Tidbits

On Saturday I worked at an estate sale that was a painter's dream.  The homeowner had been a ceramics painter and had many many vials of paints to go along with the shelves loaded with ceramic pieces just waiting to be painted.  She had loose-leaf binder after binder of inspiration photos, and how-tos, and two kilns in her garage.  While I wasn't about to invest in a new art form, there were beautiful art instruction books for sale. I couldn't resist buying a few.  The first that I am reading is a North Light Book,

It's an easy read, covering the basics, but I am picking up little tidbits here and there. 

I also bought a book shelf from the house sale since my books were beginning to take up floor space in my little room.  I spent a portion of Sunday and Monday trying to reorganize my supplies in order to fit this shelf into the room.

On Tuesday I went back to that tiny painting from the previous post. I decided to make the water curve around, and go back into the background of the scene. I also took out that tree in the middle of the painting, and now have to do something about the solid look of those fir trees. I made a black and white print of the painting with the hopes of seeing "values". hmmmm.

stage 1

ok- so the tree is gone.

the water curves back, but I need

to do something back there....and those trees still bother me.  I hope you can ignore that

awful shadow on the right.  I realize that color consistency in the photos is lacking.  (sorry)

        This is supposed to help me see "values".  I don't think it is helping me. 

So today, I hope to take a look again at this painting to see where I can go with it.  I think the tree on the right is an eyesore now.  lol.  If anybody has a suggestion (if anybody is reading!) please feel free to drop me a line. 

thanks~

jenny

a little afternoon painting

I spent a good portion of the morning on this computer, reading what many of you have been up to.  I was frozen to my seat by procrastination.  It reared its ugly head and I had to fight it! 
Finally this afternoon, after a quick trip to the airport to drop someone off, I went up to my little room and just started squeezing paints onto a pallet. 
I'd started this painting of this house about a year (or two?) ago, but pushed it aside.  It had had boats in the foreground, in dry dock, but I never cared for the way the painting was going.  I did, however, like the house.  Before I started to paint, I pulled out the photos that I had taken of this local scene, and decided to combine two of them.  I know this is not finished, I think the house is now lost up there on the rise, and it is hard to recognize that that is water in the foreground, but I worked for about an hour, and decided I had to stop or I might end up with mud.  I am working this in oil, and it is very small...4x6...

I'm also thinking that the top of the tree in the middle stands out too much.  I want to add highlights to the pine trees, and maybe I could tone that tree down.  Yes, I think the eye goes there, and I don't want it to be the focus.  Any suggestions?

Keeping Myself Busy

Good Morning~
So here I go again, trying to update this blog.  Sorry about the blurred photo up above.  I guess I  still have to get used to my new camera, and I hope to change that soon enough.


There have been some special people celebrating birthdays this month, and so I took a break from painting and drawing to make some cards.  Actually I did continue with my painting, I just did it in a different way.  This first card was made by gluing a magazine photo over a painted background,

and then painting over her features and the flower on her clothing.
I then added the details in the way of papers.  I decided to change the recipient of this card when I found an old fortune from a fortune cookie that I had once opened.  I removed the three words and added the fortune.  My girlfriend will no doubt be amused by this woman and the words,
 "awaken your divine nature within"

This next card was created by painting a background and "finding" the figure in the paints and tissue papers that I had glued down.  Then details were added.

 This little girl (below) is clip art that I received as part of an online art site.  I added the crown, and the butterfly is a fabric scrap.
                                           


This floral was very simply made with paper and stamps, with the flowers highlighted by- oh dear- the acrylic stuff that makes things shiny and adds dimension.  SO SORRY for not running upstairs to my little room to see what the stuff is called!

 And finally, for a dear friend in Texas who always surprises me in one way or another, a Valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all.  I hope to be back soon!  I am off to bake a cake~

I am an Artist

There.  I've said it.  I have to believe it if I've said it, right? 
This past week, I have been in my little art room painting and stamping, cutting and gluing, and having a grand time.  I am simultaneously working on greeting cards, and those "journals".   
I will post some photos soon(?).   I am still figuring out my new camera.  I can't remember if I'd mentioned that my last one was dropped back in July, and I couldn't decide until recently, which way to go in order to replace it. 
I am an artist.  Why is that so hard to say?  I think I have to validate my reason for putting myself in that room for hours on end.   I don't make money on what I do.  Would that help?  I used to work in advertising, but I didn't call myself an artist back then. 
It is just an inner urge(?) to produce something.  I know You know what I mean.  Thank goodness my husband is understanding.  He plays the guitar every night after work, after dinner, after any bill paying, and after reading the newspaper.  Usually while relaxing with the TV on.  Yes, it is usually late!  But he knows how I feel.  He gets it.  Thank goodness he isn't the type who requires a full course meal every night (or a shiny, sparkling clean home, or a wife who works outside the home!)  Our four kids are grown (the last two are graduating from college this year- yea!) and so I don't have to provide meals for them, either (at least, right at the moment, I don't!)
It is Saturday morning.  We have some errands to do today, a mother to visit, and some finishing touches on some projects around here.  AND, it is a beautiful day outside.  I may try to squeeze in a walk.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Talk to you soon~