Wishing Everyone A Joyfilled Season

 

I wish you all a happy winter, a joyous holiday and a super 2024.

And I have to get back to my sorting and purging as the end of 2023 is fast approaching.  I have surfaces clear, not I need to tackle shelves and the floor.

I'm also working on goals and my word for 2024.  As I look at goals for this year I did okay, not outstanding but okay.  I'll tweek those a bit before I'm firm on them and, as in years past, I adjust quarterly.  The word is a different story.  That stays with me all year.  In 2024 I have highlighted two of the many on the list of possibles.  The two are FOCUS and BELIEVE.  Focus is a biggy, I am so easily distracted it's a wonder I get anything accomplished.  Believe is another one -- I need to learn to kick the critic out of the studio and believe in my own instincts.  When the critic gets in everything stops -- I have a hard time moving forward.  Does anyone else have that issue?

I think I'll put the words in big letters in an easy to see spot on my two work surfaces. I have manged to get more stones done and will be putting some in the Gallery Uptown January exhibit.  And I've really had fun with the poinsettias.  Here's another one...

Now it's time to get back to work, I'll be back next year.

The Best Layed Plans...

 I started December with a plan to do a small painting and clear a section of clutter every day.  Well, it's day 9 and I have 2 done and one partially done.

The problem was the clutter clearing.  I had a pile of art journals and writing journals and, of course, I had to go through them to see what I had done.  Among the written ones I was reminded of something I had done with a Jane LaFazio class and I immediately had to look to see if I still had that class on my computer.  I did so I decided I had to make another one -- a Christmas one.  This is one that I put on the back of a denim vest.

They're fun to make and I have lots of red and green fabric.  Since I didn't make a new table runner this year I'm making one of these for the center of our kitchen table.  The process is addictive so I may make a few of them.  Perhaps they'll become another table runner, the first one I made many years ago has seen better days. I've since made them in a variety of styles and sized. I enjoy putting the parts together and then in the evening while watching TV I add embroidery and other embellishments.  

So sewing a patch every day has replaced the daily painting but the clutter clearing continues.  As long as something else I find doesn't distract me.

The Jam Jar That Started It All

 

Recently I've been doing a quick morning sketch of some of the many items I have in various places around the house, things that are memories.  Some used often, some out where I can see them and some in other places, not always visable but always there.  I came across this one as I was looking for something to sketch.

This little china jam jar is what started me on this journey as an artist.  It was a gift from my mother one Christmas when I was a young bride.  My mother was a very talented designer and fashion was her passion.  I knew she could also draw but it definitely wasn't her strong suit.  When I asked her where she found this adorable little jam jar she said "I painted it."  She had been taking lessons and this was one of her first pieces.  My mother was always supportive of any craft I wanted to do but she did not support the idea of me as an artist.  I always felt I didn't have real talent because of the many ways she discouraged me.  I know now the reasons but that's another story.  For now -- the Jam Jar.

In my mind I immediately thought -- if you can do this I can do this and I set about finding someone in the area where I lived who taught china painting.  I found Joan Potere.  Joan has since died; however, she is the teacher who really started this whole wonderful adventure in art.  We became fast friends and often talked of wanting to learn oil painting because we wanted real art on our walls and budgets were tight.  While she wasn't a young bride, she did have a big family so money was tight for both of us.  This is one of the dinner plates from the set of six different floral place settings I did with Joan.

Another of her students was taking classes from a wonderful oil painting artist and teacher, Marion Zooner.  That student, Margaret, brought in a couple of the paintings she had done in Marion's class.  After she left Joan said to me, "if she can do that, we can do that."  We tried to get into Marion's class but it was full.  We talked Margaret into teaching us.

We studied with Margaret for a couple of years.  I still have some of the paintings I did in her class.  Joan had a son going off to college and her own health wasn't good so she stopped.  I had moved back to Flint to go back to school and the drive got old so I quit.  But neither of us quit painting.  Hard to believe that was over 60 years ago.  Some days it feels like I still have no clue what I'm doing when I come into the studio.  Other days it seems I've gone back to the beginning.  This poinsettia is one I recently did and I am reminded of china painting with Joan.

