I walk everyday… to look around you and breathe is a gift to the body and the senses. Fall is a beautiful time of year but when you really look at what you see… it fills me with joy. Today I was in search of the tiniest leaves. The big leaves are in your face but the smallest ones are just filled with wonder. Take time to day to investigate, breathe in, and marvel at what is in front of you.
When I started painting all I thought I needed to do way lay down the color, The first time the only time, sometimes I would go over the color when things weren’t working but with watercolor I knew this is how you make the color muddy . Watercolor in itself should be fresh. The more I have worked with watercolor the more I have learned to wait for the surface to dry and then add more to get a richer color and dimension
finished watercolor card
I started out as a watercolorist and I am finding that I am loving it all over again. It is portable, takes up such a little space and the mixing of the colors are infinite. So… do layer your watercolor but… wait for it to dry between.
I have been trying to stretch myself in my art. Working with different colors, different kinds of substrate, and trying to find some theme that would interest me enough to create a series. I have often found that I am pulled to that wild pink color (opera pink) that so many people use but I stay totally away from. Well today was my day to try it, and I was enchanted with it.
Using my art journal as my experimental journal, I found that I love getting my feeling of the day down on paper and then painting over it, smearing it, concealing it, but the decorative nature of my handwriting was a great way of adding mark making. So this was the start of my Table Top Series.
I made some rules for myself, but also knew that I needed some freedom and flexibility. Subject matter: anything that sits on a table and may include that table. Colors: adding a little pink Design: All will have some kind of hand written letters to them, smeared into them or used as mark making. Substrate: interesting rectangles on wood.
So here is the beginning of my Series, please let me know what you think. If you have made a series before, how did it go and what were your rules?
Come an see my “ Tree” picture at Schacktoberfest , a one month exhibition of their wonderful blown glass pumpkins that they make right in the museum. ( Artists decorate the walls for their time to shine) it starts September 8th for opening night.
Oh, Oh… don’t forget that they also have a wonderful Artist Garage sale right in front of the Art Center Sept 10… shhh.. I shouldn't be telling you this .. a wonderful place to pick up original and limited edition pictures that artists are tired of or cluttering up their studios at unheard of prices! as well as art supplies! They have everything from fine art, garden art, quilts, lots of blown glass, even t shirts. A wonderful day of shopping. I won’t be selling anything but I will be in attendance to help friends as well a picking up a bargain or two.
Fall is a great time for getting out in the cooler weather. Just wanted to let you know about where you can find some of my art. I am involved again in the Art Walk but on by the Woodinville Art Alliance. This time I am in located at Locust Cider, If you haven’t tasted their cider it is a must do just for that. ( I highly recommend the peach ) I have about 15 pictures hanging in 2 different sizes. I will be represented thru November. Stay tuned another exhibit happening in Everett this week.
These are the last few days of “ Art of the Garden” show at SCHACK the Everett Art Center. A truly wonderful show that shows all expression of a garden, Lots of animals in clay, pictures, jewelry and even a whole carousel is involved. Last day is Saturday.
I had 3 pictures in the show, and one now has sold. THANK YOU
Please check it out, it is free and a great way to spend a hot day.
https://www.schack.org/exhibits/art-of-the-garden-3/
Woodinville Art Alliance has got a great thing going. They have a wonderful art walk usually the first Friday of the month, 4 times a year. There are many different venues but in 3 separate parts of Woodinville. It you want to meet the Artist, opening day is the only day they are all together, but if you want to see the art it stays up for about 3 MONTHS after !
The Summer exhibitions will be changing at the end of the month. I have loved being at the Woodin Creek Lodge, a wonderful space in the heart of their community. Fab is the events person there and she is great, such a nice person to work with and she knows just everything about the community and makes it feel cohesive. If you live in that section of town check it out.
Below are some of my art that art still available at Woodin Creek Lounge
Somedays its a struggle to sit down and do some art. Is this really what I want to do?
Sometimes I feel that I don’t have anything to say in a picture or painting.
Somedays I find my style repetitive and I just need to shake it up a bit.
That is when I just start. Just start
If you start each day as an experiment, you have nothing to loose. You can just play. Scribble, write your soul on that page and then cover it up.. or let it peek through…just a little.
Enjoy the process, it doesn’t have to turn into anything. Here is one of my experiments that actually turned into something I really like.
I just love the idea of a Secret Admirer… even if its not so secret. Let send our love something that puts the mystery back into Valentines day.
My daughter was cleaning out her condo ( she’s a fashion designer) and found hundreds of buttons that she has been collecting over the past 15 years. They were just so cool, and so varied from vintage, common and decorative buttons.
So many ideas for them but since it right after Christmas and I still have my tree up. Why not a garland for next year. I took the buttons with shanks and threaded them thru with ribbon and then added ribbon between the buttons to keep them in place. A problem I soon discovered quickly. The buttons that had holes in them I just used upholstery thread. This was the only color I had and this year I am trying to use my existing materials. I used this ochre color and it worked fine. I love seeing the variety and the different types of buttons. I just used white, but it would be fabulous with multi color or just metal tones. I hope you have a chance to try in on your own collection. Let me know your ideas for buttons.
I like to think that making resolutions for the new year is just what I need to start my year off right… but I have found that if I am not totally committed to the action my resolutions become half hearted. I read this quote from James Clear author of Atomic Habits “ You can usually accomplish more by giving something your full attention/effort for a few years rather than giving it a lukewarm effort for 50 years. Pick a priority for this season of your life and do it to the best of your ability” This has really gotten me to think about what have I been doing for the past 50+ years and how long has it taken me to get where I am going? Could I have found a simpler way by devoting my complete attention to it? I have taken pride in being able to multi task well but what have I given up by doing so many things at once. Well, this year. I am doing to devote myself to one thing I keep procrastinating about and see how long it takes me accomplish my goal. I would love to hear about your adventures for the year and how you are going to accomplish them.
