Small Works

Today I delivered 5 small pieces to the Holland Arts Council for its Holiday Art Show: Small Works.  These are a couple of the pieces that will be part of the show. Each is 4"x4".

Shifting Tides

   

Silent Measure

The show runs from November 13 to December 20. There will be an opening reception on November 14 from 5:30 to 7 PM.  I'm planning to be there.  If you're in the area I hope you can too.

Steal Like An Artist

It's a lesson in Louise Fletcher's Find Your Joy 2025 workshop.  She asked us to select two favorites, figure out what it is about their work that we love and rather than copy what they do, steal that bit that you love and use it in your piece.  I have several favorites but settled on 3 for this lesson.  This is the painting,

My 3 for this exercise -- Karen Stamper, Alice Sheridan and Elwira Pioro.  Karen because I can see the influence of boats in her work and if you know me you know I love boats; Alice Sheridan and Elwira Pioro both have very textured calm areas in their work and Elwira adds a bit of line work to her calm backgrounds.

This is one that is done in my sketchbook/art journal because I was not going to make a good painting, just play.  Turned out not too bad I think.  What do you think?

The Coverup and a Selfie

 Last week I posted one that had several layers and I still wasn't liking anything. I covered it with more colors, then some white and I didn't like the brush strokes.  I had a baby wipe in my hand because I was cleaning paint off my fingers,  WHAT IF I smooth things out with it? I discovered it did more than smooth the brush strokes, it brought just a touch of the color underneath to the surface.  I finished one but didn't get it photographed before I took it to Central Park Place for the Gallery Uptown 50th Anniversary show.  This is the second one still waiting to be finished.

And another fun exercise this week -- blind drawing self portrait.  A Creative Restart Workshop exercise and I love how some of them came out.  None a really good likeness but fun anyway.

The one on the left is with a fountain pen, on the right, charcoal. One thing I realized looking at them later, if one has drawn enough faces one can come pretty close to lining eyes, nose and mouth up because one knows the nostril comes down from the corner of the eye and the mouth is just below that.  I have done a lot of faces.  Another advantage I have is a couple wrinkles across the bridge of my nose between my eyes, I can come pretty close to positions. Making them accurate is another story.

Sometimes You Just Have To Cover It Up

 And that is just what I'm doing on this piece.  What you see on the right is what it was and I've done several layers and keep thinking -- surely I can make this work. Well, I had several good compositions and decent finishes but didn't like them so I also did a lot of sanding.  Finally, this morning, I decided it's the color.  I just don't like the green and so I decided to sand again and use totally different colors.  That's started on the left.  Hopefully I can come up with something I'm happy with.  Still a long way to go before it's done.

DeStash Bash Done, Time To Plan For Retreat

 And I'm pleased to report that this piece has gone to a new home.

I was able to sell some good art supplies at a very reasonable price to several artists in need.  It felt good for two reasons -- one, more gone from my studio and two, budding artists got some good supplies at bargain prices.

I will be heading up to my annual art retreat next week. This is the view from my perch at the bar where I do my morning journal.

Since the bash my time has been spent figuring out what I want to work on and deciding on the necessary supplies.  We also spent a few days on Mackinac Island.  Marshall did the Chicago to Mac race again this year and we took his son up so they could spend time on the island.  Didn't turn out as we expected but a good time anyway.  In addition to time with all three of my guys we spent some time with my niece Shannon and her husband who were there staying at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club.  All good.

Still Sorting and Finding Surprises

 I had totally forgotten this one that I had tucked away.  I still like it though it is totally different than anything else I've done.  Women at the Well, it's small, a bit over 4 x 6 inches. No idea what I'll do with it but for now, I'm enjoying looking at it.

Sorting and keeping track of my son as he first did "The Hook" and this weekend "Chicago to Mac" sailboat races.  Moms never stop worrying about their kids do they?

The Art Tribe Is Back at The Gallery Uptown

 

So what's an Art Tribe, in this case a group of artist friends who get together occasionally for lunch or wine and cheese to chat about life and art and sometimes to talk about doing a show together. In the past we've done some collaborative pieces but this year we did something a bit different, our theme is Beauty in the Ordinary. The Tribe members, Carol Cousineau, Bette DelVecchio, Barb Fugazzotto, Sandy Meyer, Annie Morgan and I, each did individual works.  Margaret Benefiel is another Tribe member but couldn’t participate this year.  She’s with us in spirit.

You’ll see paintings and collages along with scarves, table runners and assemblages and some surprise pieces. 

The exhibit is up now and the reception is Friday July 11, 5:30 to 7:30.  Hope you can come see, it's a great show!