True

so sad

This is a section of a painting I painted over. Now it is just a digital image.

After a bisque firing

Kirsten is a wonderful potter who doesn't know it. She humbly says she is new at it and has a lot to learn. All of her creations have the right amount of whimsy and draw you into their cuteness.
These were on her table after undergoing their first firing, the white teapot in the ray of the sun.

Small florals

I am trying to do some flower paintings for another show in January that is just florals. I don't know if these will do.

On sale

Over the weekend, six of my pieces sold. They were cheap. Affordable. Whatever. But I was thrilled someone that liked what I did, happy to get reimbursed for some of what I spend for this expensive hobby, and grateful to get rid of stuff.
One thing I have learned is that I really don't enjoy painting, except for the rare occasion, and I have no need to hang on to anything I do.

Update

Last month, I realized how much I spent on the studio and was shocked. I thought of all the other things I could have done with that 9k and decided to get out. The place is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, and I really haven't been going. First I wanted to let Alice know my decision since she is my next door neighbor there. When I did, she said she was considering the same thing, and suggested we merge and make it more like a gallery. So as of the end of June, she closed her studio and moved into mine. We both got rid of our messes and art supplies and just have our art on the walls. She has a degree in art, is a mother and a writer, and is wonderfully helpful and knowledgeable in many areas. She has big paintings done in different mediums, and I have my various smaller photos and paintings. I think it will work, for a while at least.

seen by a studio door

so . . .

After looking at the photo of the painting, I saw it needed some work. So today in the studio, I painted over the blue that was over the top and made some other little adjustments. Then I took another pic. I looked at it from all four ways and decided that upside down from the original version was best. Now it has a whole new look! I think I will rename it "Going Places." I am not crazy about it, but I guess I will keep it for now.

Today's painting.

It makes no sense, but it did force me to paint dark and light.
The main thing I have learned is that painting is like anything else. You just have to do it over and over and learn and experience. Repeat and repeat.
hmmm...
Kind of looks like a rooster and a road.
Maybe I will call it...why did the chicken cross the road.
LOL

workshop day 1

I signed up for a three-day abstract workshop about a month ago, and this was the first day.
Even though the sky was gray and the rain was pouring outside the huge windows of our downstairs room (dance studio), it was enjoyable. This pic is of the teacher demonstrating. I have my canvases ready for some serious work tomorrow! I hope one will be ok to put on this blog.

New ones

inspiration

tree patterns

In January and February next year, I will have some of my "art" hanging in a nice florist shop that has a gallery space. But what to do! The woman who asked me said she likes my b/w photos and my abstracts. But I really struggle with painting. I have spent a lot of time in introspection about this, but for whatever of the many reasons I have come up with, I just don't have a passion for it. But I do love to take pictures and play with them after I download them to my computer. Therefore, at this time, I am going with photographs. More specifically trees. And more specifically, the beautiful patterns they make against a pale sky. Since deciduous trees are budding and greening this time of year, I have been looking and snapping. Here is one from today. I don't know if it will make it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Y - yucca

This week's vegetables - D and F

dandelion greens and fennel

vines up a wall

On this pretty day, I took a walk around the ArtWorks neighborhood.
I loved the graceful vines I saw growing on a white wall.

making cards

I've been thinking of putting some of my photos on cards for a long time and finally did it. They are so cute! Last week I happened upon a pack of 25 cards with envelopes for only three bucks. Then I had 4x4 pix printed for only 0.17 each. I plan to keep it up.

Party on!

It was a big weekend at Studio 15 and the rest of the places under our big roof.
Fourth Friday is always a blast. It is like throwing a party the easy way. We had lots of visitors this month. It was a first for many. They love to look around, to talk with us, and they are always in awe! I find that pretty cool. Sometimes they buy. When a piece of art is sold, we are all happy.
Then on Saturday evening there was a nice party to recognize four local people/groups who had won awards for achievements in art. All of the set up, catering and music was taken care of by the guy putting it on. We only spiffed up our studios. I was thrilled with the great turnout.
I am so glad to be connected with this fun place.

the AB of vegetables

The plan I had to paint vegetables A to Z has not amounted to much so far. However, a new idea surfaced while I was in HT yesterday morning.
 I was in the same aisle as an fellow who was using one of those motorized carts, and I spied in his basket a bunch of beautiful maroon colored asparagus. Wow! I wanted some for myself! I hightailed it back over to produce and found the awesome Asparagus right next to the Broccolini. Then it hit me. Why not photograph vegetables A to Z instead of painting them?
I am not going to go too fast with the rest of the alphabet, because I must also eat the veggies. Healthier meals are ahead!

The latest

I've been working on this one lately and am close to finished. Since I am not trained in how to paint properly, I just spread paint and experiment. Ignorance is bliss.

another shell

did something clever with this one!

Shells

today's output

Since a painting sold yesterday, and a few other pieces have sold recently, I thought I needed to get to work to replenish my stock. This is an uncropped, unedited photo of what I did today. I rather like it, and have decided to quit making excuses for preferring to do non-representational art.

Art and Love

The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others. 

Vincent Van Gogh

Art and Flowers

I am posting this photo not for the clear shot/great iPhone image but to get back in the game here.

This evening I went to a pretty cool art event.
It is hard to explain, but it was about flowers imitating art and art imitating flowers. Get it? I didn't either until I saw for myself. This photo is from a demonstration I attended in which the artist was representing the flower arrangement in a pastel painting. It was just one part of an interesting evening.