Helen's Art Studio

More Mixed Media Daily

2012-01-21T09:29:00.001-08:00

The painting is almost finished. One of the downsides of my painting process is the wait while layers dry. However, it’s also a positive because it gives me time to experiment with the mixed media pieces I’ve been playing with.

I’ve been reading an interesting book, Plaster Studio, by Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise. One of Judy’s projects in the book was a wine angel using joint compound, collage and encaustics. Since I collect angels and drink wine the project appealed to me; however, I didn’t happen to have joint compound on hand the day I decided this would be my daily piece.

I used a piece of board, covered it with unbleached muslin that I had tried doing some transfers on but that didn’t work, covered that with some yellow ochre watercolor, decided it was too dark so the next layer was gesso.

Next I sketched my angel and did the writing. On my way to finding something else I came across some wine labels so I decided to add them. Then I used collage for her dress, wings and halo before adding a layer of encaustic.

Once the encaustic was done I used watercolor crayon to add the rest of the color. She was fun to do and now hangs over the wine rack in our kitchen.

Yesterday’s piece was another sunset. This time a fabric collage using watered down acrylic on fusible. At the moment it’s collage on fabric but I think it’s going to become a small art quilt so this may serve as the basis for another piece sometime this week. Meanwhile, I’m off to do the last pour on my painting.

Finally, A Painting In Process

2012-01-12T07:28:00.001-08:00

While art has been happening in the studio, not one full painting has happened in a very long time. It’s time. I have a sketch in my sketchbook that I had titled “In For The Night.” That will be my next painting.

Normally I use my sketch as the basis for my value study which means a lot of pencil work. I was watching a video done by my friend Linda Baker. She uses Pitt Pens for her value studies – much quicker than graphite and I have the set she uses.

I’ve also thought about doing this in with more of the boats that were there; however, that would require an odd size and I already have an idea for framing the half sheet above. I think I’ll save the longer version, until I find a suitable frame. This is the longer version.

I’m still working on my daily mixed media piece. I haven’t scanned or photographed any of the new ones. When I do I’ll post them. Meanwhile, Michigan Watercolor Society Exhibit entries are due soon so I need to get busy with “In For The Night.”

And go over and check out Linda’s website. She does beautiful work!

New Year – New Resolutions

2012-01-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

How many times do we make these resolutions and then promptly forget them? I know I’m guilty though I did work harder at least one of last year’s resolutions than I ever have in the past. That prompts me to think maybe I can do better this year too.

One resolution this year is to continue to finish at least one piece every day. Awhile back I challenged myself to do one small mixed media piece every day. First it was going to be the same size every day; however, since I was doing mixed media I decided to use some starts and soon the sizes weren’t the same.

A few were ATC’s done for friends

and some just for me

One day it was a broken mosaic sphere that I didn’t want to let go of.

This one isn’t finished; I think it’s going to get taller. The sphere has some pieces in it that can’t be replaced so I don’t want to get rid of it for sentimental reasons.

It got broken because my grandson loves balls. He was in the garden, saw a ball and being 1 ½, didn’t know the difference between a ball to throw and a sphere to look at. (Grandpa neglected to tell him.) He tried to throw it; it hit a rock in the garden; there went my wonderful sphere

On days when nothing else strikes me I think I’ll work on the mosaic. It won’t get done in a day because the pieces have to dry before they can be grouted so I’m going to consider the tile or ceramic pieces glued on as one project and the grouting another.

I love mosaics though I haven’t done many. Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I’ll add that to my list of techniques to learn.

Another resolution that I’m really going to work on keeping is to get back to posting regularly on my blog. It won’t be every day but at least once a week.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and my blog resolution for 2012

2011-12-24T13:02:00.000-08:00

First, it’s Christmas Eve and I have to wish every one of you a Joy Filled Christmas and a Wonder Filled 2012

And I’ve already made one resolution for 2012… be more consistent with my blog entries. So what if I’m busy doing mundane things like clearing clutter; I can still steal a few minutes to read a few of my favorite blogs and if nothing else, write about what I read that might interest you.

And speaking of clearing clutter… I am so proud of myself… my studio is clutter free. Now of course you all realize that is a relative term. Yes, there is clutter; however, at one point every surface in my studio looked like this….

and now, even after Christmas projects and wrapping, it looks like this…and I’m ready to start the New Year with Resolution number 2…. keep it this way!

Last I posted I was doing daily art. I’m still doing it. In fact, the angel is one piece – a digital collage. I’ve recently learned about layers in Photoshop and that collage is one result. Here are a couple more….

and another mixed media piece

Again….. Merry Christmas and I’ll be back in 2012.

More Daily Art

2011-11-20T15:16:00.001-08:00

I’m sticking to my schedule and I found the article that prompted this venture into mixed media. The technique is called Wabi-sabi.

According to the article it refers to the qualities of imperfection, aging, cycles of nature and cycles of life. It values the same things I am drawn to: rust, patina, decay, old stone walls with moss growing on it or weeds growing through it.

I am drawn to it, I love to look at it, I love to photograph it; however, I don’t paint it. That’s not entirely true, an old boat, an old stone wall or an old building will show up in my paintings. But the patina and decay just for it’s own sake… not so far.

Day 5 comes close….

And Day 4 is actually based on an old statue so it might count. For “The Fiddler #3” I used a piece that I was about to throw away. I had been trying out transfers using Sheer Heaven paper and the first one didn’t transfer well. I decided to try an ink outline, then covered it completely with white Tempra paint and let it dry. Once dry I washed off the Tempra paint. The black outline stayed and because of the black outline you can see enough to know it’s a fiddler.

Day 5 I pulled out another piece from my stack of starts, added a bit more color and some metal tags that said “outside was still.” The words don’t necessarily go with the image but it was late and I was tired.

Days 6, 7 and 8 were done on canvas. The first day I covered all three canvases with paper towel that had been used to soak up or wipe up paint. I added more color once they were dry and then went to work on the first one. The heart is a stone I found years ago; it had been sitting on one of my shelves and it seemed to want to go on this piece. No sign of the paper towel except the texture it created.

Day 7, you can see a bit of the napkin under the blue, the inside of a lightbulb package made what I first thought was a snow fence. But it needed more so I added the chocolate rocks from my collection. I’m not seeing much variety in design yet.

Day 8, the napkin color wasn’t hidden, I did enhance the sun and I love the colors in the foreground – rust and water, two of my favorites.

A Photoshop Collage

2011-11-18T07:44:00.001-08:00

This isn’t it, this is the before. The next one is the collage I did today. Yesterday I spent an enjoyable afternoon with my good friend Annie Morgan. She was working on figuring out how an image was going to look – the end result – by layering in Photoshop so I got a short lesson.

This morning was my morning to read some blogs and one link led to another and I was at Inspiration Avenue’s weekly challenge – Harlequin. When you’re done here head over and check out the other Harlequin entries.

I thought of the piece above that I’d done awhile back; however, it wasn’t something I did this week and it lacked punch soooooo – let’s try what Annie taught me.

Much better, just three Photoshop layers: a yellow background, the original but more transparent so the yellow shows through and finally, the type: “There will be parties and mystery tonight.” I’m happy with it and now all sorts of ideas are wandering around in my head.

Mixed Media Daily

2011-11-14T08:38:00.000-08:00

This is the first in a series of small daily paintings.

I’m interested in texture, color, neutrals and simplicity. Trying to put that all together in a mixed media piece is the goal. So I decided to at least try to keep up with one mixed media piece a day.

I also decided it would be consistent in size – 8”x8”. It’s something I had been thinking about for some time – do something daily and finish it. Not just a sketch but actually a finished piece.

I thought about doing a single subject but that seemed on one hand too limiting and on the other hand to daunting. Pick a simple enough subject that I can do every day and have to work to make it different or something difficult enough to make me work to just get it done. It wasn’t clicking.

I finally decided I really want to do more experimenting with texture and color but also with fabric and metal. Then I was reading about a Japanese technique that I saved – somewhere. At the moment it’s nicely filed away – but I don’t remember where. That’s the down side of sorting. When I am done with all the sorting I’ll go through drawers and files and make a list so I’ll know where things are. Back to the Daily….

Having made the decision I decided to start that day but life got in the way… 10:00 that night I decided I had to do it or I would keep putting it off.

I keep some of my art that didn’t work as I’d planned in my flat file for future collage work. I pulled out a piece that had been done on Yupo and was the right size.

It had a lot of dark blue on it and my first thought was Gesso but there was a Mr. Clean eraser sponge sitting on top of the file. Walla! Mr. Clean really does take paint off, I believe I could have gone back to pure white if that had been my aim.

After pushing the color that was there around I began to see a shoreline so I added more blue and some ochre, used Mr. Clean to make a circle for sun and added yellow, put a piece of cardboard down and weighted it… and off to bed before 11.

The next morning I added some highlights with oil pastels (remembering that I wanted mixed media.)

Day two was not so hot but it’s done. Once again it was late at night when I remembered – had to do it. So I found another piece of paper, this time 140lb cold press that had been part of something that didn’t work.

First I added more color to develop a horizon, then used sequin waste to rub out color and the same sequin waste to add a row above that. That’s where it fell apart.

I first tried using the same watercolor paint that I had added below but it wasn’t working. To get the right mixture it had to be wet and when it was wet it went everywhere so on to something else

Next I tried using Shiva Paintstiks; still not working. Finally I used some sharpened oil pastels and forgot about the stencil, just added color and called it done.

The next day was Sunday and I was working on some Wonky Angels that are made of a combination of metals and beads. Here are a couple waiting for legs.

I had two scraps of metal and decided to make a Cross. Somehow it seemed appropriate for my mixed media piece… copper scraps, colored pencil, alcohol inks and a rivet to hold it together.

I may decide that a Cross will be it every Sunday. We’ll see. Doing one daily doesn’t mean I’ll post daily, however, I may get back to being a bit more regular.

Totally Unrelated To Art

2011-11-11T13:08:00.001-08:00

I went to the dentist today and once again was amazed at how calm I was. You see there was a time when I was a white knuckle patient. For someone who has three cousins in that field, a dentist, an orthodontist and an oral surgeon, all cousins that she dearly loves and knows would not inflict pain, one would think that I would always be calm about a trip to the dentist. Not so.

When I fist went to my current dentist 30 years ago I told him how scared I was, something I’m sure he’d heard many times before. He didn’t realize how scared until he noticed how tightly I was clutching the arms of the chair. His comment: “You really are scared aren’t you.” Well duh… that’s what I said wasn’t it.

When it was time for our son to go to the dentist for the first time I asked my husband to take him and not to the dentist I go to because I didn’t want to take any chances on my trauma being passed on.

Where did it start? A few years back Mother, my sister and I were chatting and the subject of dentists came up. I was recalling a time when Mother and I were in the waiting room and my sister was in the dentist’s chair – screaming with pain. I mentioned the name of the dentist and simultaneously Mother and my sister responded, both saying my sister never went to that dentist, I was the only one that did. To this day I can’t put myself in that chair but it must have been me. By the way, my sister thanks me for putting her there.

Well, all these years later I’m calm; in fact, I could fall asleep while the dentist or hygienist is working on my mouth.

That’s not because I’ve suddenly become able to bare that pain; actually I have a pretty high pain tolerance (a fetal monitor told us when I was having a contraction, I didn’t have any labor pains, which tells you mothers out there how high my tolerance is.) Dentistry has come a long ways and all of those dentists are striving to provide pain free visits.

The other reason is that I learned to mentally put myself somewhere I’d love to be rather than in the dentist’s chair. Hey, if I can move myself out to the lobby and put my sister in the chair in my place why not. When I first began making regular visits to my current dentist, while he was working I was mentally skiing in the winter or sailing in the summer.

Today I just closed my eyes and went through my to-do list for the rest of the day. I’ve come a long way.

I’ll get back to post about art another day.

Clearing Clutter, this time for real

2011-11-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

I am so pleased – it’s been three weeks and I can still see the top of my desk.

That may not seem to be a major accomplishment to some of you but I hope I’m not the only one who constantly has a stack of who knows what on her desktop. For those clean desk people out there, it’s really tough keeping it clear when you know that everything can somehow be used in a piece of art – if you live long enough.

Not only is the desk clear, I have three chairs in my office and they’re clear too. One of them is at my desk and it’s usually clear because I use it the most. A second one is there for me to sit in to read when I’m not on my computer and a third is there because it’s a sentimental one and there’s room for it.