“Don’t be fooled by the calendar, There are only as many days as you make use of. One man gets a weeks value out of a year while another man gets a full years value out of a week! ”
So…. I am committing right here in front of you all…” To just show up” and do my art practice DAILY… I am not picking how long, or how much , just “ I will do this daily” Todays picture started with a picture in a magazine… sometimes your imagination is on hold, so I am taking what i can from observation. I loved this picture and tried to add some of my creative touches from it… or maybe it is calling me to get busy and pick my own apple trees before they are on the ground. I had a great day yesterday with my Granddaughter Maeve in the apple trees, I saved all the apples on the low branches for her, she’s only 3 but got the “ twist and pull” method down.
Whatever your creative spirit inside of you says. Write it, make it, create it, garden it… Just do it … now I will have to post more just to show you that I am making this a DAILY PRACTICE
Sometimes i crave more companionship than what I have. I enjoy my husband very much but … How much can you gleen from someone that you have known forever. I miss hanging out with the girlfriends, having lunch together, riding in the same car, giggling.
I was noticing just recently when i see a friends posted picture… I look beyond that picture and see.. is that a coffee cup? a new brand or paint? does she have as messy a studio as i do? Are those exercises on her wall? What is the blue stuff she is drinking … do you think i am stalking? This is really getting bad…
I think i will call up a neighbor and go for a walk.
Is there ever a time that you have no idea what to do? bored? i just don’t get bored, I thought. I just retired from a well loved job and it left me without a purpose .. my days became days without a deadline. I had time and lots of it. Not being able to get out to even go to a job, staying safe within my cocoon of a house protecting me from COVID and now all the wild fire smoke. Its been a week and i haven’t gotten a lot accomplished. I keep trying little things, i try and set a routine, what are the things i want to be good at?
FINALLY…. i just got out my paints and started working on a board that i have used as a pallet with all the great colors and just experimented, played with scratching , layering and flinging paint on the surface. I am not sure its done, but the journey improved my mood.
Mindset; If you treat a painting or drawing as an experiment you don’t ever have to claim it as done. Its just an experiment
I am just finishing up on a 12 day class from Sketchbook Revival were Karen Abend got together quite a few unique artists to teach a 20 to 30 min art class on line. This was all FREE… Thank you Karen !! They started us out creating something out of a blob from Carla Sondheim . Carla said that “if you put a beak on anything it becomes a bird” … I was set out to test that theory… and guess what….. it does!!.
One of my favorite classes was on creating a wild garden, all I can say was Fun and MESSY… it was great!. Other classes included ones like “ How to Draw like an Architect” creating a “ Quirky Bird” , people made so many different ones. There were classes on expressing yourself with words, drawing words, incorporating words. We even had a class where we learned to draw cupcakes. I am still working on these classes they were so wonderful and really took my art in new directions. A great distraction while at home.
I always find creative people are so creative because they create. The more you do the more the ideas flow.
Below are just some of my attempts … I am sure you could do better
Sketchbook Revival
assorted free classes…what I came up with
Sketching Food
from Charlie O’Shields
Quirky Bird Class
by Tamara Laporte
My Book of Lists
2017
My Book of Lists
2020
OHH… life use to be so much simpler, when I had to go to work and I had a routine…. I have so much to do, no time to be board or have anxiety. Make your own list and keep it going. I have often referred to Dr. Wayne Dyer quote “ If you change the way you look at things, the way you look at things will change “
As you can see I am not “ confined to my home” I now proclaim myself and “ Artist in Residence” take care of you and consider yourself a carrier to keep others safe.
Really missing the sense of touch this week, from those wiggly grandgirls. With our “Stay Home “ order I have had some face time with the grand kids hearing there giggles and what is one their mind is a real gift and something that we shouldn’t take lightly. That feeling of their arm around my neck or them trying to chase me is something I won’t take lightly anymore.
Stay Safe, enjoy the blessings you do have and it won’t be long and we will have touch back in our lives .
What are missing, that you won’t take for granted again?
In these days of insolating ourselves in our homes, not getting out and finding something to do. We are forced to confront our homes. I don’t know about you but I find cleaning and organizing my home a little mundane… so I am always looking for something to do… use my hands…learn something new.
I had heard about making quilts out of mens shirts and had saved a few, the designs on Pinterest was great and very motivating, besides my husband won’t miss a few shirts. So I set out to take apart some shirts and use the fabric. I did save the collars, buttons and cuffs ( who knows what I will do with them later) I decided to make a quilt throw, since I really didn’t know what I was doing. I ended up doing this really simple triangle pattern ( you can make these without cutting triangles… thank you google) I also make a simple pattern for the back as well. When completed I did take this to a quilter with a long arm machine to add the batting and with an all over pattern quilted it together ( I chose a circular pattern since my design was so angular…figuring that it soften up the design. ) I added a simple border. I wanted a little extra to let people know that this was from shirts II added some of the tags… soo cool. I am excited about how this turned out.
What have you been doing?
As of Wednesday I am “ taking 2 weeks off…. to be evaluated later” for my job. I work at Seattle Childrens hospital and they are down to the bare minimum of people now. Good for me because I can really catch up on all this art I want to do as well as buckling down to work on the web site.. Here’s a little of my to do list that I have just started. I hope you can find something wonderful you want to do that you have been putting off. This is a perfect opportunity to not only learn something but call those people you care about hear their voice and really find out how they are doing ,get some socialization for yourself and your health.
As you can see, I have things I want to do , can do, inside and outside but it would be great to make a list of something I have always wanted to learn… maybe that Italian language.. or maybe not.
