Time to Throw in the Towel....really.

or in this case, throw out the block of wood. I am at an impasse that has no forward movement with this one. I had set it aside for quite some time, and kept generating ideas to change what I had done (that wasn't gelling) as well as new elements to incorporate (which weren't gelling).
Something I recently did to it  was to scribble some wax onto various areas beneath the tree canopy, and go for a crayon resist look. My thought was ....rain...storm...darkness, etc....that would show up in the background once I had applied  blackish wash, and hopefully bring together some of the elements in the bottom section of the piece. I'm still really liking the tree canopy, so I didn't want to disturb that, but the mermaid was not coming along-regardless of whether I tried to pencil or paint her in. A last ditch effort was made to actually cover her up- and I got allot of smeary stuff going on instead. Lastly, the black tint wash was applied....which did nothing but make this piece look like  it was left out in the rain, and then dumped in a puddle.

Too bad. It' s a real nice block of wood, and a real nice idea. Yet with each new idea that I had, each new expression that I thought for sure would really change the piece for the better, it just muddied it up even more. Still,  I think each of the elements, in and of themselves, are like mini artworks. But in bringing it all together, for a cohesive whole ...well,  I just couldn't work it out. I think a massive scraping is in order, so that I can at least save the foundation and the' heart 'of this- for something better and even more beautiful and creative. It would be a shame for it to be firepit fodder.

I'm heeding the work's main message..... really.

Quickies

I did these three greenie quickies last weekend. I had started the ladybug awhile ago-just using markers. I decided to play with my metallic paint pens too, and added the silvery background to the bug.  So naturally, when it came to the mermaid, allot of metallic paint pen was called for. The girl was inspired from a magzine clipping. All three will be incorporated into a new mixed media piece...still in the brain stages.

Do you have an idea about how to use metallic paint or metallic paint pens? They leave shadows if you don't follow the stroke exactly the same in the portion of design you are working on...kinda frustrating as they dry pretty quickly too. I love metallics and the paint pens seemed like a great way to apply. Any suggestions?

It's Not Your Mother's Decoupage

Trying some new and interesting techniques on this one. I used distress ink on top of the entire tree canopy (my fingers look like I was just printed...) but the messiness was worth it. It's supposed to create an vintage look for photographs, but I read about using it on mixed media pieces. I think it gives the tree an aged look, but also adds to the textural feel of it overall. Also, cut papers and stamps of leaves to create a tree top that I really am happy with.

This is what I got, so far. The messenger figure is salvaged from a vintage birthday card, and I created my own paper cut-out hearts. The acorns are from a magazine photo - when I saw them, I immediately cut them out, as knew I would use them eventually in a mixed media piece -this was the perfect spot for them. I also drew the basic outline for my angel on the left, and am thinking about distressing the entire angel image with ink before I paint it in. A mermaid will be swooping in from the right from cresting waves, (you can faintly see her), but I have yet to insert that last image. The finishing touches will be the inspirational words throughout. They'll have to wait till last.

Phase Two: defining images...the support rocks, and waves and sand -done; tree of life almost done. I think I'll be inserting some more smaller circles, but use metallic paint...keep the Klimt feel going. And the tree trunk will be more stylized too. My art always feels much more 'successful' to me when it does not become too 'painter-ly'. Even though I love Renoir, I always relate much more to Klimt. Know what I mean?? Anyway, it's all about trees lately people! And words with art. It's going. It's a beginning.

Night Flight & Sea's Delight, or How the Mermaids found their way....

Soul sparkin' goodness completed, the finishing seal applied, these girls rock in the undersea-world, and have friends on the other side....(who do I think I am? Freakin' Ed Hardy??)

I received a message from my brother across the water,

He sat laughin' as he wrote the end's in sight.

So I said goodbye to all my friends

and I packed my hopes inside a matchbox

'cause I know it's time to fly.

I jumped a train that never stops,

So now somehow I'll know I never finished payin' for my ride.

Just n' someone pushed a gun into my hand

Tell me I'm the type of man to fight the fight that I'll require....

We are in the middle of a change in destination,

When the train stops all together we will smile.

Fly now baby...Get to fly, yeah.

He's Got A Rider....

the seahorse, that is. I created the mermaid with colored pencils and then exacto-ed her out and onto the seahorse and the main piece. I've included her 'naked' photo too...thought it was kinda cool the way the simplicity of her outline contrasted with the pencils. I snapped that one when trying to decide on colors for her body. It's coming along...

My macabre answer

to a recent prompt on my favorite poet's page. It was for the word UNREQUITED, and it was supposed to be an acrostic poem. Of course, after I really looked up the definition of an acrostic, I realized that I could have used some more words per line, but screw it. The minimalist, hard core approach with which I created this beauty is totally in line with my mindset for several weeks. On top of the NEVER ENDING sickness in my household, I've also got a shitload of home maintenance problems...and it just started to get warm folks! Won't even brooch the 'happiness on the homefront' issues (not). sooooo, anyway.....this is what I got...

creepy, right! Yes! I like it too, I mean really...as far as composition goes, I think it really works, and it was fun as hell to create. It ain't pretty folks, but art often isn't. It helped me to see that I need to get back to my collaging efforts. I seem to have more fun with them, and all in all, I'm able to be quite more expressive.