I’ve rarely sat in the one that’s there to read because the books I plan to read are usually stacked on it along with various other items that I’m not sure what to do with. The one with sentimental value is also rarely visible because of clutter piled high on it. Three weeks and they are still clear of clutter too. It has not been easy but I’ve done it. My spouse thinks it’s pretty sad that having a clear desk for three weeks makes me feel sooooooo good. A friend (who knows my spouse) sent me this card by Curly Girl Design and I love it! Now onto the rest of my studio; that’s far from done. And it’s not going to be done quickly. I am really sorting, going through every pile including all of the art supplies (some that I just had to have but used once and decided that just wasn’t for me.)

And I’m really having to struggle but I’m managing not to get sidetracked by something that screams at me --- “oh, here I am and look at what you can do with me if you’ll just take a few minutes….” I’m resisting so far, well mostly. There have been a couple of slips.

Anyway, back to the sorting; if I don’t have a use for it there are four piles – one to give to another artist who will use it, one to send off to whatever family member should have it (and they can pitch if they like,) one that may require a second look and one to go out with the trash. Three large garbage bags have gone out so far.

Some artwork is getting done in spite of the clutter clearing – just not in my studio. Some friends and I do try to get out sketching at least one morning every week. This week we were enjoying the beautiful color that is everywhere here in Michigan

Hopefully I’ll have another area free of clutter by this time next week.

New Work

2011-10-03T09:01:00.001-07:00

I printed several plates last week. Printing plates is is like unmasking one of my poured paintings; until I take of the mask of a pour I don’t really know what I have and until I run the plate through the press I don’t know either.

Sometimes it’s a wonderful surprise, sometimes just okay and other times it needs a little tweaking. I’m not going to post all of them today, they aren’t all scanned yet. However, two of them will be part of an exhibit at Lemon Creek Winery here in Grand Haven so they are scanned and framed. The first one is “Oaked”

and the second is “In Vino Vitras”

I’ll post the others as I get them scanned.

Plein Air and More about looking at art

2011-09-24T13:48:00.001-07:00

Last week a friend and I went out looking for color. Another friend invited us to her deck… there wasn’t much color but it was so very peaceful and a pleasant view so it didn’t matter to us that there was just a bit of color beginning.

A few posts back I said I’d post more about looking at art. Here is more to think about….

If it’s a still life

1. Why do you think the artist choose these objects?

2. Are the objects related to each other? How?

3. Artists plae objects in still-life paintings very carefully. If any object were removed would the painting still be balanced?

4. If the color of one or more of the objects were changed, would the picture harmony change?

5. What object is closest to the viewer? How did the artist make it appear so?

6. What object is most important to the painting?

7. Are there any things in the painting to taste or smell?

8. If you could touch the objects, what would they feel like?

When you’re looking at portraits

1. Is the person a male or a female?

2. Is the person young or old?

3. Is he/she looking at you?

4. What expression or emotion is the person showing?

5. What is the person doing?

6. What do you think he/she is thinking or is that what makes you keep looking trying to figure it out. A good example of that is DaVinci’s Mona Lisa.

7. How much of the person do you see?

8. Does the clothing tell you anything about the person?

9. Where is the person? In a room? In a garden?

10. Does the background have any important information?

11. Can you tell what time of day it is? What time of year is it?

And if it’s a Landscape

1. Pretend that you are walking into the painting. Where would you enter?

2. Do you have a bird’s eye view? A people’s eye view? A worm’s eye view?

3. Does the painting have a foreground, middleground, and background?

4. What is the weather like?

5. What time of day is it? How can you tell?

6. What time of year is it? How can you tell?

7. Do you think that this is a landscape that really exist, or is it imaginary?

Now if you look at my plein air you will see that as landscapes go, this one isn’t very good. That doesn’t matter to me because it’s just a sketch done for my own enjoyment.

Looking at Art

2011-08-28T10:08:00.001-07:00

I have a couple of paintings almost done, this is new but it isn’t one that I’m talking about. I’m going to spend some time looking at the others to decide if they’re done or need some tweaking. That made me think about looking at art.

I was in a gallery the other day and listening (I do eaves drop now and then) to a couple looking at a painting I had just looked at. They wondered why it warranted wall space in a gallery. It was a good piece but there were a lot of splatters and drips, something I love to see in a watercolor while others think it’s just plain sloppy.

There is no right or wrong here but it helps to know a bit about why the one that you wonder about is in that gallery or museum and sometimes you have to study it awhile to figure it out, especially if you don’t particularly like it.

To help, most museums have docents who can point out what makes a painting work. Galleries don’t generally have docents, they have sales people and while they do want to help you, they’re still sales people. In order to enjoy looking and to learn more about what you like and why you like it, here are a few general questions that docents at the Grand Rapids Art Museum ask. They’re good ones to ask yourself when you’re looking:

1. What’s going on in the painting?

2. What do you see that makes you think that?

3. Is there an element that makes your eye move around the painting to see what’s going on?

4. Does the title tell you what’s going on?

5. What images/objects do you see?

6. Is there a dominant color? What is it and how does it make you feel?

7. To really stretch yourself try imagining the main color area as a different color. Would you still respond to the painting in the same way?

These are general questions. Another time I’ll deal with looking at specific subject matter.

A Week of R&R

2011-08-18T08:54:00.001-07:00

Every summer for the past 21 years my dear friend Terry and I leave our families for a week to devote all of our time to our art (and catching up on what each of us are doing.)

Last week was the week, we were at a lake just outside Traverse City which is where we have gone for the past 19 years. Eighteen of the 19 years were at Spider Lake thanks to my brother and sister-in-law. Here is a view from the dock….

That rowboat will be in future paintings. Paintings that were done while I was there include these two

They are not the same size – top is 7 x 7, bottom is 14 x 14; however, the camera doesn’t seem to know the difference. I have a couple others but when I saw the images on my computer I realized they weren’t done.

Painting isn’t all we do, we swim – at least three times a day. Swimming in a cool lake feeds my soul. Somehow a pool isn’t the same, most likely because I grew up swimming in a lake. And one day during the week we go in to town for lunch at our favorite “Amical” where Sebastian has been our waiter two years in a row and he gives us great service. We also make a stop at the college bookstore because they have an excellent selection of art supplies and the prices are good.

An aside – while searching for something else I came across a blog entry titled Enjoying the Gallery Experience. If you hesitate to visit those places read it. While it’s primarily about visiting galleries and museums in New York, it could be any city. For that matter, even if you’re not hesitant about visiting, it’s worth reading.

Enough today, I’m working on getting more paintings done as I have to have 2 for ArtWalk, several for an exhibit at The Edge Gallery in Fenton and 2 or 3 pieces for Lemon Creek Winery’s Grand Haven Tasting Room. All happening in September. Yikes… I’m off to work!

The Sketchbook Project

2011-07-20T05:30:00.001-07:00

As I said, I wasn’t going to do it again. Last time I got in late, didn’t have much of a choice in subjects for the book and the book arrived late so I didn’t have much time.

However, most of that was my own fault for not signing up early so I decided to give it a go again and this time I signed up way before the deadline.

So, it has arrived and I’ve decided it will travel along with my on my daily travels be they to Bay View or my back yard.

And that’s what the first two entries are – a view from Bay View’s Memorial Garden on the left and a view in my back yard on the right.

The next entry is a friend’s yard where I went yesterday to do some plein air painting with she and another friend. She has some beautiful gardens so sketching was fun in spite of the heat and believe me it was HOT.

We’ll see what today brings. One thing I hope to accomplish with this is to get back in the habit of sketching every day. It’s something I did for years and I know my drawing improves – all of my artwork improves when I do that.

Here’s another sketch from yesterday; this one done in my regular sketchbook…

You can see an expanded view of the garden I was in yesterday.

It has arrived

2011-07-12T11:42:00.001-07:00

My sketchbook that is. Once again I’ve signed up to do “The Sketchbook Project,” there’s a link in the column on the right.

The last time I did this I entered late and subjects were limited. On top of that my sketchbook took forever to arrive. It wasn’t the best experience so when I first saw that it was going to be held again I ignored it.

It kept appearing, that little logo was everywhere I went on the internet. I took it as a sign… “Helen, you are suppose to do this and this time sign up early so you have a choice about the subject of your sketchbook.”

So I signed up before I left for Bay View. My subject: “Travel With Me.” I like that much better than “In Five Minutes” which is what it was last year. I have more choices. Travel around my house, my yard, my city, my state, all of the above, none of the above but instead travel around inside my heart and head… so many options. I haven’t decided which yet so no images to post so …

I’m posting a photo of something in a friend’s garden that I may travel over to for a plein air one of these days….

He built the house; there are at least three of them in the garden. Who knows, there is so much in his garden more could be hiding in there.

I do finish paintings

2011-07-09T09:55:00.001-07:00

It’s been such a long time since I’ve posted a major piece that I thought I’d better before folks think I don’t do this anymore. My process for major works is long and tedious but I love the result – usually.

There are times when I finally remove all of the mask and – oh my what a mess this is. That means even more tedious work as it becomes a mixed-media piece and I go to work with colored pencils and whatever else I think it needs to make it work.

I have a couple of those in process now but I also have some done that need photographing. This is one of them. I haven’t gotten the photography done but you can get an idea about it with this shot taken with my little carry with me everywhere camera. This is Oarlock #9

I love old rowboats. They remind me of my youth growing up on an inland lake. I spent a lot of time in one of these, rowing around the lake or tipping it over to use it as a raft.

I also think of old rowboats or sailboats spiritually. The are a reminder that Christ is with us always. He’ll keep us afloat; however, if we’re going to move forward we need to either set those sails or take to the oars.

Unexpected Pleasures

2011-07-06T17:16:00.001-07:00

When I’m off to the Terrace Inn at Bay View I always expect relaxation and time to devote totally to art. This year was no different but there were a couple of added bonuses.

I enjoy this week with another artist friend, Terry Brancheau. While I am usually engrossed in my painting, Terry, a former teacher, is painting but making new friends at the same time. One evening friends of mine from college and friends Terry made while there had one of those spontaneous evenings that are such fun even though the group hardly knows each other. Have you ever had one of those experiences? I treasure those kind of memories.

Another highlight – WISDOM, Women’s Interfaith Solutions for Dialog and Outreach in Metro-Detroit. Bay View is a Chautauqua so there is always an opportunity to learn something. This year a panel discussion was a highlight. Five women, a Jew, a Muslim, a Baha’i, a Hindu and a Christian discussing their faith but more importantly how their association with each other made their own faith stronger.

And then there was Lavender Hill Farm where we learned so much about Lavender, took some wonderful photos and did a bit of sketching – though not in color.

It was a wonderful week as always. Our hosts are Patty and Mo at the Terrace Inn. If you are planning a trip to the area do stop at the Inn, it’s a pleasant place to stay. Even if you don’t stay go for lunch or dinner, the food is excellent. Terry and I have already made arrangements to go back next year.

A Week Away

2011-06-26T08:27:00.001-07:00

This morning I’m finishing my packing. It’s time to travel north to the Terrace Inn at Bayview where I will be Artist In Residence for the week. It’s a wonderful experience.

Bayview is a Methodist Chautaqua on the shore of the Bay. Sitting on the grounds with my sketchbook listening to the performers practice during the day while I look out over the Bay or at one of the many gardens and/or Victorian cottages; God is good, life is good.

Last year I worked on monoprints. These are two that I did; one a bedroom at the Inn and the other the dining room with the morning sun streaming in.

This year I’ll be doing plein air. It’s a perfect spot for that just being on the grounds; however, we also have time to go off site so plans are to visit a nearby Lavendar Farm and a couple of other sites.

Wednesday evening the Inn will host a reception from 4 to 6 so if you happen to be in the area, stop in and say hello.

The Tree That Was

2011-06-14T12:36:00.001-07:00

The last time I was out sketching was in 2007 and this is one of my sketches done at that time.

We went back to that same site today. Two things have changed – the tree and my ability to zero in on a subject. Neither has changed for the better. The tree has died and instead of zeroing in on the tree which is what I had intended to paint, I tried to put way too much in. The result is only so/so but it does remind me that I need to focus on my subject.

I also need to do more brushwork. For the past several years I have been doing very careful drawings and then pouring paint so very little brushwork has been going on in this studio. It shows.

I don’t plan to quit doing the poured pieces, I love doing them; however, I do want to be able to paint with a brush again too. The answer – practice. I really do enjoy being outside, feeling the warm sun, listening to nature, it’s calming. I’ll keep doing both.