Wishing you all a Happy Thankgiving 

Thinking Halloween

 My Tuesday Painters group went to the Coffee Factory in Muskegon two weeks in a row.  It has a plethora of Halloween decorations which were fun to do.  This was done this week....

Last week I tried skeletons, they are harder than I thought they would be so I moved on to a real life person.  He was reading his phone so he sat still long enough for me to get a decent sketch.

And now it's time to think about Christmas.  I've been working on poinsettias and snow scenes.  I'll post a couple of those next week.

Some New Directions

 As we get older it's harder to part with things -- not because things are important as "things" but because they represent a life -- mine.  This week I started doing a morning drawing and today I decided to add one of the "things" that I can't part with. The pear was done a couple days ago.

Here is a photo of it in real life sitting on top of our Hoosier Cabinet.  It was dropped and broken by someone, either a child or a cleaning person, but it was put back together and most of the mistakes are on the back.  It was my grandmother's, given to her by Uncle John.  He was experimenting with crystal glazes and this one was a reject.  I think of both of them when I look at it.

He did perfect the glaze and according to a book about him, his recipes are at the DIA.  I've seen current artists who say they developed the glaze and I'm not doubting them.  But it isn't new.  As I said, this was my grandmothers, she died in 1958, that's when I got it.

Recently I've been working on brushstrokes and have been watching Jean Haines videos.  She's the one who got me started on the stones which I can't seem to stop doing but that aside.  Another video showed up that caught my attention, Shirley Trevena.  She does very interesting still lifes.  I'm not thinking mine will look like hers but I think adding some of my "things" may work in one or two.  The brushwork practice has been good so it's time to think about some serious painting.

Meanwhile I still have a few mixed media and collage works in process.  That will be another post.

Still Playing With Stones

And I'm beginning to think about Christmas.  This little guy may become a gift tag.

I've also been thinking about a Christmas card.  I lost several addresses when a not so good technician moved things to my new laptop so some may not get one.  I've found a new technician but that's another story and it's too late for the mailing lists.

Since I'm moving back into watercolors I want to try something different -- perhaps a poinsettia, we'll see.  Meanwhile I'm enjoying playing with washes and rocks.  Yesterday's wash turned out to be a disaster.  However, I saw a couple rocks in the mess so I started playing.  There's still a ways to go and it may end up being okay after all.  What do you think, is there any hope?

Meanwhile I'm beginning to search for poinsettia images.  If you have any would you share?

I'm Liking Watercolors Again

 

August in the time for my annual art retreat in Traverse City and for the past several years I've done acrylics and collage or a combination of both.  This year I decided to downsize my supplies and just take watercolors.  

I took along my ipad because I had seen a demonstration on watercolor abstracts that looked interesting and wanted to have a better look. I didn't find it but did come across an interesting demonstration on healing stones by Jean Haines and decided to give it a try.   

Why?  I'm not sure but as I write this I'm thinking about the first time I swam in Lake Huron. There were so many stones on the shore that we had to walk out on sandbags to get to an area that was just sand.  A childhood memory that always makes me smile. I've seen the shore of  Lake Huron several times since that day in Jeddo and every time the stones were a reminder.  I expected to see the same thing when I moved over to the Lake Michigan side of the state, not a stone in site but the water was still delightful.  Not so good for swimming but great fun to play in the waves.

The painting above was my first try at her technique though I didn't really follow it.  The next one I did watch what and followed direction, or at least tried. I didn't particularly like the result but found doing the stones very meditative so I kept at it.

I like the third piece a bit better...

And I really liked the meditative part so I moved on to 4 and 5...

And by number 6 I began thinking doing a bit every morning would be a good way to start the day before moving on to more serious paintings.  These stone pieces have become a way for me to do some experimenting with more of my watercolor colors and texture techniques. Texture is another love. 

This one is almost done but I keep seeing more stones.  I may end up overworking so I'd best quit while I'm ahead. 

A New Beginning

 My muse apparently is still on vacation.  I have starts all over the studio, this one being the most recent.  I start but inspiration either leaves or I'm not sure where to go next -- or I fear messing it up.

