).

Artwork Accepted!

I managed to get so excited over the harp I never posted that I had 2 pieces accepted into the Richeson Small Works and Miniature Show! I am very honored and excited to be accepted.

Power and Glory (acrylic)


Marsh King- Great Blue Heron (casein)

New Year's and resolutions

This has been a difficult fall and early winter. Too many things to do, illness, and just generally the "not enough time" syndrome! I never did get to really delve into my thoughts from that ride on the back of the motorcycle! I've not forgotten though! It will happen, eventually. I am going to try and get back on track with my original intentions for this blog- to let you into my thoughts as well as my life just a bit to learn who I am and what makes me "tick". Perhaps to understand a bit better where my art comes from. I believe art comes from who we are and what we experience. So to know an artist better is to understand their art just a little bit better. (At least I believe this!)
I have begun another painting, finished the wolf, and still need to get back to the rooster. He's my "evening, when I'm not too tired" project! I'll try and post a WIP of the latest- it's a real "bugger" for me. I've never done real architecture before and this one is just full of lines, corners, porches, dormers... I spent the entire afternoon just drawing out the house. The background is in. I'll try and photograph it and the finished wolf over the weekend and get them posted!
I've made several resolutions for the coming year. I've always tried to do that and it never involves anything large- just simple things like doing a better job of doggy toenail trimming! :-P This year I want to play my piano more, exercise more, trim those doggy toenails, continue to paint, and last but not least, I've purchased a gift for myself. A dream I've always had- to play the harp. One is about to be built just for me! It will take a couple of months, and then I resolve to learn to play it! I am so excited. I will post photos once it has arrived to take it's place next to my beautiful piano. They are both gorgeous instruments both to hear and to look at. What a lucky girl I am!
Do you make New Year's resolutions? I've heard many folks say they don't- they can't/don't keep them anyway. I've always made them for years with the exception of last year for some reason. Don't know why. And with the exception of one year, I've always kept them. I have never made multiple ones before. But none are "exceptional" or terribly difficult so hopefully I can follow through on all of them. I believe in doing this resolution thing. It's a commitment to the new year. It's a commitment to doing something useful, to doing something to make yourself a better person, to doing something that might be good for someone (or something) else. Why wouldn't you want to do this? Unless you don't like commitment! :-) So here's to the New Year- may it (and we) all be better, happier, and more productive than we were in 2009!

Back from Branson

We left on a motorcycle trip to Branson, MO. Sept. 18th and arrived home Sat. evening. It was a cold and rainy ride. I think it will be the only long trip we will be taking! I prefer our 5th wheel and all it's comforts. Besides- I missed my studio buddies!

We did get to take in a couple of shows and also went down to wander over our acres in northern Arkansas, just over the border and not far from Branson. Just out of the "big" town of Blue Eye which is part in MO and part in Ark.!

I'm posting the views from the spot we want to build a home someday. The views are to die for, and nearly all the way around. And wildlife (the animal kind!)... my idea of heaven.


I did alot of "thinking" on the back of that bike.


I'll put some of my thoughts in future posts (if I can remember them!) As usual, I thought about "what next" (to paint) and that sort of thing, but I also thought about the meaning art has for me and emotions. How can an animal or a still life or a landscape trigger "emotions". Light bulbs came on, now if only I can remember all that I realized on that rainy ride. I am too tired at this point to go there, but I hope to express some of what I realized and learned about this subject on that ride. Until I am able to do that I just wanted to say "hi" and "how are ya?"!
:-)

Out of the Mire

Says Coyote, "Continue on the journey of the art. Give a hint of the sadness which has filled a life, let it be known that great sadness can lead to great depth of feeling. That is enough."
So Crow continues the story of the woman...

The woman sank deep into her despair, nearly drowning in it. But there came a time when she grew strength. In that strength she gathered herself and became determined to find her life again. She did not know how, but she did know if she were to once again be whole she must continue her artistic journey. She must take back her artistic soul. It was who she was. Once again she took up the search for more knowledge, more ability to express herself, and once begun her world became clearer and brighter. There would always be a cloud, it would perhaps never be quite as bright, but in that shadow was the ability to not be blinded by the brightness and to feel more deeply than ever before.
To feel what another might feel in an experience not personally known, because of what her life had taught her. She had more depth to her soul. Gradually her world became a happier place and she could look back upon that darkness with an inner pride. She had not been overcome by the despair, but instead it had enriched her being!

The Quandry

"I am in a quandry," said Crow to Coyote (if my spirit guide isn't a crow, I'm sure it would be coyote! Another favorite of mine.)
"What do I tell of this life explosion? How much do I reveal? This is about the journey of art. It is not about betrayal and despair. But all of life's experiences make up what each being is and how he sees the world. What do I tell of this time? I need council, oh sly one."
Said Coyote, "I will think on it..."

Art Award- First Place!

My gosh, where has the time gone. With starting out in a new job I've just totally lost track of time! I MUST get photos of the puppies again- they are becoming real puppies now! Totter around on wobbly legs, but still sleeping and eating and sleeping, mostly. :-)

I did have a nice surprise this past week- I won a first place award! I attended the reception and got to see some friends I haven't seen in quite awhile and also talk briefly with the judge with whom I had taken a few plein aire classes several years ago-(not at all my forte' unfortunately). Managed to get one shot, altho the light behind us made for poor quality, but not a really big deal- after all it's just me, not artwork!!!

I have the egret nearly completed and just begging me to come and finish... sigh... not enough time in the day.

I'm BACK!!!

I haven't been allowed into my blog since I first set it up!!! Hoping it will finally like me and let me post!

I have entered the world of miniature art and am loving it. Just sent off a number of minis to 2 shows this morning. Ready to start a new piece tomorrow. For now here are a few of the minis I've submitted to shows. The little pomeranian was sold back in the fall, but the others are on their way to The Snow Goose Gallery in Bethlehem, Pa. and Seaside Gallery in Nag's Head, NC. I'll try and post more tomorrow.