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)