More Flea Market Finds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.