Reset
May 16, 2021 at 5:56 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: Art Studio, oil on canvas, oil paintings, Spirituality Series
I have been missing in action here on my blog. WHAT A YEAR! this past one has been! Likely you will all agree. Many artists, myself included, tend to self-isolate anyway in order to focus on the work, so that wasn’t much different. Nevertheless, it was a distracted, fragmented year for me for numerous reasons, and there was loss, sadness, and depletion of energy. Not sure yet if I am back. Just wanted to share that lately I’ve been revamping the studio: switching out funky old cabinets and replacing them with bright white new ones; purging that which has been dragging me down; tossing that which no longer serves. It’s been a tearing process, painful in a way, as I can always think of a creative use for something so end up saving stuff & thingies, not wanting to waste. Often resolution never comes about and the item just sits there, nagging at me. Much of that is now gone. With a clearer perspective, I’m drawn again to paintings like this one from the Spirituality Series, which is on one of the studio walls. It is large, 56″x45″, and it was never titled as I didn’t think it was done. But it is done. Yes, it is as it should be. I may do more such. Hope all is well with you.
In The Studio
September 7, 2019 at 5:46 pm | Posted in Art Studio, Considering Ideas | Leave a commentTags: Art Studio, drawing, drumming, mixed media collage, painting, printing
Today’s studio scene with at least five different work spaces, not including the easel painting that continues to confound me. This multi-stuff-spread-out is not a conscious approach, it just keeps happening. I’m like a tugboat pulling ideas along as they come up. Sometimes I do cut a rope. Simplification may not be in the stars for me although it would definitely make my life easier.
Singing In The Rain, Singing In the Art Studio
February 26, 2010 at 4:41 pm | Posted in Considering Ideas | Leave a commentTags: Angel from Montgomery, Art Studio, CREATIVITY, John Prine, music, singing
Excuse me while I digress from visual art, again, as there’s the rhythm talk on this blog also. It all started in a fit of studio cleaning with Foreigner blasting from the CD player, fast feet, drumming hands, and singing. Allegedly, also involved was half a bar of Green & Black organic milk chocolate with peanuts. Fiery energy whirled ‘round the space. Aside from the shoe shuffling, floor sweeping was neglected, but the counters, palette area, and drawing table are cleared, ready to go now.
Creativity all comes from the same place as we are expressive creatures, it just takes various forms. Our human bodies are tools and instruments; from our brains, eyes, mouths, to hands to feet and shaking hips. Exploring all of it is just natural, enhances life and gives me insights for the visual work.
And sometimes, when there’s a snag in the creative process, or when the pipe feels clogged, doing a 180 is exactly what is needed. At times a walk clears the head, or I pull out music, the drum, the guitar, the twinkling toes. It’s a swirling out to the edges process so I can come back to center refreshed.
I certainly don’t consider the other artistic expressions equally to my visual art as the originality is not there. I haven’t given it enough time for that. My art images come from inside of me, from my soul. With music, I’m using the melodies and lyrics of others-a huge difference.
But it’s fun, and so rewarding.
Still, my tendency is to jump into a project with both feet and carry it to a level of resolution. To illustrate how far I took this singing, for instance. I’m sharing my, hang on… Ta Dah!… raw GarageBand version of a favorite song. I actually purchased a mechanical license to make 25 copies (minimum) of this song from the publishers, Harry Fox. For the understanding and experience of doing it, to acknowledge John Prine as the writer of Angel From Montgomery, and so I don’t have to look over my shoulder. It’s from my album titled: Not Ready For The Big Time. They asked for an album title in the licensing process. It’s so not ready that right now there’s only one song on it.
The next post may be musings on distractions in the studio.
Art Business
January 26, 2010 at 11:23 am | Posted in Art Studio, Considering Ideas | Leave a commentTags: art business, Art Studio, collage, self-portrait
self-portrait collage
“Artist/Woman Thinking About Stuff”
That is, art business, paperwork, facts & figures.
Art Studio Approach
August 17, 2009 at 9:43 pm | Posted in Art Studio | Leave a commentTags: acrylics, art mediums, Art Studio, brush cleaner, cleaning acrylic brushes, oil paint, paint brushes, paint palette, repurpose, working methods
What does an artist’s working space look like? I’ll be posting some more shots of the studio here. This is the steel rolling cart that holds brushes on top and paints underneath, and it’s where I mix colors.
Many of the brushes in the background are for oil paint. Yes, there are separate brushes for each medium. Love your brushes-take care of them. Good ones are pricey and using them is like playing a beautiful instrument; there is no off-key twang, just harmony and control as you sculpt paint with them. Even less expensive brushes can last a long, long time with care.
In my younger days, I’d let paint dry on brushes. Even after cleaning them, pushing those around on the canvas later was like wading through gritty mud. No matter what hand-eye control there was to muster, the brush could not respond fully.
Let me say it again. Love your brushes!
In working with acrylics, I use a sheet of framing glass on top of a piece of white paper as a palette (it’s actually white palette paper so there’s a coating on it, water doesn’t soak through if it gets sloshed). The white paper gives good contrast for mixing colors. Acrylics dry quickly so I cover them with reused plastic snack cups and just pull out a bit at a time. That way, I can mix a good amount and it’s usually good to go the next day also.
The three jars are filled with water for cleaning the brushes: first wipe off excess paint; swish off excess paint in water; rinse, and rinse again. It’s become automatic between colors or when switching brushes. At the end of the painting session, the brushes are washed with “the Masters” brush cleaner and preserver soap.
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A Passion for Creativity 