Another Plein Air & A History Lesson

2011-06-09T08:37:00.001-07:00

Plein air painting is still an interpretation of reality, even though I am seeing the scene first hand. My "truth" is far more interesting to me than the scene in reality. Linda Blondheim

I’ve been posting my own plein air pieces … this is the most recent done a couple days ago while sitting on a friend’s deck.

When one of my friends told me she had to look up plein air because she didn’t know what it meant it occurred to me that others may not know either. So, A History Lesson….

Plein air is French and literally means ‘open air;’ painting outside, in the open air. In Italian one would say they were painting ‘alfresco’.

It isn’t a technique that has always been used. Prior to 1800, artists had to make their own pigment using a mortar and pestle. All paintings were done in the studio, including landscapes.

It wasn’t until 1800 that artists were able to get their paint in tubes. That gave them a freedom they hadn’t had when they mixed up their own paints.

Plein air is a term that is often associated with Impressionism though the two are not synonymous. However, it did influence the movement.

Teta Collins writes in The Artists Bluebook: Painting from life is a pursuit unlike any other painting technique. It challenges artists to concentrate completely on the information in front of them. their senses absorb it all, from sight to sound, from temperature to atmosphere, then channel these feelings into their vision in paint on paper or canvas… Painting en plein air would forever change how we see the world.”

Some artists using the technique today paint their major works start to finish en plein air, others use plein air works for studies, still others use it just because they like painting outdoors and some, like me, use it to help them improve their skills.

You can see more plein air work by Michigan artists at these sites: Plein Air Painters of West Michigan and Great Lakes Plein Air Painters Association

Something New To Tell You About

2011-06-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to be able to introduce you all to a new blogger -- my good friend Annie Morgan has finally joined the blogging world after a whole lot of bugging from yours truly. She is such a creative being and I've mentioned her often in my blog posts when I've used a technique that I learned about from her and I have so wanted to be able to put a link in to her blog or web site so you can see her wonderful work. Now I can! Go see and let her know you stopped by -- anniemorganstudios.blogspot.com

Sun, Wind and Water

2011-06-05T09:14:00.001-07:00

Saturday was beautiful but windy. I sat on the beach, listened to the pounding surf and sketched the the stairs coming down to the beach. God has created a beautiful world and I find that is especially true in Michigan. I do love my state.

I traveled south to Fennville where they were hosting a paint out at Pier Cove Park. The lovely lavender Money Plant blossoms where out, the beach grass was spreading, the sand was warm and even though my sketch shows that I need to work at this more – it was fun. This is part of the scene I was working on, without the other artist.

Weathered wood and texture are among the things that I am drawn to so this was a natural, besides I liked the way the sun was warming me when I sat viewing this scene.

I didn’t finish. A lesson learned that day; don’t plan on painting for a long time if there are no bathrooms close by.

Here’s another scene I liked but the sun was wrong for painting it. Not necessarily for the scene but for the way it was hitting me.

On the way back home I stopped for lunch and found these beautiful Iris outside the restaurant. The Iris, especially this color, is one of my favorite flowers.

Inside the restaurant while I waited for my lunch, I did a little sketching. I wonder, perhaps a series of Salt and Pepper Shakers…. hmmmm.

Plein Air Painting is a wonderful way to spend a day.

Summer is here and the fresh air is wonderful!

2011-06-03T08:21:00.001-07:00

Week 2 of my plein air excursions – it’s been a long time since I’ve done this seriously and the paintings show it; however, I’m loving it and expect to see improvement as the summer progresses.

Last week I was at Harbor Island on the Linear Park path looking across the channel at Grand Haven’s Coal Tipple.

This week we biked to Harbor Island again but to the other side of the island. It was incredibly windy which was distracting since we had to hold things down. I lost one brush in the water, fortunately it wasn’t a good brush.

My subject was the pilings and the reeds along the bank of the river. I intended to do a full spread but the wind got the best of me and I only finished one of the 2-page spread.

Tomorrow Morning I’m heading down to Fennville for a Plein Air Paint Out at Pier Cove.

I’m also working on studio paintings and soon will be taking the mask off two; I’ll post when I do.

Playing with the templates

2011-05-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with the templates, redesigning my blog. I'm not satisfied with the look yet but now that I have an idea what is available I'll work at it.

A Day Of Plein Air

2011-05-22T19:18:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful day Saturday and I had an opportunity to paint with a group of artists, all of us taking a workshop lead by Helen Kleczynski. It was “The Art of Journaling” but it became a plein air session too which was fine with me.

Two friends who went with me sit on a log and sketch

We spent the morning at the beach, my view above. We broke for lunch and then went to a park near the museum where I started this little piece but didn’t finish – rain started.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve done any plein air painting so when my friend, Betty Dobbie, asked me if we couldn’t set a regular time to do it this summer, I didn’t hesitate – yes let’s. And so we will, every Tuesday starting this week.

I didn’t learn much about painting in the workshop but I did get some ideas about handy things to have or make for plein air painting. Helen K’s set up worked wonderfully for her. I may adapt it for my own use but not until I’ve been out a bit more and determine what works for me. Here’s her set up.

I’m looking forward to Tuesday!

Plein Air and Jewelry

2011-05-16T06:43:00.001-07:00

It isn’t really a plein air piece just practice. I am committed to doing plein air this summer. It’s something I quit doing a few years back and I miss it. Seems I needed a push to get going again and I got just that from a friend who has taken up painting. She wants to learn so she asked me if we could set a time to do it on a regular basis this summer.

We’re starting a week from tomorrow. When I saw this image on the Weekend Drawing Event (WDE) over on the wetcanvas site it seemed a good image to practice on.

I’m also working on some poured pieces but they go slowly. So while waiting for things to dry there I made more jewelry.

The first two pieces are Steampunk, a necklace and a broach. Both have watch parts, a cameo and part of an old bracelet. The broach is backed with part of a doily that has been stiffened with gel medium and the necklace is backed with an old poker chip.

The third piece is another necklace, this time made from a scrap of copper, part of a painting on canvas that I didn’t like so I cut it up, part of a Godiva Chocolate tin and a few beads.

The jewelry is just for me and maybe some gifts; I’m still a rank beginner at metal jewelry so I don’t feel ready to sell any of it. However, I do have one of the best instructors around. I wish she would get her website going so I could point you all over there. I am having fun doing it and may end up doing some wall pieces using the metal – fabric combination.

I’m still dealing with computer issues; however, I am beginning to find my way around a bit easier. Changes to the site are still in the thinking stages but changes will be coming.

Frustration

2011-05-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

My computer is still sick; it’s frustrating and causing me to slack off on things I should be doing on it. Love ‘em when they’re running well but when they’re not it’s hell. Well, not exactly hell but not a good thing either.

I’m gradually figuring out how to get to programs; however, the one I use for updating my blog is one that I have trouble finding every time. It’s not that it moves, it stays put but I seem to lose the way to get to it. I can’t blame that on the computer, it’s my mind that isn’t working.

So where does this leave my blog? Well, I still plan to keep it going but as long as I’m not able to post as often I’m going to spend some time thinking about the direction I want to take it. It’s time to do some revamping to make it better for me and for readers. I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Computer Problems

2011-04-16T14:58:00.001-07:00

Such a headache they are. Computers are wonderful when they work but when they don’t – ugh! I’ve lost all of my files. I know they are in here somewhere but have no idea how to access them. For that matter, I have to really hunt just to find the programs I use. With two exceptions, Photoshop (thank you Lord) and my Art Inventory Program, all other program icons are gone as is the list in my “all programs” file.

Back-up, yes I know and I did. However, when the demon attacked my computer, my back-up drive was in – it is now empty too. That’s where all of my art inventory photos were. At least I still have the inventory information, just no images. Which is why the image on this blog entry is an old photo that I just scanned. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it other than use it as my profile photo on Facebook, maybe a work of art somewhere along the line. It’s my cousin Gail helping me learn to walk. For now, I’m just trying to find my way around my computer.

Good Intentions Go Haywire

2011-04-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have good intentions – always – but somehow I don’t always manage to follow through. I’m attempting to stop that and in some areas I have been successful.

One that I have not been successful at is my intention of doing several blog posts ahead so I could just pop one in every week and add to them when I had time. Time is something that I seem to fritter away often.

However, I at least have been busy thinking – about where I’m going and why I seem to be going so slowly. I feel like something is missing but not sure what it is. While doing that thinking there have been several AHA moments and I do plan to write about them because there may be others among you who have the same forward motion – or lack thereof – problem.

Not today though, today I just wanted to pop in and let you know I’m thinking about what to share on my blog and show you that at least I have been consistently sketching. One of the good intentions that I’ve managed to do…

Steampunk

2011-03-22T08:58:00.001-07:00

First -- the winner, Deano from Deano’s Den blog, go over and check out his blog, it is one of my favorites to visit, I love his work.

I’ve mentioned before that I sometimes go off on something other than watercolor painting. Jewelry is one that has gotten me lately and most recently it’s Steampunk Jewelry. A friend who got me started making jewelry said I ought to do some Steampunk. What’s that you ask, well I had the same question, I’d never heard of it. I believe the easiest explanation I’ve seen is that it is a combination of romance and technology by pairing “mechanically based found objects with Victorian influenced filigree, charms, chain and sumptuous beads.” In my case not beads but buttons.

I happen to have a couple of great button boxes from my mother and my mother-in-law. Naturally both are filled with the normal buttons one might need to replace a lost one; however, they also contain a variety of wonderfully elegant buttons. I used two on my first piece. And thanks to the friend who introduced me to all this, I also have a box full of watch parts. Adding one of those, a couple eyes as in large hook & eye from a fur coat and a bit of wire and I have a necklace. Now I’ll have to make some earrings to go with it.

Sketch, Sketch, Sketch

2011-03-13T12:42:00.001-07:00

Sketch, Sketch, Sketch

But first a contest. Some time ago I opened an Etsy account but I haven’t done much with it. I’m going to but first I’d like some feedback about what to put in it. One thought I had was my watercolor monoprints. I decided to ask all of you and one of you who respond will get an original watercolor monoprint. I do a new blog post every weekend and post either Sunday or Monday. When I post next weekend I’ll also check the number of comments on this post and use the Random Number Generator to select a winner. To have a chance to win you’ll have to comment. Here’s the monoprint…

Now about sketching -- I had been in the habit of sketching constantly; I carried some sort of sketchbook with me everywhere I went. For Valentines Day my husband gave me a wonderful book on sketching, An Illustrated Life by Danny Gregory. He was hesitant because he knew it was something I did and he wasn’t sure I would find it interesting. That’s because he’s a lawyer, not an artist. It’s a wonderful look into the sketchbooks of several other artists. I love it! It was also a wake-up call.

In the past several months I found that I was only sketching about once a week. I tell my students to do it daily but I wasn’t following my own rule. Recently we were in Chicago and I was back to doing it everywhere we went. It was obvious to me that I hadn’t been doing it as regularly – my sketching wasn’t as good as I knew it could be. It’s like anything else, one needs to practice. In fact, I have often said it isn’t the gift of being able to draw, the gift is that I actually enjoy the practice. Sketching is a way to keep the drawing skills sharp -- eye-hand coordination. It’s just for me so it really doesn’t matter if it isn’t any good or if I try experimenting with something just for the fun of it not caring if the result is good or bad. Or maybe I just want to work on something like foreshortening – that’s a tough one and I always have trouble with it.

It’s time to get back to regular sketching – everyday. I’m challenging myself. Just do it!

This is one of the Chicago sketches. Every now and then I’ll do another blog on sketching and show you some improvement (I hope.)

My Art and My Faith

2011-03-05T18:07:00.001-08:00

Old rowboats have another dimension to me – I think of them spiritually. Their very nature is quiet – they are often used by fishermen as Jesus and his disciples used them. That’s just one reminder of the spiritual connection. I also see an old rowboat, canoe or sailboat as a symbol for God – he will be with you and keep you afloat; however, one needs to take to the oars or set the sail if one is going to go anywhere.

Thinking about that now, almost all of my paintings have a spiritual aspect to them. I have the ongoing series of water related works and another of sacred spaces. The Sacred Spaces may be a church, chapel or cathedral or it might be a quiet spot in the woods or along the shore. And then there are the flowers, God’s jewelry, and the gardens with their garden sculpture, God made and man made.

God created, he created us in his image so we must be creative. Mary Daly said it better than I can: “It is the creative potential itself in human beings that is the image of God.”

Someone gave me their definition of the Trilogy that I now have on my easel – God, the father, Artist; God the Holy Spirit, Inspiration; God the Son, Expression. By no means do I take that to mean that as an artist, I’m God. But there is no question, God is an artist – just look around at nature, it’s awesome!

