“In For The Night” and another in the works

I’m back and feeling much better.  Back into the studio feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work.  When we left I left this one hanging.  I didn’t like it when I took the mask off but I know that sometimes when we put them away and get them out a couple weeks later they look better than we thought.  When I first removed the mask and hung in on the wall this is what it looked like to me. 

I adjusted the photo in Photoshop to more accurately show what I first thought I saw.  I was expecting more vivid and didn’t think I got it.  I didn’t do anything more to it, just left it and left town for 10 days so I didn’t even glance at it.  When we returned and I walked into my studio this is what I saw.

So much closer to my vision.  I’m leaving it hang for awhile because while we were away I realized I really need some brightness in my life and my work and may want to add more to this. 

Meanwhile, I’ve started work on another one that I’m thinking will be called “Still Working.”  Here is the start of the initial drawing.  I always do my value study as a careful drawing rather than a rough sketch because I like drawing and I can eventually use the image to transfer to my watercolor paper.  I’ve got a couple more photos of this old boat so there will probably be more than one painting of it eventually.

And just because I haven’t done a WDE (Weekend Drawing Event) in a very long time, last night while watching the Oscar pre-show I did a couple quick watercolor sketches from the images Bonnie posted.

Here’s a link to the WetCanvas All Media Art Events site where the Weekend Drawing Events happen every weekend.  

I need a little sunshine

I love winter when it snows.  I detest winter when there is no snow and the world around me is grey and dirty.  Unfortunately, this winter is of the grey and dirty variety.  The last time we had a winter like this was 1982.  I know that because we have this photograph of my son and I on the pier Christmas day when he was 4.

That year by the end of March I was a basket case.  This year the depression has begun and before it really gets me, we’re heading south for a short break.

I’m hoping that by the time we get back we’ll have snow.  At least we have another ski week planned and there is snow on those hills so that will feel better.

Meanwhile, here’s another of  my mixed media daily pieces.  This one is an encaustic.  I started with an acrylic on canvas that I didn’t like and some strips of a watercolor that didn’t work.  I wove the strips and glued that to the acrylic piece.   A layer of encaustic followed and I added a tissue layer with a sketch of the lilies on it.  More encaustic, a little more color added and it was done.  I’m pleased with the result.

I’m also working on a quilt project.  Craftsy.com has a free block of the month workshop.  I’m doing two projects… this one is going to be a table runner for Christmas.

I’m also going to make one for our bed.  I made my first quilt 31 years ago.  This is my second.  Actually, for some reason I am feeling a real urge to stitch rather than paint so it must be what I’m suppose to be doing right now.

I am going to take my paints along with me to the warmer weather though.