1st January. Early in the morning, the sky is gloomy and gray with rain. As I drink my tea, I find myself trying to ignore the chaos of boxes stacked behind my chair as I write this post.
Over the holidays, I finally unpacked most of my art supplies. I’m still in the process of organizing everything and trying to figure out where some of my brushes disappeared to? … lol
Our new place is smaller so I carved out a little niche for myself in our bedroom for my art table & supplies. It’s nice and cozy!
I’m sketching and painting for the first time in ages, and feeling better for getting back into the swing of things.
I love this video by Andrea Dorfman, inspired by the the song “Art” by Tanya Davis.
Andrea is one of Canada’s most promising and truly gifted independent young filmmakers.
It’s all about Art!
thought for the day;
“In order for my work to continue to evolve, I become involved in playfulness and take the opportunity to look at the ‘what-ifs.’ Whatever the result, it expands my vision by letting go of who I think I am and discovering the spirit within.” – John Denver
A great video of a live painting session by Tali Farch to the music of one of Brubeck’s jazz standards.
It’s not so much the painting that attracted me as it was the idea of painting to music.
The total experience of getting lost in the rhythm, brush strokes, colors, mood and the energy expressed as the two paint brushes danced across the canvas. Wow!
I would love to try this process as one of my daily morning warm-up exercises.
thoughts for the day;
“Nourish your eye and spirit with inspiring things. They will bloom with your tending.” – Sark
“Art is the only proof we have of the existence of the soul.” – Author Unknown
This time I used digital liquid ink on hot press paper. I did several 4 x 5 inch paintings, and each one turned out a little different.
I sometimes use these as a point of reference for traditional paintings. This way I can experiment with new ideas without the expense of purchasing new canvases, and if I don’t like what I ‘ve created I can hit the delete button.
This also allows me to play around with several different compositions before choosing one, and helps me to figure out what medium would work best for each new painting.
As an example, lets say I wanted to turn this one into a traditional painting. I would probably use acrylics, collage elements, gesso, crackle paste, and light modeling paste on canvas.
Raining Blue – Digital Painting – 4 x 5 inches – Digital Liquid ink on hot press paper.
thought for the day;
“if you want to get better at painting or making art, then do it everyday (passionately/religiously) as if there is no tomorrow. Let go of the judge within, and be surrounded by positive, supportive people. Be gentle on yourself and others. Give. Never hold back. ” – Nancy Davis Bilbro
I started out my morning with my usual daily warm up exercises. Instead of working with traditional mediums today, I did my morning warm ups using Corel Painter IX. 5.
My inspiration for the day came from the word “Lughnasa,” which is one of the four main festivals of the Medieval Irish Calendar, celebrating the beginning of the Harvest season.
It’s that time of the year when blackberry bushes are heavy with ripened fruit, and there are subtle changes in the light, a golden haze that seems to wrap itself around everything.
I love this time of the year even though there is a lingering sadness as summer comes to an end.
Lughnasa – Digital Painting – Oils – 4 x 5 – on heavy hand made paper
quote for the day;
“Whilst August yet wears her golden crown,
Ripening fields lush- bright with promise;
Summer waxes long, then wanes, quietly passing
Her fading green glory on to riotous Autumn.”
- Michelle L. Thieme, August’s Crown
Here is an interesting tableau of pears that I found while taking my morning walk. It felt like I had somehow stumbled upon a secret hiding place where someone had placed four pears to ripen.
There they were waiting for the return of whomever put them there for safe keeping. A pair of worker’s gloves resting on the ground nearby and the quiet solitude of the place made me feel like an intruder of sorts.
I quickly snapped a couple of pictures and moved on. I looked around but didn’t see anyone, and I wondered about the story behind the pears and the mystery person who placed them there.
thought for the day;
“Without mysteries, life would be very dull indeed. What would be left to strive for if everything were known?” – Charles de Lint
It takes courage to try new things and explore uncharted waters. Especially when our inner critic keeps whispering in our ear . . . I wouldn’t do that if I were you! You really don’t have time for this! Remember how frustrated you can get with Photoshop!
Today, I played around with some photographs taken over the past couple of months, and tried my hand at creating a photomontage/collage using Photoshop & Painter 7.
I tried several different techniques I had read about, and ended up merging them all together in this one image. Some of the techniques worked and some didn’t, but I sure had fun!
Photoshop and I have an uneasy relationship, and one of these days I am going to take a class. I know it would make my life so much easier!
thought for the day;
“Another word for creativity is courage.” – George Prince
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” – Mary Lou Cook
Star Of The Sea – Mixed Media – 5 x 7 inches – Work in progress
This morning I started working on an idea I had for a painting inspired by seashells I found in a box while rummaging through our garage.
There were tiny starfish no bigger than the tip of my little finger and seashells of every shape and color imaginable. I also found sea glass, tiny round stones, dried sea grass and a cornucopia of treasures I had gathered on one of our seaside visits.
I felt like a little girl who had found a magical treasure box!
Over the years I have found beautiful pieces of driftwood, and an odd assortment of sea shells, and sea onions for art projects, and as reference material for sketches.
I love the way sea onions look when dried and they are great for making rattles and little wizened magical creatures.
thoughts for the day;
“Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war.” -Loren Eiseley
“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” – Robert Henri
This painting/collage was inspired by an encounter with a white butterfly yesterday.
While I was weeding in the garden I saw a white butterfly come into the garden and land on a nearby plant. I took a minute to admire it and then continued on with my weeding.
Suddenly I noticed a fluttering next to my cheek. It was the butterfly! I remained perfectly still, completely surprised that it had landed on my hair. Several minutes passed before it flew away.
Butterflies are powerful symbols for transformation and change.
It is believed that when we encounter butterflies in our daily life they are a reminder to embrace change, joy and love, within the dance of life.
The dance of the butterfly teaches us not to take things too seriously. If we look closely at what the butterfly is trying to teach, we will discover it is that all change is good. It may not seem like it at the time but change is the never ending cycle of self transformation and is necessary for growth and accomplishment.
When we believe that change is too difficult, we invite stagnation and soul loss. We lose our courage to embrace life and transform into the beautiful, loving, powerful beings we are meant to become.
Drink deeply of the magic that the butterfly has to offer and taste the sweetness of life. – Rose Arizmendi
quote for the day;
“May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun, and find your shoulder to light on To bring you luck, happiness and riches today, tomorrow and beyond.” – Irish Blessing
The Hopi perform a sacred ceremonial butterfly dance in August and early September which they perform to petition for rain, good health, and a long life for all living things.