Growing Up On Water

2011-02-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

There is no doubt I have been influenced by the people and places of my youth. I grew up on one of Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes in a family devoted to spending as much time as possible in or on that water. Both of my parents swam competitively when they were in school and I have no doubt that my dad would rather have been in a boat on that water than anywhere else. He loved the water and I adored him so that’s where I wanted to be too. I suppose being a Pisces like he was had an influence too. I spent my youth swimming, driving a speed boat or waterskiing in the summer; skating or sledding down our hill in the winter.

Now I have to admit my feelings about being on that water have changed over the years. I still want to be on it or in it; my soul needs it. However, the go fast boats I loved then are no longer a draw – well --maybe not all go fast boats, the sound of one of those wonderful old Chris Crafts brings back wonderful memories. But now I’m more at home with the quiet -- waves lapping softly on the gunwales of an old rowboat or a sailboat; peaceful -- restful. When I’m painting a water scene I want that quiet to come through. My process of pouring helps me feel that peace. I spend a lot of time with each piece, large or small. First, a careful drawing so I can work out the values; then transferring that image to watercolor paper so there are not eraser marks on the paper when I finally get to the masking and pouring; and the final step is taking all that masking off to see if I got what I was working toward.

Some of my poured watercolors and watercolor monoprints will be part of an exhibit opening at the Gallery Uptown in Grand Haven on March 4. Water and Light will feature Lisa Ambrose, Larry Blovits, Sheri Woodard and me. Sheri and I have decided to produce reproduction prints to sell at the exhibit and donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales to the Inland Lakes Protection Partnership. I’m doing this because I believe it’s important that these lakes be protected. I’ll have reproductions prints of “Morning at the Lake” -- 5x7 matted to fit a standard 11 x 14 inch frame will be available for $30.

Why I do what I do

2011-02-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

Watercolor is my primary medium; however, I also enjoy experimenting with other media. My grandmother use to say “Jack of all trades, master of none.” She didn’t mean that as a compliment, she was trying to get me to focus. I imagine she’s up there now looking down and saying “she’s just never going to get it.” Focus is a good thing and I still struggle with it but I’ve accepted that I’m never going to really get it, it just isn’t who I am. Trying different media gets the creative juices flowing. There are so many media choices and techniques and each one provides more ideas. When I see a demo I almost always want to try it and there I go, off on something other than my normal watercolor painting. I could be anything from collage to fabric to printmaking to metal-smithing.

Part of my background is fabric and yarns, my mother and one of my grandmothers designed fashions, my other grandmother was a knitter. Learning all those skills was mandatory. I’m glad I learned them and for years I did all of them, it was my creative outlet; however, I rarely sew or knit anymore as there are too many other things to learn. I still love fabric and all of the beautiful yarns that are out there and that has lead me to venturing into dolls and thinking about art quilts. Dolls weren’t part of my childhood, I was a tomboy and much preferred baseball or climbing trees and I played a mean game of mumbley-peg. Another thing I loved to do as a child was coloring and drawing. One of the things I wanted so badly was a box of Crayolas with 48 colors but my mother insisted I could make any color I needed by mixing the colors that were in my box of 24. I tried and failed. I’ve since realized that she never tried to do that with crayons, mixing those colors doesn’t work the same with crayons as it does when mixing paints together. The other day I finally decided to treat myself; I bought a box of 94 colors. I love to just sit and look at them. And looking at them makes me think I need to add more color to my paintings. Spending time with other media always gives me more insight into my painting and what it needs. A few of the things that I do…

One of my watercolor monoprints

some earrings

a hand-decorated journal

and a couple guardian granny dolls from a pattern

I’m back….

2011-02-16T17:41:00.001-08:00

I’ve neglected my blog over the past couple of months. Needless to say I have a variety of excuses but none are good. I think the main reason is feeling like I really need to find something worthwhile to say, as if my own thoughts aren’t worthwhile. So you see that really isn’t a good excuse because I know my thoughts are worthwhile, I really do. It’s just that every now and then when my muse leaves me I don’t feel like they are. But my muse is back. Truth is she’s always there just waiting for me to begin to do the work, then she makes herself available again.

There has been much going on and I should have been writing about the events and visiting the blogs I love to follow but haven’t lately. Time to get back in the grove, I’ll start with the current project my Creativity Class is working on. They decided they wanted to do an Art Doll Collaborative so here we go. Each of 9 artists made a basic doll with a journal to travel around to the other 8 artists. We won’t see our own dolls again for 9 months. Mine is Lizzie, a stump doll that has a face but no makeup and no hair. Since I believe what we become is very much influenced by the people and places we were exposed to growing up I sent Lizzie off to become whoever she is going to be after being exposed to these other creative women. She’s with Betty right now and I know Betty is traveling so Lizzie may get to go along… who knows.

I have Billy Bob; he’s going to sit in my studio for awhile so we can get acquainted before I decided what he needs first. Any suggestions?

Getting Ready for Christmas

2010-11-10T11:18:00.001-08:00

Only six and a half weeks before Christmas, only two weeks before the shopping season officially opens. I’m working on Angel ornaments and dolls which means painting has been put on the back burner for now. My next exhibit isn’t until March but I will have to get crackin’ once the holiday work is done.

These are the first of the angel ornaments… I still have more in process and with each one I discover another way to do something so they are all very different.

And the bottle doll… this is the first one done and I learned a bunch about how these can go together. Now I have to get busy on making some for the gallery.

I also have to share some of the exercises my beginning watercolor students have been doing. In addition to learning how to use the medium, I’m also working on getting them to think a little differently about their work. Every week we do some sort of exercise that forces them to let their left-brain thinking go and realize that they they don’t have to stay in the lines to make a good painting.

Holiday Gifts

2010-10-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

It’s past time to be thinking about making gift type items for sale this holiday season, I’m starting anyway. Last month I did a couple wine bottle dolls using the bottle cut in half. I thought about using the top of the bottle next until I walked into my studio recently and noticed this bottle.

This is not a very good photo, the bottle sits on top of one of the tall bookcases in my studio. I made it years ago and never did anything more than put it up there. On another shelf sits a stump doll I made a couple years ago; she won an award and I realized she had a shape rather like a wine bottle, no legs. Hmmmm … maybe I could put a head on the cork. Oh yes, and then perhaps one of the many inspirational quotes I collect can go inside the bottle… another prototype is now in process and I’m really liking this one….

Still a ways to go on her but I know the head works. This one will stay here with me. I’ve got a small collection of wine bottles but I’ll need more and I think something other than Chardonnay, this one has very droopy shoulders. Guess I need to drink more wine

West Virginia Retreat

2010-10-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

I’m just back from a week spent with 6 wonderful women that I graduated from high school with. We’ve all taken different paths in life yet the bond remains strong 53 years later. In this first photo 6 of us are headed off on a hike while our hostess takes her afternoon nap.

She and her husband bought this lovely spot in West Virginia as a place for their large family to gather because they are scattered around the country. Fortunately for us, it’s large enough for us to gather too.

Our week was spent just relaxing, enjoying conversation, cards and our surroundings….

I took along sketching supplies and some wine glasses and glass paint so everyone could paint their own glass. Everyone had fun doing the glasses and I did a bunch of zentangles and a few sketches. The sketches haven’t been scanned yet.

It was a great week, I feel blessed to have these women in my life.

Citra Solv and The New York Times

2010-09-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

I promised Citra Solv that I would do a mini tutorial on how I used its product to alter the look of the pages in the New York Times Magazine. It occurred to my addled mind that some of you might also be interested.

The supplies I use… a squirt bottle, Citra Solv and the magazine.

I know some artists use National Geographic and Citra Solv; however, the only magazine I’ve ever found to give me the results I’m looking for is the New York Times Magazine. I need to do more experimenting with National Geographic.

I hang the magazine using clips on a small rod in my studio, a clothes line would also work.

If you use a clothes line you can lay the magazine out flat and spray each page, then hang it over the line. I hang it like you see above and then lift all of the pages and begin lowering them one by one, spraying each and then let it drop.

I let them hang all day or overnight before opening the pages to see what I got, sometimes I hang it back up and spray again. These are examples of the results from the one I’m spraying above. Some of these I’ll leave as is, some I’ll spray again

I’ll use the resulting paper for collage, mixed media work and to cover wood frames.

The Sketchbook Project

2010-09-20T12:23:00.001-07:00

I signed up this morning after reading about the project on Diahn Ott’s Facebook page. I’ve been a member of The Art House on-line cooperative for awhile so I knew about the project and every now and then I’d think, yes, I should do that because I do a lot of sketching. Reading Diahn’s post and the interesting theme she got grabbed my attention again and this time I acted on it. My theme is “In Five Minutes.” Details about the project are here if you’re interested in participating or if you just want to know a bit more about it. Once the sketchbooks are done they will be traveling around the country. One stop is Chicago and I plan to see them when they are there.

I’ve also started a studio Facebook page, Helen Percy Lystra Studio, where I will be posting what’s going on in the studio. Currently I’ve got three paintings in process and my mind is churning around two more. I’ve agreed to do a water themed exhibit in March so that will be my concentration for the next several works.

These are reference photos for one of the paintings though I may not be able to put it in the exhibit. This is “Pirate” A Seawind Ketch that we sailed for 15 years. She may have to hang here at home once the painting is done.

A Rusty Old Truck and Journaling

2010-09-13T04:57:00.001-07:00

This rusty old truck was one of the images over at the wetcanvas weekend drawing event. I love texture and old rusty stuff so I had to do it. I’ve also discovered that I really like doing a watercolor sketch right over the top of my journal entries. They aren’t covered up, it’s all still readable… if I don’t care if someone reads it. If I do care a little gesso over the writing takes care of it and that makes for a totally different look that I also like very much.

These journal pages originally were just for my own pleasure and to be sure that I do make some sort of art every day no matter what else is on the docket. I’m thinking that they might make nice note cards to sell on Etsy. I may to more fruits and veggies since the flower season is pretty much done here in my corner of the world, except for the fall mums.

Meanwhile, I’ve also started two new paintings… here’s the drawing for one that will be a 16” x 16” watercolor.

Wine Bottle Dolls

2010-09-06T07:45:00.001-07:00

Last week I had a couple of my creative friends over for lunch and stimulating conversation that always happens when creative friends gather. The next day I went to the opening of a new exhibit at the Gallery Uptown here in Grand Haven, more stimulation.

Several weeks ago I had the idea that a wine bottle bottom might make a doll body so I asked a glass artist friend to cut a couple bottles for me. Saturday I finally got around to doing something with them. One is a garden doll with beer bottle caps for legs and a polymer clay head. (I drink the wine but the bottle caps come from friends.)

The second doll is still in process. I decided mid-dollmaking that she would be a bell; however, not having planned that in the beginning she has no way to hang. That doesn’t matter to me since she’s the experiment. I’ll rig some way for her to hang and I already have an idea how to do the next one so it can hang properly.

I’ve also decided to use both parts of the bottle next time… that way I don’t have to make a neck.

Today is grey and wet here so I plan to stay inside. I’ll work on her and maybe even get started on a painting I have had sketched ready to do for a very long time. It’s time to get back to painting.

Citra-Solve and the New York Times Magazine

2010-09-02T14:59:00.001-07:00

Today was a grey, rainy day here in my corner of the world so I decided I needed to bring some color into it. I have several small frames ready to do something with so today I decided they should be covered. I pulled out some New York Times magazine pages that had been treated with Citra-Solv and found some wonderful greys and some beautifully muted colors. That was it… I spent the day covering small frames and one block of wood that I found in a dumpster. I know the frames will get small watercolor paintings when I get some done. The frames will also get an encoustic finish. The block of wood is another story… a coat of clear Gesso first and them we’ll see where we go from there. Meanwhile, here is a photo, not very clear but you can see the colors, aren’t they wonderful?!

More Monoprints

2010-08-25T19:27:00.001-07:00

I’ve been neglecting my blog… for that matter I’ve been neglecting a lot of things; however, I have been working… some. I’ve also been enjoying my grandson which is an excuse but truth. He’s also the reason I got started on these monoprints that I am really enjoying. It’s late and I’m tired but I did want to get a note on here to let everyone know I’m still here and to post a couple of the images I printed when I got back from my week long retreat at Spider Lake. More on that later. For now… a couple of images

Forgeries and The Magic in Paintings

2010-07-25T14:05:00.001-07:00

“A painter who wants to involve viewers emotionally needs to leave us some work to do ourselves. Once having collaborated, we find ourselves hooked. A painstaking, seemingly perfect depiction of reality has its charms… but a painting that contains less hard information may nonetheless seem more real and compelling. Consider a Manet oil of horses thundering down the track, all blur and commotion and energy.” The quote is from The Forger’s Spell, a book about VerMeer forgeries. I thought it was a very good book, interesting in that I learned a lot about art forgeries and what well may have been the first acrylic paint.

