Canadian Morning....for Barbara

Kitchen Morning 12x12 oil

Barbara Muir ....fantastic Canadian artist, famous Skype artist, fellow blogger, inspiring supporter and I am proud to say a friend of mine had a lovely photo posted on her blog a few months ago. I immediately fell in love with the color and light she had captured in that photo and she was kind enough to allow me to paint it. If you have not seen her work or read her blog...you better get over there right now!! I know Barbara personally....she is a delightful human being and I have never seen anyone accomplish so much in so little time....she is amazing!!! Three cheers for Barbara and a bless you for being so inspirational and generous!!
So, I am happy (hurray), once again, with my new piece.....I feel it is painterly ( lots of thick paint and brushwork) and romantic ( love the palette and sense of light)....and I feel ever closer to the message and voice I want my work to say. Thank you Barbara for everything you give in your work your blog and your generous spirit. I hope this piece is as pleasing to you....and everyone else....as it is to me!!
This coming week is crunch time...again! I must prepare for a client party for my show at Spiva on Friday....a 4 hour demo I am giving Saturday.....and a workshop I am giving on Sunday. The following week is shaping up to be equally busy. I have been so consumed with work ( trying to produce high quality work at the rate of two per week) that I have forgotten to enter two local shows...that's okay I have more awards than I have room for and am seriously trying to improve my work and keep the house and family humming....all a big job when you are trying to do it right!
Until later....the Universe rocks!!!,
Theresa

Of Painting and Roads Taken

Happiness 12x12 sold
I have been spending some time looking at art this morning before going to the studio. Most days I do this...I feel it is an important aspect of learning. I am mindful to save my eyes for work that appeals to me...generally realism with abstract and/or impressionistic qualities, although I do love a good non-objective or abstract piece, which was my college training. I believe that all this looking will find its' way to my subconscious and hopefully make me a better painter. Some of the things I look for are loose brushwork, edges, open canvas, good color, exciting grays and of course an overall good design. The design elements are not just the composition or division of compositional space. They are also light and dark value patterns, interesting negative and positive space, color balance, repetition of shapes with variation, line, harmony, unity and texture to name some. All of these elements when put together well will help to produce a great piece. There is so much to learn and then perfect! I love the continuing challenge of painting...everyday there is a new problem to solve....or an old one to improve upon. I am hoping and betting that this will keep my mind sharp!
A little work today around the house....but most of the day will be spent painting. I spent quite a while reading last evening before watching some more of the Olympics. The book I am reading is "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and is planned to be a film . The book was praised by British environmental campaigner George Monbiot who said of the book "It could be the most important environmental book ever. It is a thought experiment that imagines a world without a biosphere, and shows that everything we value depends on the ecosystem." This nomination echoes the review Monbiot had written some months earlier for the Guardian in which he wrote, "A few weeks ago I read what I believe is the most important environmental book ever written. It is not Silent Spring, Small Is Beautiful or even Walden. It contains no graphs, no tables, no facts, figures, warnings, predictions or even arguments. Nor does it carry a single dreary sentence, which, sadly, distinguishes it from most environmental literature. It is a novel, first published a year ago, and it will change the way you see the world."
I never seem to have enough time to read but am making headway in that department by better organization of time. Speaking of which....time to get going!!
Always a great day here and hope the same for you,
Theresa

Good Monday Morning!

Calla Lilies and Brass 16x20 sold
Hmmm...slept a little late today and fell asleep pretty early! Painting does that to me. I am anxious to get back to the piece I am working on. It is for the upcoming Midwest Gathering of Artists. I won't say much about it until after it is finished...but so far I an quite happy with it. Spent some time on a little housework yesterday..ugh! Have been following the Olympics with Max in wonderment in the evening. I myself am not all that athletic! In my younger years I did a lot of body surfing, sand volley ball and horseback riding. Now I garden when I can find the time....right now our garden looks like a very well tended weed patch!! It is still producing and there seem to be a large amount of green tomatoes.
I looked at several other painting blogs this morning...WOW....some great work out there. I received a comment from Barbara M. and read her blog about how some paintings are so easy.I replied "I understand what you mean when a painting just falls together....I call it flow...it seems to me I am transported into another place where every brushstroke, every decision happens subconsciously...and before you know it...there is a fantastic painting there before you. I believe it may have something to do with letting go of all the extemporaneous stuff in our lives the moment we pick up that brush..but am not sure if that is the only reason." Some years ago I read a book about flow.....I need to reread it....but there are a few things I have noticed do help induce flow.
1. Letting go of all the extemporaneous stuff in our lives the moment we pick up the brush.
2. Don't over think
3. Appropriate music for the mood I am in.
4. If it feels right....do it!
5. Completely uninterrupted studio day. No evening going out plans, grocery shopping, appointments. etc.
6. A visual image in my mind of the piece I am working on...brushwork, colors etc.
7. Letting the painting take on its own direction when presented.
These are a few things that work for me....and then again the magic just happens!
The painting today is a still life...of course..painted from life.
Happy Painting,
Theresa