But a better thing to do I think, is to look at it and wonder why I started this way.  I don't have an image in mind other than watercolor landscape but looking at this I see beach as though I'm seeing the landscape from out in the water.  That makes sense to me.  I do love being on the water but sitting on shore looking out at water works for me too.  I may just leave this one as it is or it could become more abstract.  

Hopefully my muse will return and help me find my way with this and a few others that are in the works.  Meanwhile I continue to do a quick morning sketch and sort more supplies that can go away.

On another note -- The Art Tribe exhibit at the Gallery Uptown came down yesterday.  I posted my piece in the exhibit last week.  I'm still lamenting the lost piece.  I truly like it so much better than the rushed piece that ended up in the exhibit.  Here's how it looked before the last two worked on it.

What's so wonderful about this is that it truly represents everyone taking time to think about where they were going to go with it and I can see them in what they did.  That and it has the work on one of the Tribe who was unable to work on my replacement piece because of health issues.  I do hope this turns up eventually but at least I have this photo. I may have to print it on a tee shirt.

The Art Tribe Exhibit Is Open

Finally, it's up and a very interesting show at the Gallery Uptown.  Seven of us did collaborative pieces for the show.  This is mine...

Each of us started one and then it went around to the rest of the tribe, Margaret Benefiel, Carol Cousineau, Bette DelVecchio, Barb Fugazzotto, Sandy Meyer and Annie Morgan.  Each piece is different and interesting. Putting the last minute touches on the opening kept me busy which is why I haven't posted in a couple weeks.  It was worth the time it took. If you are able, go see it.  

I still managed to do my 100 flowers, not in 100 days but I got them done.  The last bunch were done in my morning journal.  Here are a few of those --

And yesterday I met my dear friend Terry in Portland where we meet to sketch and catch up with what's going on in our lives.  She lives on the other side of the state.  This is the sketch I did, love the flowers, the stone wall -- not so much.

 

And now looking forward to another of my friend Karen's Remission Picnics.  I'm not sure what number this is but I'm guessing at least 20.

Reviving An Old Practice And More Poppies

 

With warmer weather and some flowers, I revived an old practice of doing a quick watercolor and ink sketch on top of my morning journaling. Here are a couple more.

Another sketch -- poppies.  My Tuesday Painters group went to Fennville to sketch the Poppy Field this week.  What a beautiful site and a loving tribute to the son of the people who own the field.  His grave is in the cemetery next to the field.  Here is my sketch and an image of the field.

Now I'm off to a gathering of Art Tribe members to talk about our upcoming exhibit at the Gallery Uptown in July.  More on that in another post.

Weeding

 

"Gardening has reminded me to be ruthless. Weeds must be pulled for the other plants to live."

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer 

And weeding reminds me that it's necessary to part with some things in the studio that haven't been used in years. I keep telling myself that I will get around to that one of these days but it's time to get realistic, I'm going to have to live to be a 120 to finish the things I want to finish let alone all of the things I may do one of these days. And much of that extra stuff is in the way of getting anything done.  

Clutter in closets, clutter in the garage, clutter in the junk drawer -- well those are pretty well sorted and kept clear here but not my studio so a lot of stuff is going away to give me room to work on something I want to work on.

Which brought me the poppies above, I did the drawing over a year ago I think.  Finally last week I added some paint and this morning a bit of gesso for texture.  I have no idea where the piece is going but so far I'm liking it. This is the first floral I've tried using acrylics.  I once did watercolor florals but that was a long time ago. And since I've recently been trying non-representational mixed media and now am experimenting with a more representational mixed media piece, why not try watercolor non-representational?  Well it started that way but ended up becoming a landscape and I kind of like it.

So why not try the same watercolor spatter paint method and flowers.  I like that too though I don't think I'd like them larger, these are about 5 x7".

Both of these were fun to play with.  The poppies have been fun too -- so far.  I'm going slow with that one because I don't want to mess it up.  Then again, why not -- I can always sand it back and start over.  That is part of what I like about working on wood.  And I may do more experimenting with non-representational watercolors.  Stay tuned.

Diversity Is Part Of Making Art

 

Diversity is a good thing and it certainly exists in my work.  My recent journey back in to watercolor while still playing with acrylics is an example.