As for the art forgeries, now that I’ve read this I believe I have seen at least one Degas forgery. At the time I saw the painting my first thought was that Degas was probably turning over in his grave thinking surely he should have destroyed this one. Now that I’ve seen photos of some of the VerMeer forgeries I wonder how anyone could have thought they were VerMeer. Then I had another thought about art and art snobbery but that’s a whole different topic.

What I’ve been thinking about recently is the thing this was so hard for me to learn to do in my paintings. I wonder if other artists struggle with it too. I’m thinking of the quote above and two I have on my easel … “If it becomes too real it loses the magic,” Claude Monet and “Don’t draw the object, design the page,” Alex Powers. And from another book I just finished, The Swan Thieves, “That little bit of mystery every painting needs to be successful…”

I still struggle with it; that’s one of the reasons I was so pleased when I finally figured out a way to lose some of those edges in my painting and still do a very detailed , no magic about it, drawing. Once the drawing is done, transfer it to the watercolor paper and begin a process of masking and pouring. I haven’t done a painting in awhile because I have my grandson here a couple days a week. That prompted me to start doing more sketching which is always loose.

A week as Artist In Residence

2010-06-28T12:14:00.001-07:00

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been back for more than a week already and still haven’t posted anything here. I was privileged to be one of two Artists In Residence at the Terrace Inn at Bay View, a Methodist Chautauqua between Petoskey and Harbor Springs here in Michigan. Artists, if you would like to know more and maybe participate contact Patti at the Inn. She hosts a different artist every week during the season.

My week – I did a few plein air pieces which is something I haven’t done in a few years and I do want to get back to. Here they are – by the 5th one I was almost satisfied with what I was getting.

I also did some sketching. I’m happier with those results. Maybe I should think sketch when I do a plein air piece.

This year the weather wasn’t very cooperative, wet and cold the first 3 days so we took in some lectures. Lou Seipel was the speaker for the week we were there and her topic was Bridges out of Poverty. She was a very dynamic speaker and interesting. Like everything else, communication is key to helping. We can’t fix but we can learn how to help by learning to communicate. If you’re interested, there is a website, www.ahaprocess.com.

I also worked on some monoprint plates but haven’t printed them yet, when I do I’ll post them. As I was looking through my file for the images from last week I saw the earrings I made with my friend Annie’s help. I do slide off the page now and then and these earrings are a testament to that… copper, etched with my designs and finished with heat and colored pencil…

A bit of history about watercolor

2010-06-11T12:04:00.001-07:00

Did you know that watercolor painting goes back to the caveman? He mixed blackened charcoal with water to draw on the cave walls. I’m headed up to Petoskey, Michigan, actually to Bay View which is a Methodist Chautauqua. I’m one of two Artists in Residence at the Terrace Inn there and on Wednesday I have to give a talk and demonstration. I’m going to talk about the history of watercolor and thanks to a bit of my own research and that of a good friend, Sandy Meyer, I think I can pull it off. I’ll also do a demonstration of the watercolor monoprint process I use because it’s something anyone can do.

But more on the history; modern use of watercolor began in England in the late 1700s. Until 1766 watercolors were basically pigments mixed with water-soluble gum and had been sold as dry lumps which had to be grated, then mixed with water. William Reeves found that honey mixed with gum arabic would stop cakes from crumbling apart and allow them to be molded into regular shapes. His brother, a metalworker, made molds and in 1766 Reeves and Son opened a company supplying the army and East India Trade Company with the first watercolor paint boxes.

In 1832 Henry Newton and chemist William Winsor added glycerin to the pigment which kept it moist. Now watercolor no longer needed to be rubbed with water to loosen the pigment but could be used straight from the pan. Then in 1841 the first collapsible tube was made. By 1846 Winsor and Newton took off with the idea and started selling all their artists paints (oils included) in tubes.

Interest in watercolor grew rapidly here in the United States and in England. Many American artists were influenced the the British artists who came to the United States to record its natural wonders and beauty. By the late 1800s American had inherited from the British a mature technique with unique properties but what they did with it was pure Yankee Ingenuity. American watercolors exploded in all directions. Between 1870 and the 1920s some of the most important American artists were using watercolors: Thomas Eakins and Winslow Homer, James Abbott McNeil Whistler and John Singer Sargent.

Today there are more artists using watercolor than any other medium, even though it is believed to be the most challenging medium. It’s advantages: it’s instantly ready to be used, easily cleaned up with water when done and there are no chemical hazards involved with it… an ideal medium.

Here’s another of my watercolor monoprints and if you’re interested, I’ve posted several on my website that are available and affordable. Here’s a link, www.helenpercylystra.com.

A bunch of boats & a bundle update

2010-05-21T14:52:00.001-07:00

First the bundles; I checked them last Saturday after a week of rain and saw that even though I had coated the matboard substrate front, back and sides with a sealer, a week of rain had the paper separating from the board center. No matter, I am looking at what happens and not worrying about what happens. I’ll be checking again tomorrow. This week has been mostly sunshine though it did rain today.

The rest of the week has been spent working on more monoprints, getting ready for another exhibit that opens June 4. Six from this week are boats or boat related…

Some time ago I set up an Etsy Account but I haven’t put anything up for sale on it. I’m thinking of putting some of my monoprints on there. Has anyone else done Etsy and if so, what do you think?

More monoprinting & another distraction

2010-05-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Last things first, the monoprints that I had to deliver a week ago were for an exhibit that opened last night. It was a good night though I don’t think anything sold. The exhibit will be up all month so there is still time for someone to buy all of them… wouldn’t that be nice.

So what have I been doing this week; more monoprints. I am really enjoying this process and this week got 6 more printed, cut plexi for more plates and began planning some larger. I’m not talking full sheets; however, I have a couple 8x10 plates to work on. My friend Annie who is the master of experimenting got some great results with fluid acrylics and I know she’ll be doing more this week so she can show me next week. I’m working on her… she needs a blog so she can share… she is one of the best and I know you all would love to see her work and some images of her wonderful studio. Meanwhile, here are a couple of my favorites from this week.

And the distraction, I’m one of those ADD people; I wonder, aren’t all artists? Anyway, while I was taking a break from working on my plates I was reading the current issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors which has lots of great stuff in it. There was an article about bundling lots of different types of paper, fabric, yarn, whatever and putting the bundle outside to see what effect the weather had on everything. So instead of going back to my painting of plates, of course I had to make a bundle. But being an obsessive, compulsive type in addition to being ADD, I couldn’t just make one bundle. I had to make three and I would have kept going but reason took over; I knew I had to stop and get back to monoprinting. Here are the bundles, I’ve made a note in my journal about what each one is made up of and now I have to find a place to hang them outside, out of the way because this isn’t something my spouse is going to think is a wonderful thing to have hanging in his back yard ;^). I think they’d be a great addition but I don’t push my luck… it’s actually his gardens in the back yard, he being a master gardener and he is tolerating the fairy door (which I’ll also be working on finishing this coming week.)

More Mono-prints and a sketch

2010-04-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Why have I avoided drawing my grandson? I have no idea but I finally did a quick sketch this weekend. We had been out with the kids for a family photo session in a woodland park here in Grand Haven, Duncan Park. The outdoor air wore the little guy out so while the rest of us were having breakfast, he was snoozing.

I’m going to have to do a painting one of these days.

Meanwhile, I’m really loving the monoprinting. Here are a few of my favorites from the 10 I did on Friday.

Now that I’ve seen how they come out using the press I really want to go back and do repeats of some that I did before. They won’t be the same and I really like both results. Here is an example of the last one done using a different format and printing by hand.

Do you have a preference? These are for an exhibit that is opening at the Gallery Uptown May 7. There will be 10 watercolor artists in the exhibit, all the same medium but vastly different in style. It’s going to be an interesting exhibit.

What a difference a press makes

2010-04-23T20:42:00.001-07:00

This has been a great week, busy but good things happened. I had my grandson two days which is always good but I also got a lot of art done. I’ve been doing watercolor monoprints and printing by hand. I’ve posted some in the past. This week I did several plates and my good friend Annie Morgan suggested I print them using her press. That’s what I did today and here they all are hanging on the line drying.

I still need to scan, cut mats and frame. So far I’ve gotten one scanned, “The Gang’s All Here.”

I love doing this and I’m happy with the results, especially now that I know I can use a press to print them. I’ve been doing small ones, this is the largest and it’s just 8 x 8. This is something I can do while my grandson is here because it’s fairly portable. At least one of those I finished today is a repeat of one I had done before and printed by hand. I’ll post those when I get the scanning done.

Mixed Media Symbol

2010-04-15T10:58:00.001-07:00

No, this isn’t the instructions on using the hand sanitizer for a transfer. I’m still working on that; however, I did use the technique in this piece.

I did this piece as a symbol of the rule or way of life to which I feel called through the Beatitudes. Back in 2008 I joined a group at our church for a study called “Companions in Christ, A small-group experience in spiritual formation.” It started as a 26 week study. We finished that first one in 2008 but wanted to keep going and found that there were several more short studies, part of the same Companions program. Nine of us are still studying together, challenging ourselves, learning, gaining strength in our faith, questioning. It’s a great experience, I love everyone one of my 8 other companions and look forward to beginning yet another study next Sunday.

But before going on to the next study, the last one was on the Beatitudes and making the symbol was the final assignment. In the study I learned that I am not nearly as well grounded in my faith as I thought I was, there is so much more room to grow. I made this small wall hanging to hang in a place where I see it every morning when I’m getting ready for my day and every evening when as I get ready for sleep.

I started with an image of an encaustic painting that I had done awhile back. I transferred the image to cotton fabric using the hand sanitizer. I quilted that piece, attached it to a piece of ultra suede which I attached to a piece of lutradur that I had been experimenting with, then a piece of unbleached muslin and finally another quilted piece that I had in my stash of stuff that I didn’t know what I was going to do with. The words were added under the window… “Window Open, Mind Open, Searching, Creating, Praying.” These are the things I need to remember, to concentrate on. Searching or learning is represented by the trellis which I’ve made into a ladder. I’ve put some breaks in it to remind me that falling is ok, I can get back up and there are some places that it would be difficult to step on to remind me that I can keep going even if the road is bumpy. The last piece I added is a charm dangling on the side, a fish, a reminder that He is always with me.

Now I’m looking forward to the next study, this time we’re moving away from the Companions Series, doing “Invitation to the Psalms.” I’ll also be working on the instructions for the transfer technique.

Watercolor Mono-print how to

2010-04-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

Watercolor mono-prints are a fun thing to do and anyone can do it, no drawing skills required. Of course, if you are able to draw you can do that but it isn’t essential. I like doing small ones, especially now that I have my grandson here, I can put him in his snuggie on the kitchen table and chat while I work. But you want to know how to do it, not what I do while I’m doing it.

Here are two examples of prints I’ve done. Two of these are from photographs which is the method I’m going to show you. The other is from a sketch in one of my sketchbooks and I show you that just to show you that you have other options.

First you’ll need a few basic supplies and they are easily obtainable. A piece of plexi-glass is the plate the size of your photograph and you’ll need sandpaper to prepare the plate. One side gets sanded so it will hold the paint. Your local glass cutter or picture framer will cut you a piece of plexi whatever size you need.

The other supplies you’ll need are print paper, watercolor paints, a paint brush or watercolor crayons and a container to soak your paper in. Also helpful but not essential is gum arabic and a chamois

Cut your paper a bit larger than your photograph, you want some white space around the image and you want room to crop just in case you don’t put the paper on the plate straight. Put the paper in the pan of water to soak while you’re working on your plate. Also, if there is something in the photograph that shouldn’t be reversed, like a word, reverse the photograph before you make your plate. When you print it’s going to be backwards.

If you have the gum arabic and chamois, put a drop on the plate and rub it around to completely cover the plate. It acts as a release and supposedly the paint comes off the plate easier. I’ve done it with and without and haven’t had a problem either way. Let the gum arabic dry before you start applying the watercolor to your plate.

