Full Circle

My oh my! It's been nearly a year since I've posted on this blog. Good intentions aside, I resist most things of a technical nature.
My latest work:

Calder Childhood Home  2014

 

Here I am, back to painting home structures. Might this be the start of a new(continued)home series? Maybe. My home addition paintings have been getting some attention in the gallery world. Almost one year later...interesting! A lesson I take to heart from this: even if things aren't selling, aren't getting a ton of "likes." If it's a subject I feel passionate about, keep doing it. Don't let external factors determine the course of your work. Period. That said, the idea of "home" is something that is with me daily. From living with an architect? thoughts of moving, a place of raising children? I can't think of anything else besides food that is so important. It's so much more than just shelter. But I don't want to analyze it too much. It gets boring. The fact is, I'm just not that deep.

I also plan to keep doing landscapes. I've enjoyed doing these:

Big Sky, Montana   2014

 

Hidden Falls, Minnesota  2014

Crystal Sands Beach  Destin, Florida  2014

Red Sky 2014  (sold)

I don't have the opportunity to travel much due to money. Maybe this is my way of escaping. The challenge when I'm doing something without an animal is to not put one in when I don't like the way things are going. Whether it's an abstract work or landscape. It's a crutch, a weakness, an insecurity. Put one in and they[buyers] will come! The following made it sans animals. More of these will be on my website soon. Really.

A new year, a new direction

The new year for me brings with it a desire to start anew. Refresh and re-think current ideas. Take what I like from them and begin again with a renewed sense of discovery and excitement. I need to keep exploring. I like trying new things. Some say, "you will confuse the people that follow your work" I say, the alternative is boredom.
Last year was a great year for me, artistically. I truly enjoyed my house series. I know when things are good when it's the last thing I think about before going to bed and the first thing I think about upon waking. I can't wait to get to work! I will take from it what appealed to me most and move on. What I dig most is the combination of tightness and looseness.
What I've been missing lately? portraits, people, animals, total abstraction, works on paper, bigger work.
More shows, more online selling.

And it all starts with a much needed cleaning of my studio.

Happy New Year!  Happy Painting!

android 10x11  2013  paint on cardboard

wind powered homes  11x9  2013  paint on cardboard

under construction  10x11  2013  paint on wood

Will watching silly shows result in sillier paintings?

I wonder how much ones work is influenced by what one is watching or listening to. I can look at a finished painting of mine weeks later and remember what I was listening to and/or watching(usually stuff on my ipad via netflix) Will a painting be sillier whilst watching Parks and Recreation? Will something have a more serious feel if listening to classical music or a talk radio show with a dark subject matter? The following pieces were done while watching Louis C.K. and Parks and Recreation. 

Does the person you live with affect your art?

To be completely honest, I don't know why I do what I do. I can only guess after I am finished. The following is a theory...

I live with an architect. We bought our current home-a 1949 double bungalow in 1993. We lived in one half until our third child was born. We then said adios to our renters and busted down the dividing wall. Walla! all of the sudden our house was twice as big. The plan after that was a single family two-story house. We still have a copy of that plan. Over the last twenty years we have collected many plans, of many phases, and plans of variations within those phases. Things change, we get busy, the economy tanks along with our need and desire for a large space.
The challenging combination (among with other life factors) is that: 1) there isn't a client with a deadline and 2) he is a perfectionist.
I respect his talent and perseverance. His design vision is innovating and inspiring. The thing that most impresses me is his ability to draw anything at the drop of a hat-with ink-and always with accurate perspective.

The first of my house addition paintings was not planned. It evolved as I was playing around. The following were inspired from the first. As is usually how a series goes, I guess. It's like my chance to get in the drivers seat and design it my way!
Each one took a couple to three days. I must admit, I'm secretly hoping husband will be inspired by the speed of these intricate and complex finished home additions--as I have been so inspired by him!

from the house addition series  9x12 2013

from the house addition series  11x11  2013

from the house addition series  9x12  2013

Time To Go Big(ger)

I continue to make these smaller pieces and they continue to bring me much satisfaction. Mostly in the process. The fact that I like the end product is an added bonus. I'm in an [art]space that feels my own. My own little world-and I like being there! But, bigger pieces are calling me. I'm not sure if my current tight colorful shape thing will translate to a bigger surface or not, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

'shooting vintage star' 5"x6"

'rain flower with sun spots'  6"x7"

'rare vintage star and semi-common hexahedronhypersphereoid'  (SOLD)

'first transgenic canine'  4"x10" (aprox.)

Summer slow down

It's summer in the city! Warm air + kids afoot = artistic slowdown. Not as bad when they were little tykes but still a major distraction. I need to be "in the zone" but when someone is coming in my studio, looking over my shoulder and trying to engage in conversation...
This is when I fantasize about a studio away from my home. Here are a few recent pieces. Enjoy!

 'Vintage Shapes'  2013  5x11

 'Vintage Rare Shape Discovery'  2013  9x9 

'Shiba Inu as Center of the Universe'  2013  7x5

One Bad Cat

We've all known some bad cats, right? They're charming and colorful, just like Les. You can easily fall under their spell. Have your fun girls, but proceed with caution!

'Why Settle For Les?'  9"x11"  (sold)

Distractions Have Descended

It's June and I have a graduating senior in high school. Painting has taken a back seat. I will try and continue posting my two new works per week on facebook. It's been good to have a goal like that. I am grateful I have the kind of job that I can take time off without a moments notice.