That makes me think of my Art Tribe, a very diverse group and two of them more diverse than others, Anne Morgan and Barbara Fugazzotto,  I sent a list questions because I wanted to introduce them to you all.  Since one of Barbara Fugazzotto’s many talents is writing I’m just going to let her tell you about herself.  But first an example of her work.  You can see the variety on her website Fugazzotto Art Works.

And now, here's Barb --

“I've always considered "home" to be where I am currently living.  I've lived in Florida for 30 years and currently I am in my new Home. I was born in Michigan  and have lived in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York State.  My college and career were in Michigan.  My roots extend into these former homes and into my family heritage of Sicily and northern Europe.  I wonder if my mixed media approach to creating is somehow  related to my  many roots extending in different directions during my life.

Early in my childhood, my mother taught me a variety of hand crafts--crochet, embroidery, and most important, sewing. Since about 5 years old (she estimated, when she gave me needle and thread and fabric scraps) sewing is still a favorite activity in my art life.  

She didn't "teach" me to cook, but I must have learned how by watching her and enjoying her delicious meals--made with love of family for the family.  Cooking for me is still enjoyable and I approach it as a creative process with an eye for beautiful presentation.

 

My father's humble Sicilian immigrant heritage has made me appreciate a spirit of adventure, the "can do" spirit, and making something out of nothing, so to speak. All of these qualities relate to being an artist. His rise to PhD status in public health inspired my drive and achievement in school, and interest in science.  But the vivid enduring image of him--"peasant in his garden" continues to touch my heart and connects me with my family heritage here and in Sicily.

 

I have always enjoyed art and craft activities--My biology diagram of the frog dissection was in technicolor.

But I didn't think of myself as an ARTIST.  My father's influence "encouraged" me towards a "substantial career--art is a good hobby".  Ironically I became an art teacher.... while looking for something more substantial. After 25 years, teaching was my substantial career.  So I have always thought of myself as a teacher and an artist.  Now, after retirement, I believe I am an artist.

 

Of the famous artists, I've always loved Van Gogh for his use of color and vivacious brush strokes patterning his canvas.  My dear Aunt Louise, a career art teacher, had Van Gogh prints in her house.  When I visited her, I visited Van Gogh too.  Vermeer's "Girl with the Pearl Earring" was there too, and nearby, fresh iris from the garden.  

I really love Matisse’s use of pattern and color too.  

My favorite artist--one I know personally and admire is Margaret Benefiel.  Her use of color is always so surprising and delightful.  Pattern dances around her whimsical figures, furniture, and flowers.  Pure joy in every way.

 

 

I am energized by the question:

What will the result be if:

              I use this medium

                    One this surface

                           Using this technique?

 

Having been a junior high art teacher, my  art experience, skills, and interests were varied.  I thoroughly enjoyed teaching and doing drawing, painting, pottery, textile processes and all the variations and combinations I could offer students.

 

There's that big question:

Why not paint on fabric, then cut it up and stitch on it and then make it a vessel on a wire armature?  The possibilities are infinite.  Combining various processes and media are similar to those earth building processes of nature and cultural history.

In my travels around the world, I gained broad first hand exposure to the arts and crafts of many cultures.  Some of those traditions and techniques have influenced my studio work.

 

My early childhood family trips Out West brought me face-to-face with dramatic landscapes of mountain cliffs, mesas, and canyons, and earth colors I had never seen before.

 

At 10 years old, I couldn't believe my eyes! Rusty orange cliffs and lavender dirt!  Indiana was flat, and dirt was brown. The amazing landscapes and primeval processes were home to ancient cultures whose ruins added to the mystery and wonder.  All of this had a profound and lasting influence on my art.    In the studio, intuitive decisions about lines, shapes, and colors have  come from that vast subconscious resource of travel in the West and elsewhere in the world.   My media are layered, scrubbed, and overpainted just as sedimentary rocks were layered and eroded by ancient oceans, and scoured into fantastic shapes.

 

Wherever I traveled, the weavers, potters, fabric dyers, painters and other artisans and artists fascinated me.  Their techniques, patterns, and color choices are additional influences.  Throughout the ages and around the world, a procession of ancients have expressed the infinite possibilities for design , shapes, forms, colors, and patterns to embellish their everyday lives.