Once it’s dry put the plate over your photograph. Now you can see why you don’t need to know how to draw, you’re going to paint the image you see the colors you see. Don’t be skimpy with the paint, you want more paint than water in your watercolor and if you’re using the crayons, softer is better. Caran d'Ache and Stabilotone are the two I like best. I’ve also used Staedtler Watercolor Crayons but I find them harder to work with. It isn’t necessary to finish it all in one sitting, when you print the paper is going to be damp and the paint will dampen and move off the plate to the paper. Here you can see the finished plate and the photograph.

Now that the plate is ready, get your paper out of the pan, blot it with paper towel. You want it damp, not wet. You’ll also need one more piece of equipment, a wooden spoon.

Put your plate down on something that will keep it in place. Rubber shelf padding works; you don’t want the plate to move while you’re printing. Now carefully lay the paper down on the plate and rub it softly with your hand to marry the paper and the plate. Once it’s down, rub it with the back of the spoon. You can hold one side down and carefully lift a corner to peek and see if you’ve rubbed enough. When you see that you’ve rubbed enough pull the paper off and set it aside to dry. When it’s dry, frame it.

Some different techniques

2010-03-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

We one is different, the other I’ve is a technique I’ve posted in the past. I need to work out a routine that allows more studio time and time to post on my blog. Between having my grandson here two days a week, teaching one day a week and my Fridays with Art Buddies, I’m not getting any major works produced. That has to change as I have shows coming up and new work is required. I haven’t been totally idle, small size monoprints I can work on in the kitchen while Warner chats or sleeps. This one is part of my Sacred Spaces series.

The other technique utilizes transparencies and hand sanitizer. It’s one of many transfer techniques and a new one for me. This is one reason I treasure my Fridays with my art buddies. We are all constantly experimenting and sharing. Annie Morgan is the one who does the most experimenting and she discovered this technique. She doesn’t have a web site or a blog so I can’t give you a link. She is working on it though. Here are a couple of the transfers.

I’m working on more of the small monoprints and more transfers. As I go along I’ll photograph the steps and post them.

Just letting you know I’m still here

2010-03-05T06:16:00.001-08:00

I’ve had some computer problems, major problems. As a result I’m on a new computer and having to reinstall several programs, adjust settings, figure out the glitches, you know the drill. I’m still working on it but I have most of the problems sorted out. I still have an e-mail glitch but I can live with it until someone who is smarter than I am about these things comes over and looks at what is happening. I’ll be back to painting soon.

Meanwhile, since I don’t have any new art to post, I’ll post a picture of something else that is taking up much of my time…. and I love it!

Finally Getting Back To Pouring Paint

2010-02-17T09:45:00.001-08:00

I'm not there yet but getting ready. It's been a long dry spell. Does that happen to other artists? I know I've continued to do creative things but painting, actually producing some major works, just hasn't been happening. I realized it when I began thinking about what I had to enter in some upcoming exhibits... nada... nothing... not a new piece to be found. Yes, time has been taken up with a new grandchild; however, that's just a month (he was a month old yesterday.) I can also tell by the time it's taking me to get the drawings done. I'm working on two right now. One is rather complex so I'm doing a very careful drawing trying to get the values right and trying to group things together so it isn't quite so complex and I get some interesting shapes. That's this one and it's going very slow.

Thanks to wetcanvas buddy Mike Beckett for this reference. Here's a link to Mike's blog

The other piece is already on the half sheet that the pouring will be done on. It's another one based on an image from a wetcanvas buddy, Jeanette Jobson from Newfoundland. She does beautiful work, here's a link to her blog. And here's the drawing ready for the first mask. I know it's difficult to see but it has to be that way or I'd get graphite mixed with the paint.

Scavenger Hunt Sketches

2010-02-03T18:26:00.000-08:00

I started last week's hunt but didn't get far, grandson distraction. However, I haven't given up on doing this. So far this week I have done four that were on the list. These were done while sitting at my kitchen table... that's a photo of his highness on my cell phone.

I walk early in the morning, before the world is really awake anywhere but in the local coffee shops. A couple weeks ago I decided to take my sketch bag along on my walk so I could stop for coffee and see if I couldn't find something on the list to sketch while I was stopped. I did that again this week and these are the sketches I've done so far.

Now I really need to get working on a couple of major paintings as I'm part of a two exhibits opening in May

And the family expands

2010-02-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

I've neglected my blog the past two weeks; there's a good reason....

That's my spouse holding our new grandson, Warner Percy Lystra, born January 16, 2010. Here's a better picture of the most beautiful baby ever (the possible exception being the lad's father.)

And here he is with the proud parents

I have to admit, I haven't been able to get much painting done. I have managed a few more scavenger hunt sketches but haven't had a chance to scan them yet. I did enter two pieces in a regional competition here in our area, Winter Festival, which opens February 5. I learned today that both got in which makes me a happy camper. Here they are (the light reflection on the dancers is because it's a poor photo.)

Who knew being a grandmother was going to take up so much of my time. When he's here I find myself doing nothing but stare at this sleeping miracle of a child. He's such fun to watch as he wiggles and stretches and sometimes opens his eyes to take a peek around at what's going on then back to sleep. Even when he fusses he's relatively quiet about it. I feel so blessed that the kids moved back home last fall and we are able to see the little guy regularly.

More pears and a scavenger hunt

2010-01-15T06:39:00.001-08:00

One of my goals for 2010 is to get back to sketching every day. It's something that I tell my students that they must do and yet this past year I've slacked off and I can tell it when I sketch or draw. Wetcanvas.com has a group that does a scavenger hunt every week. For me it's a good way to make sure I sketch something everyday and it's fun figuring out what to sketch that's on the list. Here are my entries so far this week....

I also finished two more pear postcards for the MMA Postcard Salon.

Today I plan to finish a couple drawings, the first step in what will become poured paintings, more scavenger hunt and it's the weekend so there will be a weekend drawing event on the wetcanvas site, I'll have to check that out.

Postcards and sketches

2010-01-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

Every year the Muskegon Museum of Art holds a Postcard Salon Exhibition and Sale. It's a fundraiser and a fun event. Artists may submit up to 5 postcards, unframed and all the same size 4x6. The postcards are exhibited and a Salon and Sale is held in February when museum attendees may see all the work, leave the room, at the signal go back and take the postcards you want (if you get to them before someone else did) and pay the cashier. The museum gets 1/2, the artist gets 1/2 and everyone gets a chance at some really good art for $30 per postcard. I'm doing pears this year... well, that's what four of them will be I think. I was going to do bottles and got done, the next one didn't work so I tried a couple pears, liked them and now will do a couple more. As I said, .... I think, because if the next two pear postcards don't turn out... I still have time to try the bottles again. Here are the three postcards that are done...

I also did a sketch for the wetcanvas.com weekend drawing event... this is for the New Years weekend, I'm a week behind.

One thing I realize is that I'm not doing enough of this sketching with my paints. I need to get back to doing that. I also need to get to work on some major pieces. There are some competitions coming up that I should enter but I need new work to do it.

Zentangles & why didn't I think of that

2010-01-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

An article in the Nov/Dec issue of Cloth Paper Scissors caught my attention. It grabbed me because it showed illustrations of something I often did in my sketchbooks and journals while I was waiting for my son in the doctors office or at a practice of one sort or another. When I didn't see anything that I felt like sketching, I doodled. That was 20 years ago. Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts were smart enough to carry it further, they offer kits and publish patterns in their newsletter. The kits include tiles that are 3 1/2" square. I haven't purchased one but I did cut some bristol board into 3 1/2" squares to give their method and some patterns a try, it's addictive and I agree with them, done in this format it's a work of art. It's also very meditative. Here are a few of my zentangles....

And here's a link to the website: http://www.zentangle.com/index.php

They gave it a lot more thought too, I was just passing time; this is what their website says about it:

"Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being. Zentangle is enjoyed by a wide range of skills and ages and is used in many fields of interest.

We believe that life is an art form and that Zentangle is an elegant metaphor for deliberate artistry in life. Explore our web site and learn how you can use this wonderful and uplifting discovery. "

I like that. I especially like that anyone can do it and the slow and deliberate part is good for me... I tend to rush too much.

Winter

2009-12-30T08:06:00.001-08:00

I'm in a winter mood, I love snow and we've got a bunch of it. On top of that this weekend's wetcanvas weekend drawing event included a barn that's here in Michigan so it seemed a good thing to paint. That's the orange one on a hill; the other barn is from the image library on the wetcanvas site. Getting anything any bigger than these 2x2 images done during the holidays just isn't happening. I've got some tasks to complete for the gallery today and then tomorrow we head north to ski in the New Year. While we're there I'll be working on goals for 2010 and maybe some sketching but most of the time we'll be on the slopes.

I hope everyone else had a happy Christmas, we sure did!

An Angel for Christmas

2009-12-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

Once a week I get together with three artist friends, Annie Morgan, Brenda Mattson and Patricia Dee, in Annie's studio to make art. All three of these artists are inspiring, especially Annie. This month Annie, Brenda and I have been making the wine glass tea lights I told you about in my last post. I've also been working on an angel for my grand niece, Makayla, with a lot of instruction from Annie. It's another adventure in doll making but this time a copper doll. Now all kinds of ideas are running through my head; more dolls in my future perhaps.

Some Old Works & Some Christmas

2009-12-21T06:35:00.000-08:00

I haven't been painting, Christmas gifts are in the works and that has taken up painting time. But first, some old works... My son has been remodeling their house and they are now in and decorating. There were a couple of paintings from my own collection that they wanted so I framed them and gave them to them. Here they are, you can see boats is not a new theme for me, these are oils that I did when I first tried painting back in the 60's.

and while going through old works I came across this one that I did of my mother-in-law several years back. I think I'd like to do more people.

And getting ready for Christmas...

My friend Annie Morgan gets credit for the idea here... we put some trinkets, beads, buttons and game pieces in wine glasses and covered them with resin which gave a flat surface to put a tea light on. Then we wrapped the tea light hold in brass... the result....

Still more in the works and I'll try to post before Friday. If I don't, I hope you have a Blessed Christmas

Christmas

2009-12-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

Last week I showed you the White Doves painting. That image is from a wetcanvas.com weekend drawing event photo by my wetcanvas friend, Connie van Winsson. Connie is an artist in the Netherlands and I love her colorful work and thought you might enjoy it too; here's a link http://home.kpn.nl/henni107/_sgg/m2_1.htm

This week I want to share a decorating idea. We recently held the annual Christmas by Candle Light Program at our church. It's for the women in our church and consists of a program in our sanctuary, this year we heard the very talented Grand Haven High School Choral Ensemble, followed by dessert in our reception center where several of us act as hostesses.

Usually two host a table. In my case, for the past 30 years it's been one of my dearest friends who co-hosts with me, I do the table and she does dessert. This year she is going through chemo so my dear husband made the dessert for us. Our table theme was gumdrops. I found some gumdrop ornaments at the Muskegon Museum of Art last year and that was my inspiration. This summer I dipped a zillion gum drops in acrylic, let them dry and screwed in an eye so they could hang from trees I sprayed white. Another zillion gum drops went into styrofoam balls with toothpicks. Here's the result.

and the inspiring ornament

Watercolors, the old fashioned way

2009-11-25T16:51:00.000-08:00

Od Fashioned in that I didn't pour these, I used a brush which is something I did for the first time in a long time when I took the Charles Reid Workshop. I'm now teaching a beginner watercolor class so using a brush is a good thing to get in the habit of. This fall scene is one I did as a demo for that class; the doves are from a Wet Canvas weekend drawing event some time back and I'm just getting around to doing it. I can see some problems with both of them but nothing insurmountable. I need to add a bit of color to the water just left of the birch and one of the doves is a bit too hidden.

A Deer And A Work In Process

2009-11-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

Sheri Woodard has made some adorable small deer out of sticks and she brought them to Gallery Uptown to sell. We had a pile of larger sticks from yard clean up and I thought, why not a larger deer out of those sticks...

Pretty skinny and I may shorten those back legs. I'm also going to paint him because he's screwed together and I don't want the screws to be quite so obvious. Then I have to figure out what I'm going to do with him, perhaps he'll just live on my patio this winter.

My other work this week has been a demo for my watercolor class. I wasn't going to post it until it's done and I can't finish it until the next class; however, I missed posting last week so two projects this week seemed fair. I'll post the finish on this and the house drawing later.

A Wonky Baby Quilt

2009-11-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

Some things I've learned this week... putting a quilt together using old flannel shirts is probably not the best idea I've ever had. No two shirts were the same weight flannel and old flannel just doesn't stay straight to cut which means nothing is going to be straight if one stitches on one of the lines in the plaid. It's also impossible to match the plaids when all the plaids and the fabric weights are different. On top of that, it's been a long time since I've sewn anything that required precision stitching and I need some practice sewing a straight line.