'Dead End'  7"x9"

Portrait of Faith Ringgold  5"x10"

'Lick Me' 8"x9" 2013

(sold)

'Pug Antics'  8"x9"

more Exercises in Fun

A few more color/shape studies. I'm finding these very meditative to work on. And they're small so it's been nice to sit at a drawing table instead of at an easel. Changes are good-they get a different part of your brain activated. That's my theory anyways. The next one includes a dog so stay tuned!

Exercises in Fun

I am having a blast doing these little "color studies." There's something that seems absurdly delicious about painting so painstakingly something that could be done so easily on the computer. (easy for some-not for me!) And letting the shapes be imperfect.

Don't know how long I will do these, don't know where it's taking me, don't know if they will sell and frankly I don't really give a damn. Right now it's about having fun for me. Please enjoy!

how bout this weather?  2013   9x9

Spacey  2013  9x9

Inspiration

It's funny what can inspire one. I was driving home one day and boom I saw this road sign. It hit me for some reason. And then lo and behold it ended up in this painting. (along with a shape study)

'which way' 2013

New Energy Required & Received

I was getting bored with myself...

I admire artists that have a very specific style, Mike Egan, Teresa Cox and Lisa Nankivil to name a few. It's like it's in their DNA and whatever they do it just comes out "their" way. I don't feel I fit into that category. Perhaps I can't be objective about my "style" if there is one. Or maybe I haven't found that sweet spot where I say to myself, "this is it!" And maybe that's just not a part of my artistic journey-cheesy as that sounds. As soon as I start a "series" I get bored and/or I feel a pressure to keep doing "like" things. It does my head in. Maybe it stems from years of an unsatisfactory illustration career-people telling me what, when and how to do it. I want to feel the flow and have the freedom and lack of inhibitions to just go with it!

My latest three paintings, shown here, feel quite different to me(except not the middle one so much). I am editing more, tightening up, and sometimes by the end there's a message to share although that is not my original intent.

These make me excited to paint again! And for the first time I don't care[too much] how they're received or perceived.

It's not a series, but an investigation. A fun one!

'chatterer' 16x22 

'blackbird giving advice' 12x10

'crow taking credit' 9x12

Black Clouds Du Jour

Sifting through the black clouds of the day. Not a daily occurrence but, depending on what's going on and/or how present I am or not, can be.
Wake up, first thought: it's Thursday...what do I have to be anxious about today? dentist, kid #1, 2 or 3..going to that party...you get the picture.

Black Clouds Du Jour  2013

This or That?

There are times when I feel like a chronic undecider(a word I coined for the purpose of this painting. At least I don't think it's a proper word) I can rework something until I drive myself a little crazy. But when it's right, I know it, and then I can stop...momentarily.

'Chronic Undecider' 10x9 acrylic on wood block

Lost or stolen

I love hand-painted signs and avocados. This painting encompasses two of my passions, three if you include the act of painting.
It's hard to find a good avocado. But nothing is better when it's perfecto!

Lost or Stolen 17x12 acrylic on wood

parts of a whole

Sometimes the beauty is in the details. I like finding mini paintings within a painting. 

Segments that stand on their own quite nicely. As life often imitates art and vice versa, one must look for and see the beauty despite the 35 degree below normal temperatures.  

seeking signs of spring(detail) 2013

seeking signs of spring(detail) 2013

Hair today, Gone tomorrow

I love the editing process, whether it's with writing or painting.  I decided I wasn't quite happy with 'bounces back.'  Although I love the sentiment, and it will most likely reappear, there was something amiss about the portrait.  I strive in my art for spontaneity(to spell it right too)-paintings that look like quick sketches.  Some artists are gifted in this aspect.  It's an oxymoron of sorts but some, like me, take a long time and many versions to get that raw, fresh, naive quality.  Therefore I have no problem with do-overs.  I also felt the background in 'bounces back' was too busy-enter the editor.  I could edit down even further...and eventually I might-but am happier with it now.  'cuba or bust' is a thought of a personal nature involving someone close to me that was on my mind yesterday.
The message here is:
If you like one of my paintings enough to buy it-best give a quick shout-out because it might be gone tomorrow!

Bouncing Back

This is no.5 in the 'In My Head' series.  I don't think I would be amiss to say that most artists get in a funk now and then directly relating to the process of making art.  It looks all fun and good and then a deep dark hole opens up and there doesn't seem to be any options other than going into it.  This is most often a result of insecurity/ego.  When how I feel about my work becomes irrelevant and what matters most is how [I think]others feel about it.  I put my life and well-being into the hands of others.  Not smart. Time is required for the action of bouncing back to take place. Time off of facebook is good. Time with my loved ones. Time with my dogs. They don't give a rip about my silly art-they just want food.

Inspiration Sources

I read the obituaries for inspiration.  A person will often be described as[was] an active member of this and that.  It got me thinking...if the person was an inactive member of something would it warrant mentioning?  I can think of a couple of things that could be written in my obit using that term.  Hey, I'm not proud, better an inactive member than no member at all.

Then I saw the double meaning and liked it even more.

Inactive Member 11x9 acrylic on cutting board

Coffee

'visualizes good coffee' 11x8 2013

I cannot stress the importance of good coffee.  If it's not good, why drink it?  What I mean by good coffee is strong coffee-and using quality beans.  I have one cup of coffee per day so it's of great importance.  It must be a rewarding experience.  On the rare occasions that I go outside of my home for my one cup thereby putting the course of my day into someone else's hands...visualization is key.  Sometimes it doesn't work but I figure it can't hurt to try.