I believe my artistic spirit is linked with those ancients and present day artists, traveling this journey of creativity.

 

Other areas of life that art influences -- my home and myself. I am reminded of Aunt Louise again.  She had a beautiful collection of Majolica pottery on display.  The name, the colors and the designs of those pieces were totally captivating .   On a buffet, she arranged what I have come to know as a still life.  
A vase of fresh flowers--iris, forsythia, pussy willows depending on the season;  a silk scarf carefully draped around a charming and beautiful figurine.  I stood there studying those compositions and enjoying the beauty of it all and the concept of beautifying her home.   I love doing that too.  And I try to have a put together look  with my own  clothing,  and accessories--hand crafted and collectibles.

 

Looking at photos of my early work, I saw some really good ideas there that could be re-visited, but with more finesse, and polish,  and an updated style of presentation.  Using found objects and collected stuff, I realize the importance of "MAKING IT MY OWN".  Weaving on a bicycle wheel has to be taken way beyond the wheel and the yarn.  The elements have to give up their identities to blend and become a unique  (disguised?) identity. This is a concept I try to keep in mind always.

 

I am not doing extensive world travel anymore, but I treasure those decades of experiences.  They are still a resource I draw upon.

 

Here in Florida, I have some connections with artists and art groups.  Some friendships are slowly developing, but for now these are opportunities for showing my work, and meeting the artists and gallery people.

 

My ART TRIBE  in West Michigan is my long standing group for enduring friendships, sharing art ideas and current life events.  We've combined our creativity in group shows at the Gallery Uptown in Grand Haven.  For more than 40 years, this group has supported, encouraged, and enjoyed the artistic life of each of us.  Even across the miles, I feel that I am part of this Tribe, and benefit from that inclusion.”

 

And like Barb, we all feel that we benefit from the connections that make up our Tribe.

Having Fun With Flowers

 I've been playing with just splashing paint on a small piece of watercolor paper to do a flower as I continue with my #The100DayProject.

I'm also experimenting with a variety of brushes. I like all of them, some more than others but it's great fun.  Here are a few more,..

These are all small, about 3" x 3".  I'm having way too much fun to stop doing them '

More Flowers and The Sketchbook Revival

 Still doing flowers but I did a few more exercises in the Sketchbook Revival which makes me think I need to play a bit with watercolor again.  And had a chance to gather some background on another Art Tribe friend I would love you to meet, Carol Cousineau.

Angela Fehr was the workshop leader and doing it reminded me of the fun of watching the colors move and blend.  Perhaps time to also consider more fluid acrylics as well.

I did some more sketching too and played a bit with a more realistic watercolor and acrylic floral.  The watercolor wasn't fun, not as much fun as those that were just color.  The acrylic was more fun but a first try at realism in acrylic.  Well not totally.  My first acrylic painting done several years back --

My spouse making coffee on the sailboat we chartered for our honeymoon. His left arm isn't that light in the painting -- sun glare.  This one hangs in my office, he doesn't like it -- I do.  Not that it's particularly good, doesn't matter, I love the subject.

And that other Art Tribe friend Carol Cousineau. Carol's work is always recognizable in whatever media she is working in at the moment. Her primary medium is oil pastel but lately she has branched out using gouache and collage.

Carol is from northern New Jersey. Museums, and galleries in New York City were very accessible and visiting them inspired her.  She was also able to study with Arthur Maynard at Ridgewood New Jersey Art Institute.

She, like most of us, has been creating for as long as she can remember and was inspired and encouraged by her maternal grandmother.

 She says "The desire to create is innately a part of me. The process is pleasurable, therapeutic and satisfying. The resulting piece of art is a bonus and has afforded me the opportunity to be in galleries. All of the above is motivational."  She'd also inspired by museums, galleries, books, interiors, buildings, landscapes, nature, colors, shapes, light and shadows. Travel around the United States and other countries has influenced her art . She added that walking and driving around Michigan has probably had the most influence. We do live in a beautiful state.

You can see Carol's work at the Gallery Uptown -- go see if you haven't already.