Jaunts

I've been working on getting out of the house and the studio and, well, refilling the creative well, lately. The past two weekends have been great, a good dip into Virginia's artistic waters.

As mentioned in the last post, I took a lovely drive on Saturday up to Onancock for the grand opening of the Red Queen Gallery; it was a marvelous day, filled with incredible art, good conversation, amazing weather, a a ship, a stop at the Book Bin in Onley on the way back, and some breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay (I've driven over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel so many times that it takes a lot to make me stop the car for a closer look, but I did on Saturday, and I'll be posting those photographs on the other blog shortly).

And on Saturday, the 8th, I headed down Route 13 to downtown Suffolk for the "Taste of Suffolk" festival. My real purpose was to see a group of artists participate in a painting circle, hosted by Angelia of Red Thread Studio, who posted a note on the Etsy forums. Each artist worked on a canvas for 20 minutes, then passed the canvas on to the next person. The result was a collection of six vivid collaborative pieces of art, which were auctioned off at the end of the day (I'm still disappointed that I didn't win one, but, ah, well).

It was fascinating to watch the works in progress, growing and changing with each artist's uniquely identifiable touch, and the artists themselves were charming and very willing to chat with the passersby. Definitely worth the trip.

Jokers Wild

Okay, I gave my father his birthday present, which I foreshadowed here. My dad works in television, and we play cards a lot, Michigan rummy, with jokers wild. So I combined the two.

My digital camera, combined with so-so lighting in our kitchen, didn't capture the colors so well, but I am pleased with how rich they feel, in person. Other than drawing a few guide lines, I opted to do the border design freehand and not measure it out precisely. Next time, I think I shall try the opposite, more to keep symmetry and balance on the sides, than to get those diamonds uniform, but I still like it this way.


I am quite pleased overall, and I think Dad also really did like it.

WIP

Here's some more texture, in the hill. I like this painting a lot so far. I want to add something, to the hill, but I'm not quite sure what yet. So it's sitting on the painting table, hanging out with other works in progress.

This is one of the few times I've worked with an actual stretched canvas, as opposed to canvas panel. I really like canvas panels, for their versatility, and ease of use (they're easy to paint flat without an easel, in my opinion, and I like working flat), and I can hang them very easily without framing. I'm also a little intimidated by all the weird things that it seems can happen to stretched canvas as you paint. But it is a luxurious surface on which to paint. I don't know why this is exactly, but the brushes flowed over the canvas like silk. It must be the give.

Touchy Feely

This title makes me think of a story I read, but I really don't mean this kind of touchy feely:

In February, a 12-year-old boy visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts with his sixth-grade class plucked a wad of gum from his mouth and deposited it on a 1963 canvas by Helen Frankenthaler, "The Bay," a painting estimated to be worth $1.5 million or more. The work had to be removed for restoration. The child "picked the worst piece of art he could have picked" -- an unprimed painting, says the museum's director, Graham W.J. Beal.

Although if one of my paintings were ever important enough that a kid sticking a wad of gum on it made national news, I would be perversely proud.

I've been playing around with texture lately, and sometimes I just want to run my fingers all over the paintings. This one is the best finished example:

Day, acrylics, 9" x 12"

A closeup of the clouds:

Lately

I have been doing a lot of writing lately, but of course now that painting/drawing are part of my life again, I couldn't let them go away again. I'm striving to reach a balance between the two. So here are a few things to share:

This is a birthday gift for someone:

Mountain Trees, acrylics, 9" x 12"

And this, I love. I will be putting it up at Etsy, but it won't be easy to let go. Then again, none of them really are.

Storm Light, acrylics, 5" x 7"

I have one more painting, of which I am very, very, proud, but as it is to be a gift for someone who might possibly, occasionally check this blog, I don't want to post it -- the minute that person sees it, that person will know it is for them, I think. It is quite specific. But as soon as it has been delivered, I promise, I will post.

Step Right Up and Get Yer Paintings!

I am delighted to announce the launch of my Etsy shop at paintandink.etsy.com!

Among others, you will find the following paintings for sale:

Circus Tents, 8" x 10", acrylic on canvas panel

Daisies, 8" x 10", acrylic on canvas panel

Little Fish, 8" x 10", acrylic on canvas panel

All of my paintings are backed with cardstock and have ribbon hangers attached so that you can either frame them or hang them directly on the wall.

And don't forget my Cafe Press shop at www.cafepress.com/paintandink, where you can also find printed products featuring my photography and other artwork.

Please stop in and look around, and feel free to let me know what you think at paintandink @ gmail . com. I look forward to hearing from you!