On a brighter note, despite the recent shitstorm, I'm getting into shape and am consistently losing weight. So that's one really good thing. As long as the weather continues like it has been, I can schlep my kids with me to the reservoir, (or to the YMCA, in any event). Will try for something a bit more cheerful next post - but I'm not promising anything. :)

They Are Done!

I'm happy to say that despite in the mayhem in my world over the last few weeks, I did  manage to complete one painting, my Mermaids. A few  waves painted here, and a little glitter added there, and viola! This is one of my mixed media pieces that is complete, right down to it's sparkly finishing touches.

 

Of course, it is those very sparkly finishing touches, plus my lack of finesse with my camera that hinder you from really seeing some if the details, but hey, I'm sure you get the general idea. I'm thinking of a way to 'seal' the whole piece with out dulling over the glitter, and I'm thinking that my old friend modge podge will do it, as long as I take care to paint around the glitter areas. I thought of spraying too, with a fixative, but not sure how that would work out. Any ideas as to what kind of sealants work best for mixed media pieces?

Something new from something old

Maybe it takes a snowed-in weekend to get around to creating something that's been 'on the table' for awhile. This collage is one such piece. I've had the parts of it -hand colored copies of photos, magazine cut outs and colored pencil drawings - for some time, but hadn't envisioned the collage as a whole.

 

It is a paper collage of me and my sister and our mom, from way back...much longer ago than I can remember. I guess snow days also allow quiet time to reminisce, to remember, to think about all that is, what could have been, and what is to come. Some people , they say, leave an indelible mark on our souls, even after they've left us. All of the memories I have of my mom are vague, at best - but, in my mind's eye, I imagine a loving steady relationship between the three of us...we three.

two new figures

So, I added two figures to my unfinished mermaid collage, and no, it makes no sense (in terms of composition and perspective), but these ladies needed to be here . This mixed media piece is now 'experimental'...wasn't sure how it was going, just kinda rolled with it, and it probably still isn't finished yet - BUT I did get to play around with textures on canvas, and as you know, I really like the theme. I'm finding, like so many things in my life, sometimes I just have to let it go, not analyze, and just 'see'.

My biggest lament is the shiny canvas from glue from my previous cut paper waves. Might have to cover that up with paint somehow..we'll see!

Re-thinking Inspiration

Every person I talk to about creative inspiration has a different take on it. Some believe it is obtained by nothing but good and steady habits -old fashioned hard work. Some believe it is a soul spark - when things outside of ourselves allow us to conjure the art that enables us to express how we feel. I think it is a combination of those things, and yet even more than that.

In my brain and in my heart, each of my life's lessons takes a shape - often words begin it, and images complete it. These experiences, or the realization of the experience as a life lesson, may drive me to paint a picture, write a poem, plant a garden, cook an elegant meal, rearrange the furniture, sing a song, play a game or contemplate natural  beauty. Clarissa Pinkola Estes describes this phenomenon of creativity beautifully, and for me quite accurately, in her book Women Who Run With the Wolves, when she says, " It is the love of something, having so much love for something - whether a person, a word, an image, an idea, the land, or humanity - that all that can be done with the overflow is to create. It is not a matter of wanting to, not a singular act of will; one solely must."

I found an open window as a door closed. I discovered jewels amongst the rocks. I continued loving through the hurt, and discovered more love on the other side of it. I'm learning to focus and find intuitive inspiration in order to leave the land of creative vulnerability.

 

 

jumping back into the water

Well, I’ve finally got my hallway back after a clearing out the last of the Christmas decorations, and rearranging all my art stuff back where it belongs. The hallway used to be my kid’s playroom when they were wee bambinos, and I claimed it as ‘mine’ about 18 months ago. It is actually much wider than a standard hallway, and makes for a nice work area (except it is carpeted, so I really must be careful when painting in there, and the ceiling slopes downward toward the front of the house, so a standard easel can’t fit very well…) and despite all the adjustments I make to work in there, it is the only spot in my entire house that is just for me - so I love it, quirks and all.

When de-cluttering it, I found my mermaid artwork. This was a favorite theme in the summer of 2008, and I explored the topic through reading all about them, and getting information on famous mermaid paintings. I did some mixed media stuff and a watercolor, but like so many of my works that I started around that time, I moved on to other things before I finished them. Allot of what I started was a prelude to my daughter’s journal cover, which is here too. 

So, one of my projects for 2010 will be to finish these swimming beauties. As I mentioned in my very first post, I’d like to show the works in progress, and then as finished pieces. The two that I’m hoping to get done are my watercolor and my mixed media painting. 

It bears noting that this ceramic creation- another mermaid work of art – was purchased at the annual Beach Plum Festival at Island Beach State Park, (by artist Linda J.King) in 2007, but it continues to give me a bit of creative inspiration each day…because this little mermaid has become the pull chain decoration on my nightstand lamp!