Monday night paintings

Three pieces that had their genesis during my Acrylic Underpainting demo on April 27th. Really all I came home with at the time was two pieces of matboard: One had been an example of tinted absorbent grounds, applied with a squeegee so two contrasting colors blended, the second piece was just a soft iridescent reddish-orange background.  The first has now been cut in two, and the second is becoming ever-more sparkly.  The shimmer is really obvious in the last image.

A last look before bedtime, originally uploaded by Sweet Enemy Art.

Since then, the pepto-bismol pink half is now the acrylic drawing on the right.  Here's what it looked like a few days ago, as I discovered that Absorbent Ground on a textured matboard is a surprisingly forgiving surface when using a dipping pen:

And last night I held my breath and started putting in some more color.  It is always hard to make that jump, but I remind myself now that it's worth it.  Besides, Absorbent Ground is very forgiving if you're applying thin washes at first.  

This one, the "fairy-tale drapery" piece, is more of a mood piece right now.  Great fun was had with the spray bottle and some blue matte acrylic, but not sure yet what will be in the center.  Thinking of the Arabian Nights, perhaps.  It's always a blast to look back and see how my paintings started, because in the end, this painting will hardly resemble what you see now.

Right behind it, is the tree painting I'm working on (visible in the center of the top photo.)  So far there have been about six layers of varying colors, and heavy usage of masking fluid.

Next up, I post what happened to the purple fish painting.  Yikes, we'll see if it can be saved.

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Farewell Boo

The studio just isn't the same without you, to say nothing of how empty the house feels.  I miss hearing your tiny heavy paws come padding up to me and the tap-tap as you asked to get on my lap. 

You only twice ever got in the paint, you were content to stay countless hours with me, as long as you had a good place to curl up and my water-glass to drink out of.  Every painting I have ever done you were there from beginning to end, or at least it felt like it.  Even when you were underfoot, I loved that you just wanted to be "with."
You used to mew for us when we got too far ahead of you on walks, now it's us looking for you.

Love you, babe-cat.
Thank you for everything.  Thirteen years went by far too quickly.

sweet & melancholy

After a record amount of snow yesterday, I was able to sleep in a bit this morning, having the day off.  Got into the studio even before I had breakfast, painted for at least 20 minutes, then went to find something to eat.  And then went right back to the studio.
What helps keep me glued to the seat is having something good to listen to, and this morning it was an audio book of "Animal Farm."  After having read some of the "Freddy the Pig" series by Walter R. Brooks, I was intrigued to find that Orwell wrote his book in 1945, well after the Freddy series began (in 1927.)  I hadn't read "Animal Farm" since the '90's, so it was high time, and there it was waiting for me at the library.  Obviously Animal Farm is an excellent--though depressing--allegory, but it's amusing to note the many similarities it has to the very amusing & well written Freddy series.
And needless to say, it's an odd mix to have a cheery painting going on the easel while an allegory of the Soviet Union is playing in the background.

Took a break mid-day to attend the funeral of Rita Roy, mother of my own mother's best friend Therese.  Barely made it there in time, but was so glad I went.  Therese & her husband are both wonderful musicians and each contributed to a part of the ceremony.  James played oboe during one part,  later Therese with her violin while he accompanied on the piano.  Watching & listening to them play, especially in such a setting, I don't know if I could convey how sweetly it came across.
After the funeral, there was an honest-to-goodness church-lady meal (oh marshmallowy-green-fruit-stuff,  so tasty) and for a brief time, we were able to visit with Therese, her sisters, and Mom's friend Annie.

The day wrapped up a bit with a massage, which I have almost ruined the effect of by coming home to paint more at my desk, and oh yes, to type on the computer.
Now the winds are picking up outside, I think another branch just fell off of the pine outside my window, and it's time to go to bed.  Actually, I should have been in bed an hour ago.
Hopefully I'll be posting an image or two tomorrow of what I worked on this morning.

More images for the demo!

Right.  So, if you missed it, this is for the
Acrylic Underpainting Techniques
Free demonstration at Artists' Mediums, Williston, VT
Saturday February 27th, 2010
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 


Okay!  Here are a few more pieces I've prepared for the demonstration.  It's really hard to stop at the underpainting stage on some of these, because I really like what's going on, and want to keep doing it.

That's about all that I have the patience to upload tonight.  The internet is moving at molasses speed, and I want to get back to the paint.  So here's a link to my flickr stream, where you'll find a few more of these pieces.

Acrylic Underpaintings

Acrylic Underpainting Techniques
Free demonstration at Artists' Mediums, Williston, VT
Saturday February 27th, 2010
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
In preparation for this weekend's demonstration, here's a peek at at least one image.
As usual, I've made a huge list of things I want to show, namely different grounds and techniques for applying them.  Colored pencil on watercolor canvas, colored pumice grounds, etc.  A pile of samples is currently building up by the door.  I also am working on a more complex piece in grisaille, based on Arkonbey's original sketch.  I haven't quite captured the original expressions yet.  But some of the shadows overall are pretty decent.  

More images to follow as we go!

Listening to while posting:  My Maudlin Career

Vermont Artists' Week Residency!

A nice little pile of mail awaited me this evening, and I'm pleased to say that I've been accepted into the Vermont Artists' Week residency at the Vermont Studio Center!
This was my second attempt, and I was quite picky about which images I chose (I also sent far fewer) and in what sequence they would be viewed.

So, several projects are in the works, including a collaboration with Arkonbey, partly in preparation for my Acrylic Underpainting Techniques demonstration that happens at Artists' Mediums on the 27th of February.  Wonder what I'll be working on when the residency rolls around...

woohoo!