In spite of all that, I'm happy with the quilt because it's for my grandchild due in January and the flannel shirts belonged to my son, the future dad, who wore a flannel shirt every day when he was in high school. He's now 31 but I still had some of those shirts. My camera didn't get the full quilt it... there's a blue strip at the top too.

Another from the workshop and a work in process

2009-10-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

This was my first portrait at the workshop. I wasn't thrilled with the result but felt satisfied with parts of it. The gentleman did have those bags under his eyes and before this workshop I probably would not have gone that dark with them. I like drawing people, I also like sketching people. The problem has always been painting them, whenever I do everything ends up extremely tight and the life of the piece is lost. The only time that doesn't happen is when I'm padding a wash to a sketch. I have a better idea how to go about doing this now that I've watched Charles work and worked on a couple myself; however, I have a long way to go.

Meanwhile a house in pen and ink. This is something else I enjoy doing and I have an order for this one so better get to finishing it...

I have to walk by again to have a closer look at the porch. I should be able to finish it in a couple days, then the buyer will decide if she wants a color wash on it. Some houses are easier for me than others, because I love the house... this is one of those.

A Charles Reid Workshop

2009-10-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

I had the good fortune to study with Charles Reid all last week. I've taken a lot of workshops through the years and have to say, this was the best one I've taken. I actually produced some work that is worth keeping and learned much that I will be incorporating into other work that I do. Not the style, but simple things like brush work and color. Interesting to me was that no matter if you were a beginner or very advanced, you could learn from this man and he really wanted you to get it. The first three days we worked on still life. My first one was not so hot but there was a part of it that turned out very nicely... I've blown that part up.

Day two was better, there are parts of it that I don't like but overall it's not too bad. I especially like the wine bottle and glass.

I still have much work to do on brush stroke and connections but overall am happy with where I am.

Days four and five were spent on people. I have my own way of drawing people and don't have a problem getting a likeness; however, when it comes to painting that drawing... that's a whole different ball game and I'm rarely happy with the results. His method of drawing made painting much easier because his drawing is looser... much like my sketches but more controlled. My first attempt left much to be desired though he was kind and found some things he liked about it. I can't find it on my computer right now so I must have really hated it. Anyway by day two I was doing better, slow but better. She isn't complete but this is our model, Tracy... in real life and in my work in process.... I have her mouth too small but this is what I got done in two hours.

I wish I could have brought him home with me to look over my shoulder while I work. I'd love to have his wife along too as she is a delightful lady. If you're a watercolor artist and haven't already taken a workshop from this man.... do if you have a chance.

I'm off to a workshop

2009-10-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

My spouse and I will be passing in the night. He's returning from a weekend away and I'm leaving for a week away studying with an artist I've admired for a very long time, Charles Reid. The second book I bought on watercolor painting years ago was Painting What You Want To See by Reid. I love how loose he works. I don't want my paintings to look like Charles Reid paintings but I know I'll be able to learn something from him. I'll post something from the workshop when I get back.

Two In Process

2009-10-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

These two have been waiting patiently for me to remove the mask and I finally got to it. Now I have to look at them for awhile to decide where to go next. They'll hang in my studio for awhile; I'll look at them as I pass by but won't concentrate on them yet. Usually something jumps out at me within a couple days but not always. I'll just have to wait and see.

I've done both of these images before but smaller. The top one is 22 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches. The other is 28 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches. Those grey rectangles at the top are the clips that are holding them up, not part of the painting....

In addition to unmasking, I downloaded photos from a weekend in Bloomington, Indiana visiting friends. I'd never been there before but would very much like to go again. I loved the countryside, the limestone outcroppings gave it a texture that we don't see in my corner of the world and I love that type of texture.

A Monoprint and An Exhibit

2009-10-07T19:08:00.001-07:00

Last week was lost. I was busy framing and delivering paintings along with being nervous as I always am when I'm part of an exhibit. To top it off this time I had to give a brief talk and that is something I really would rather not do. But the week went, the opening went well. I was one of four artists in the exhibit. Another friend, Jackie Bonomo, was another of the artists. Jackie and I go back to Junior High School, and this was her first show. A couple other of our school buddies came over for the opening. Here we all are, Jackie is in red, I'm in pink. The next photo is me with the biggest piece I had in the exhibit.

A couple weeks back I took a one day workshop in monoprinting. It was fun and I learned a lot though my print left something to be desired. Before going to the workshop I biked to the Farmers Market. There were some wonderfully colorful sweet peppers so I took them along. Here is the result.

This week I'm working on clearing the clutter I left behind last week. But not before heading in to Grand Rapids to see the 10 finalists in Art Prize. A friend, Michael Westra, is one of the top 10 and I am so proud of him. His piece truly is spectacular. Here's a link, you can see the entry.

A quick sketch

2009-10-02T07:14:00.001-07:00

This is a quick sketch in my journal this morning. It's an image posted by Kat Farmer, author of "Snails on my Palette," for the weekend drawing event on wetcanvas.com. I'm posting it because I haven't posted any images yet and didn't want to get further behind. I've been working away at finishing and framing paintings for an exhibit that opens tonight at the Gallery Uptown here in Grand Haven. Kat has posted a couple other images that I like and I may get to one of those after the opening is out of the way. For those of you who aren't familiar with wetcanvas.com's weekend drawing event, every weekend one of the artists hosts by posting 15 images. The rest of us have 30 minutes to select an image to work on and then we work for two hours. At the 2 hour mark we post our progress, some are finished, some are not. That's ok, if it isn't done you post that it's a work in progress and post again when it's done. It's not only a fun project for the weekend, images are for any of the artists to use.

A Chance To Win

2009-09-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

Not my art but a piece of art by one of my favorite contemporary artists, Diahn Ott. Go to her blog, here's a link, Art by Diahn, you'll see some work she's thinking of adding to her Etsy shop. Vote for your favorite and leave a comment there telling her what you chose and you'll be entered into the weekly drawing for one of the prints. She'll be selecting two winners next Friday from among the comments.

Hmmm.... I wonder about adding a contest to my blog. I know a lot of folks read it but not many comment, maybe some sort of contest would be an incentive. What do you think?

Dancers and some other things

2009-09-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

This one is a poured piece that has been mounted on a piece of wood and then I put an acrylic glaze over the top to protect it. I learned about the technique from a friend and decided to try it. I'm not sure how I feel about it... I do like the painting.

This has been a busy week and I was thinking I didn't have any new work to post. That is until I actually started to think about posting. I have this piece hanging on the wall waiting for it to let me know where to go with it. This is part of my Sacred Spaces Series

And last night I did another tempera resist piece experimenting with drying with a heat gun between steps. My Creativity class starts tomorrow night and this is what my students are going to learn to do so I wanted to know if they could be finished in the time frame we have... they can.

And, on top of these projects, my husband and I spent a couple days in Chicago... camera in hand. I'll share a highlight, the Sears Glass Tower, that's my foot just so you can see why I got such an unusual view of the city...

Studio Tour and a sketch

2009-09-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

The camera has been found. Some might say this studio is still a bit messy; however, I work on a variety of things at once and they are out while I'm working on them, to me this is spiffy. The first photo is what you see when you walk in from the house. That's commercial size jelly roll pan on my easel. Since most of my paintings are poured so that's my support, it catches the paint (which I save one way or another.) The table under the larger window is where I do most of my drawing and work on fabric collages that become pins.

The right side of the island is where I mask for pouring and do the tempera resist paintings. The small white cupboard holds tools and supplies for dolls heads. The rest of the doll construction takes place in my sewing room in the basement. To the right of the cabinet is the matting and framing station.

And here are a couple views if you come in from the outside.

I am fortunate to have a small office too. Here's a view of that. Notice the coffee table, I am so in love with that. My thoughtful son gave me a type box for my birthday one year and I built a coffee table using it as the top. I have another one that's larger and someday it's going to become a desk I think. My computer and files are on the wall that you can't see.

Now that it's all clean the challenge is to keep in that way. Having some clear surfaces gave me room to work on a couple pieces but they aren't done yet so I won't post for a few more days. I did get some quick sketches done for a commission I'm working on. I do pen and ink drawings of homes; I especially love to do older homes and this one is a folk style home that has been lovingly restored. The sketches are pencil in my sketchbook... just trying on views.

More Tempera Resist and Thoughts on Sorting

2009-08-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else find that when you organize things and give everything a home, a day or two later you can't remember where that home is. That's what has happened here and it happens so often. I've put my camera somewhere and right now I have no idea where that somewhere is so I can't show you what my project has been this week... project clear clutter and find homes for the clutter that can't go away and then clean... I'm not done but even with one more surface to tackle it's looking so spiffy. Now if I could just remember where I put the camera I could take a photo and show you how spiffy. Oh well.

I did do some more experimenting with the tempera resist in between clearing clutter. I came across a drawing I had done for a lesson from a Charles Reid book and decided to see how it would work using the tempera resist technique. Not too bad but not there yet. Another piece I came across was a drawing of some bottles. I've used this image a lot and thought it might just work for this technique. I think it's more successful than the Charles Reid lesson.

When I find the camera I'll post my nice spiffy studio...that is if it's still nice and spiffy by the time I find it.

More Tempra Experiments

2009-08-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

I'm excited; Lisa Medendorf has been writing a column for the Chronicle about local artists in their studios. Next week she's coming to interview me. YIKES... I need to get my studio straightened up a bit... well actually a lot. That's probably a good thing because right now I need to be painting but haven't had time to clear clutter off my easel.

I have had time to do some more experimenting with the tempra resist though. This time I did some stamping with the tempra before inking. Step 1 was the stamping and putting a bit of tempra down along with it. Step 2 was the inking. Step 3, I drew the pears and added some color to them. Step 4 was to add liquid frisket (masking gum) to parts of the pears. Step 6, more tempra. Step 7, ink again. Here's the result of that process.

The next one was another attempt to add words, this time by stamping. Here's the result of that

I'm quite pleased with how they both came out. I think I need to hang the breathe sign where it will be visable to me regularly when I'm in my cluttered studio.

Using a Tempra Resist

2009-08-17T06:31:00.001-07:00

Here I go again, off on another new experiment. I wonder if it's my ADD. If I see a new technique I often have to try it. This is one a friend showed me last week when we were painting together. I loved the look when it was finished, the look of a woodblock print, so had to try a few more. I had limited success. Here are a couple of those.

I liked them well enough to give it another try. I wanted to know if I could get just a wee bit more detail which would mean I may be able to put some words on a piece and actually have it look decent. This weekend the WetCanvas WDE included a street musician so I tried him with decent results. I think I liked him better before I added the color and I see the tape didn't work well; however, it's an experiment... Charles Reid says we need to learn to accept our mistakes.

A Painting for a Cause

2009-08-16T08:35:00.001-07:00

This isn't a new piece, it was done last year. I've donated it to Art Now For Autisum, a worthwhile cause I think. The painting is one of a few I did following a glorious day sailing on Lake Fenton here in Michigan. We crewed for a friend on his Lightning and I had Spinnaker duty which meant I only had work to do on one leg of the race. The rest of the time I could work my camera and got several potential paintings which I worked on the following winter.

Art Now for Autism is a fundraiser, obviously. It's to autism awareness and research.
The Online exhibit and reverse auction is October 1-10, 2009. Bidding starts at $90 which is less than the painting would normally sell for so I hope someone gets a bargain, it's a worthwhile cause.

Experimenting and Refreshing My Soul

2009-08-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

Flea Market Baskets #1

This is one of the pieces I did when I was experimenting last week. I've posted more at the end of my blabbering about my week. You have choices, read about my week or just go straight to the end and see the monoprints I've posted. I'm offering them for sale at $35.00 ea. That includes postage if you're in the U.S. Now about my week....

Last week I traveled north for my annual art retreat with good friend and fellow artist, Terry Brancheau. We've been doing this for about 15 years give or take. Just the two of us, our art supplies, some art reading material, our favorite cd's and our bathing suits. Those are the essentials. Other things like clothes and food come along but we don't pay a lot of attention to them. Making art is the priority for both of us; 3 swims daily is also a priority for me.

I'm a water person and more specifically, an inland lake water person. I live close to Lake Michigan and it's soothing to hear the waves which are fun to play in and it's a great fun sailing on the big lake. However, it just isn't the same as being able to dive in and feel the water, to be able to actually swim, not just play in the surf. Being able to do that 3 times a day every day for a week soothes my soul. I would be willing to give up a lot of things before I'd give up my week at Spider Lake.

