Day 2 of my Art Camp - COLLAGE

I really love collage, I forgot how much.

11 year old, Emily rocked it. Most of the papers were decorated the day before by spraying watercolor on to them from finger tip spray bottles. I like the magazine pictures she chose also, they really blend with the papers.

All of the students did a great job. 

Blue Above

This is a section of my latest painting. It was a bit of a struggle, not effortless fun like the last three. But some times what is not fun for me is someone's favorite.

New Painting

I am working on a show to be held at the Orange Center for the Arts in October. So until then I am going to try and not show any paintings in their entirety. I like the more abstract spaces of this painting. My goal is to work in that direction.

What a Day!

Warm up Sketches.

My Quick Draw one hour painting won second place.

I sold this painting and raised money for the charity, SAFE.

The wine at Prince Michel was yummy and the glasses were so BIG.

The boys harvested from the garden, cute in the wagon.

It hailed!

Quick Draw this Weekend

I am going to be a participating artist in a charity event this Saturday at Prince Michel Winery. The premise is all of the artists have to produce a work of art in one hour on the premises. Some artists have been practicing for six months but I just started this week. Here are my first two attempts. Which one do you like? The first one is a safer option but the second style may be more dynamic. I feel that I should be entertaining, like putting on a magic show but there sure is a lot of potential for the painting to go horrible wrong. Lots of drama in this event.

Whole Foods

I am applying to be the back up store artist for Whole Foods. Doesn't this just sound like the coolest job: being a designer and illustrator, working with the computer and creating chalkboard signs by hand, all in a spectacular setting. Don't you just love being in a Whole Foods store? What a great place to go to work.

I did this sign with some children's chalk, I think they use some sort of chalkboard paint in the stores. Lots of tricks of the trade to learn I'm sure.

Melting

This is my new painting, "Melting". It is a bit scary and I would rather not do scary art. But I really liked my sketch and I wanted to see if I could translate it into paint. I will have a October show at The Arts Center In Orange and I hope to have my work revolve around the them of "evolving" or "transitioning". Those themes have been in mind when I sketch since last fall. The Arts Center In Orange is a neat place, I am looking forward to teaching a "Paint without Brushes" camp there in August and becoming more involved.

Delicate

This is my other Spring painting I call "Spring Descending Into the Forest". This method of working is more in line with how I want to paint. 

The second image is a photo I took of my new favorite flowers, peonies. They grow bigger and bigger without falling apart. I love staring into their centers, the yellow seems to make them glow from within. I also love the subtle color changes.

Exhuberant

Exuberant Spring

Acrylic on canvas

24" X 18"

A new acrylic painting, this is my celebratory and bold "Spring", I have a delicate "Spring" in the works.

Florals

I am working part time at a florist, it is fun to use design and color in a totally new way and medium. It feels like painting sometimes. I am also working on a new painting but it is not turning out delicate but bold and bright.

Spring Photos

Watching Spring unfold has been such a joy! I really hope to do some beautiful and delicate paintings from this inspiration.

New Illustration

"Lovable" This one turned out pretty. I am jumping around a bit in style but I just need to finish the project at this point. I am on the last batch!

Monochromatic and Not

I am dreaming of softer colors and monochromatic schemes like Monday's snow fall showed me. What I am painting are these crazy tattooed wine bottles. I also want to incorporate more drawing in my paintings. I am thinking about switching my media a bit. Hopefully when the illustration project is over I can find some new directions, only 11 more to draw, woo hoo!

Workshop Success

Our first workshop class was fun and productive. Two art teachers are taking the class which was unexpected and made me feel really good. Many exciting things are happening at MadArts from cooking classes to new whimsical wooden carvings.

Diving Deeper

The author's favorite illustration from last week.

I forgot to teach my workshop this morning, if any students see this I am so sorry. It is all my fault. We went on a trip this weekend and my kids were out of school Monday and Tuesday, it messed my thoughts up. But I shouldn't make excuses, I know it was a big inconvenience. I hope we can still have fun next Wednesday. I can't wait to paint again, really miss it and look forward to the workshop.

Illustrating and Drawing

The best side effect I have seen from doing these illustrations is that I am drawing really well in my sketch book. I want to find a way to capitalize on my drawing ability with my paintings. Painting is a whole different skill set and it doesn't transfer automatically. My Favorite illustration from the week:

Textured Red Wine

Need a little wine for Valentine's Day? "Soft, Spicy Red", 9" x 12", $85.00. I have been working with textures in preparation for teaching an acrylic workshop this Wednesday and Saturday at MAD Arts in Madison, VA.








Also still working on my illustration project. The images are getting more unique and a little psychedelic. This is what I had hoped would happen; I am arriving at something new once I exhaust all the obvious solutions.

New Illustration Project

In a quest for some steady employment to support my painting habit, I have taken on a few part time endeavors. One is doing 62 illustrations for a self-empowerment book. I was intrigued by the subject matter and the freedom it gave to express. One thing I didn't anticipate is that the joyous discover came in the first week and now I am on auto pilot trying to recreate the success and make the book consistent. Maybe I should have made each illustration look unique like it was done by a different person or picked four styles and made it look like it was done by four different illustrators? Anyway it is a learning experience and I am proving to myself that I can be disciplined and stay on a schedule. Another of my endeavors is training to be a floral designer. It is really fun and I enjoy using my knowledge of color and design in a whole new way. I am in need of more practice and having some real failures but my teacher is very encouraging and optimistic. My third venture is going to be teaching an acrylic workshop to adults in February at MadArts. I am very excited about this. I have never taught painting to adults and I am interested in how it will go. I will also be anxious to get back to painting. I am pining for it which is a good thing; absence makes the heart grow fonder.

My illustrations are a combination of painting, drawing and digital methods.

Puppy Love

Acrylic on paper

More Joy

These are two more attempts at the "Joy" illustration. I am scanning the line drawing separate from a painted layer and I like the way the colors look this way much better.