Terry and I started doing this after spending a week at Oxbow (summer school for the School at the Art Institute of Chicago.) It was a good experience and we decided we could do something like that every year if we just got away by ourselves with nothing to do but work on our art... no distractions. The first year Terry arranged for us to have a cottage on an island in the middle of Lake Fenton. That's when I determined that adding a swimming to the mix was perfect. The island cottage was sold that winter but my brother and sister-in-law bought a cottage on Spider Lake that same year. They offered it to us for the week and we've been going there since.

Each year we do some experimenting, try some new subjects, techniques or sizes. I believe trying new things keeps my mind more alive and when I go back to my watercolors it shows. This year Terry, who usually works very large, worked on postcard size pastels. I decided to try my hand at watercolor mono-prints. I'd taken a one day class a few years back and liked the result but never went any further with it. This year I decided that was what I would experiment with, especially in a small size. I started doing them the way they were done in the class with so so results, then the experiments started. I probably did 20 prints and of those I got 7 that are acceptable. Well actually 9 but one of them is going to my son and his wife... that's this one.

And one went to our hosts... that's this one

All of them are 4x6 or 4x5 images matted.

Bert's Boat

Tools #5

Pedestrian

Still Useful

Flea Market Baskets #1

Mission Bells

Marigolds

It was a great week and I'm enjoyed doing the mono-prints. I'll be doing more of these and intend to try the technique using a press too. If you're interested in one of these prints you can send an e-mail to helensartwork@yahoo.com

More Flea Market Finds

2009-08-11T05:22:00.001-07:00

I'm back, rested, revived. My week at the lake feeds my soul and this one was especially good because in addition to being able to swim daily and work on my Flea Market Series, I took the time to do some experimenting. Today I'm posting the Flea Market pieces I finished. Then I'm going to play a little catch-up. A couple of weeks I missed posting so this week I'm going to post a couple more times. My experiments were in watercolor monoprints and as I get them scanned I'll post them.
I also finished another boat.... I seem to be narrowing my boat images down to old rowboats. I do love them. This one belonged to a friend and when I saw it I knew I had to paint it.

I wonder sometimes after I've painted something like this boat, did I concentrate too hard on the subject and not pay enough attention to the design. I wonder because I'm so enthralled with my subject that I know that's all I'm thinking about. I love the water and love to be in it or on it. And as much as I love going fast on the water (speedboats) I also love the quiet of rowing an old boat or kayaking on calm water.

Pen and Ink and Pencil Work

2009-07-31T05:28:00.000-07:00

This week I've been working on drawings, getting ready for next week when I'll be away at a painting retreat. I'm posting two, the first is pen and ink which probably won't become a painting next week but may one day become a print. The second one will probably become a painting because I've had a request for some full sheet size boats. It's pencil in my sketch book which is where I usually do the initial drawing for my paintings. The sketch is square; however, I'll add more of the surroundings to make it a full sheet.

The first piece was for the Wet Canvas Weekend Drawing Event. Here are a couple more from that event that are not likely to be anything more than these sketches but they were fun.

I'm also working on a few more of the flea market series and should have those ready to post next week when I return from my retreat.

Another Flea Market Piece

2009-07-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

I finished another in the Flea Market Series and have two more in process. All of them are 8" x 8" watercolor on cold press. In between working on these, I'm trying to finish the reorganization of my studio. That seems to constantly get pushed to the back burner. I know I need to do it; however, I don't seem to get to it. I'd rather paint.

A sketch and an opening

2009-07-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

I missed a week... once I got the opening of the exhibit at the Bettye Clark Cannon Gallery done and opened I was whipped and then we had a family reunion of sorts... my husband's siblings and it was great having them but my blog went by the wayside.

I haven't finished anything new but I have begun a new practice in my morning journal. Once I'm done writing I do a sketch right over the top of what I wrote so I always end on a cheery note even if what I'm writing about isn't so cheery. It's transparent watercolor so I can still read it if I choose.

The opening... here are a few shots from the event.

Flea Market Finds

2009-06-23T12:52:00.001-07:00

Last week I was fortunate to be Artist in Residence at the Terrace Inn in Bay View, just outside of Petoskey, Michigan. Bay View is a Methodist Chautaqua, a very peaceful place as well as being very spiritual. The Terrace Inn is a lovely old hotel and restaurant located on the grounds of BayView. If you have a chance to stay there or even just go for lunch or dinner, I think you'll like it. The staff is friendly, the food is good and there is usually a resident artist on hand so you can see art in the making.
I did a lot of sketching and worked on three new pieces. One is still in process, , Newgate Prison Gate, a 14 x 11 watercolor on 140 lb Windsor Newton paper.

The other two, both 8 x8, are the beginning of a new series.... Flea Market Finds. The first is a rack of old luggage and the second is a bunch of wooden baskets.

Here's a bit of the other things I played with while I was there.... a sketch of the ice cream parlor entrance at the Inn and a couple collages

And now, back to reality, have to get ready for a show that hangs next week.

Rigging Minis

2009-06-09T20:09:00.001-07:00

I did more thinking than painting this week; however, I did manage to get three miniatures finished. These are three separate pieces, each 2" x 2". Eventually they will go in a frame that has 3 openings. That's a project for another day.

I'm still thinking about "Saying Yes." Sorting out where I am and where I'm going. Next week I will be away for a week as Artist in Residence at a resort. It's a quiet resort and away from those home obligations that so often get in the way of making art and just plain thinking. Hopefully I'll be able to spend more time meditating this.

Walking around in our garden

2009-06-02T05:47:00.001-07:00

I've just finished reading "Saying Yes" by Cindy West. The sub-title, "accepting God's amazing invitation to artists and the church. I loved the book; Cindy said some things I needed to hear. A question on the back cover... What will you do with the powerful gift of art? What will I do with it? I'm at a place where my art and my faith have to come together. I'm not sure yet how that will happen but I know it's where I need to go.

After finishing the book I took a walk around our garden, went back in the house and got my camera and took some photos of God's glory right in our back yard. Normally I would have taken my sketchbook too but it's cold out there this morning.

I recall Timothy Clark talking about why he paints gardens... it's a combination of God made and man made. I like that thought. I believe I'll keep it in my head for awhile. Here are a few images I snapped this morning.

New Miniatures

2009-05-28T07:14:00.001-07:00

I have no idea why the Keene Farm (lower right) came out this odd shape in the photo, it is actually the same size and configuration as the two top pieces. I'm better at painting than at photography. The three that are similar are 2" and the frames are collaged using New York Times Magazine pages that I have sprayed with Citra-Solv and then given them an Encaustic coating for protection. The odd one is 1 1/2" and the frame has been collaged with an old navigation chart and coated as the others were. This one doesn't have a glass or plexi glaze, instead I coated it with an acrylic glaze for protection.

Last weekend we celebrated our anniversary by taking a trip to our favorite big city.... Chicago. We went to see the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago which is beautiful and full of wonderful works. While we were there we also visited the Cultural Center and I was awestruck by the wonderful mosaic work.

All of it was wonderful but the crown... the beautiful dome by Tiffany.

I'm not only attracted to old and beautiful... things that are worn out also get my attention... here are a few shots of sidewalk.... I think they'll make good starts for abstract pieces.

A new way to post

2009-05-19T09:13:00.001-07:00

Thank you Diahn from Ottworks. My problem is solved and I'm a happy camper again. These aren't knew but I don't believe I've shown them before. Prior to my husband's hospital visit I was working on framing and these are two that I finally got framed and ready to go to a gallery. Now I have to decide if I want to take them across the state for a special exhibit or if they should go to our gallery. At this point, across the state is winning just because I haven't been able to get much newer done and across the state is only for the month of June. If they don't sell there, they will be back her in time for the busiest part of the tourist season.

Trouble with blogger

2009-05-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm at a loss. I can't upload any images in blogger draft version and I can't seem to get out of the draft version. Since I'm using this blog for art, not being able to post images makes it, well.... useless. I'm not giving up yet. I'll still try and figure out a way to get around all this and if I can't, I'll look for another blog host. I will try to keep you posted.

Here's the trellis

2009-05-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

The entry just before this explains the trellis and my absence. Now if I can figure out how I managed to get this photo uploaded I'll be a happy camper.

It's art but not mine

2009-05-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

I'm still not able to post the image but this is part of what has been going on in my life....

The past couple weeks I haven't been making art, life got in the way. First, I had framing that had to get done so a show could be hung. That's kind of important if one wants to sell anything. The show opened, all was well, we relaxed over the weekend and I was ready to get busy clearing the clutter I left in my studio so I could move on to more paintings. I got one day of clutter clearing done and ended up taking my husband to ER. We still don't know what has caused his problems except that they have ruled out cancer. That gives some relief but it would be nice to know what caused his problem so we know if we need to be dealing with something. That weighs as you can imagine. We're waiting for more test results so I'm back to clearing clutter.

Meanwhile, we did manage to get a task done that we've been thinking about all winter. We have a beautiful trellis, actually a piece of sculpture that was made by a local artist. It's been on the front of our house since we moved here. Last year we decided it should come to the back yard where we could enjoy it. Every time we were back there we'd look around for a spot for it. Meanwhile, it layed on the patio. Time came to put the patio furniture out and the trellis needed to be moved out of the way.... he propped it up against the top of the pergala to make room for the table and waalaa... we found the spot it was to live. We called the artist, he came and cut some of the bottom off so it would fit better and here it is with clematis planted at the base.

2009-05-14T12:01:00.001-07:00

I'm having computer problems; I hope to have them resolved soon so check back. Sorry about this.

2009-04-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

It's finished and framed, ready to take to the gallery tomorrow along with another one that I posted awhile back but decided this week it needed more punch. It's the Sunflower

The yellow still looks dull in the photo but it has more punch in real life. These will be going to the gallery tomorrow for a show with 10 other watercolor artists. The exhibit opens May 1. I've been up to my neck in framing and I still have more to do so this entry has to be brief.

Almost finished the pour

2009-04-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Several pours later and the mask removed... it's now hanging on a wall in my studio so I can study it. That silver spot at the top is a giant clothes pin I use to hang paintings in process. The wall is not readily visable as I work on other projects so I get glimpses... that way when I look at it carefully I'm getting a fresh look. I still need to add the detail to the door but beyond that I'm still thinking about what it needs. I see a problem in the lower right corner that needs more dark, part of one of the cross bases is floating. I'm also leaning toward another light wash on the lightest parts. Final decisions on this won't be made right away, it needs to sit awhile.

The boat... a disaster. I love the shapes, everything about it but the colors... I used Winsors, Red, Yellow and Blue and I don't like the resulting darks... very muddy. So that one will get scrubbed and become a mixed media piece. I haven't taken another picture yet but will try to remember to do that before I start on it again.

Finally putting paint to paper

2009-04-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

Finally, the transfer of the drawing is complete, I've decided on the colors, painted the door blue and added just a touch of the blue on the window before masking them and then did the first pour to take the white out. The first pour was Raw Sienna. I want an old look so I decided to use Minnesota Pipesto (Daniel Smith,) Indigo and Raw Sienna. I've never used these three for a pour so from here on it's experimental as well.

I also did a couple more layers (pours) on the boat and did a little 2" x 2" of an English Cottage. In addition I started a piece with dancers but more time was spent working out how I would do that than on getting it started. Next post I'll have something to show I hope.

Pouring, another step in my process

2009-03-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

This is the tedious part. It's not so much when I'm doing something with only a few shapes but when I get several as there are in this church it's tedious. I've transfered the traced image to the watercolor paper; however, when you trace something using the 6 to 8B pencil there is a lot of graphite and it is sitting on top of the paper... one wash and you have graphite mixed with the paint and you've lost the image. So I go over the lines carefull with a harder pencil then, using a kneaded eraser, I push down with the eraser lifting the loose graphite. Once all this is done I'll be ready to do my first pour since I've decided I don't want any white. Since this is laborious and I'm ADD, I have another one going at the same time... not so many shapes in this one...

The next step

2009-03-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Moving along to the next step in the process. You see it reversed. I decided it could be reversed because the place is not important, it was the blue door with the wonderful hinges that I was in love with so that saved me a step. I put the traced image down on my paper and gone right over the lines. Now I will be able to do it again sometime... but with the door on the other side. All I have to do is turn it over and go over the traced lines again All of this part is done with a 5 or 6B pencil so the lines will transfer.

The next thing to think about... do I want to save any whites or do I put a wash over the entire sheet before moving on. I'm leaning toward a wash but not certain yet.