Rocks under Water

Rocks under Water, (in progress), acrylic, 16.20, 2011

This is one I am currently working on.  For the longest time just the first layer was done and it was sitting on my easel.  Just reddish-brown and white, just sitting there.  Finally I put some blues on top, and then added the rocks, and then the dark blue between the rocks, and now it is just sitting there again.  I thought I could finish it for the show this past weekend, but no.  I finished about 7 other ones instead.  I wonder why this one has me stuck?

Dormant

Dormant, acrylic, 18x24, 2011

This is my favorite of my recent paintings.  Those of you who are photographers perhaps can help me figure out how to get better photos.  I used no flash, but still could not get rid of the glare from the natural light.  Too direct, I guess.  Do I really need to invest in professional-grade lights?

Passenger Side

Passenger Side, acrylic and oil stick, 18x24, 2011

This one is done.  It made it to the show.  I changed the title because I decided that this one is about issues of control or lack of it. Most people respond with "Oh my, those are some bright colors!"  and I say, "Yes, yes they are."

Driving

Driving (in progress), acrylic and oil stick, 16x20, 2011

I've been thinking a lot lately about driving and I've been doing a lot of driving.  Sometimes it seems surreal.  Good thing I'm on the passenger side in this one.  This one still needs work.  The green plant-like marks in the center bug me.  The center in general is unresolved.

Organization

Grass Lake Abstraction, watercolor, 7x11, 2009

I spent part of today walking in snowy woods.  We were selecting a Christmas tree.  Later at home, I worked at preparing for a show that will be this weekend.  I felt like a squirrel that has run into the road and races first one way, and then another.  I would pull out something from a few years ago and say to myself, "Oh, it just needs..." and I would want to sit down at the easel and paint.  But I need to make an inventory list and get labels made and decide whether to frame or put in plastic sleeves.  I have about 6 pieces sitting near the easel that may or may not get worked on, but at least I have enough for the show.  If the others get done in time, that will be a bonus.  Monday evening...busy.  Tuesday evening...busy.  Wednesday evening...unknown.  Thursday evening...maybe set up the show.  It would be nice to spend some time with family.

Moving On

Willow River, watercolor, 9x12, 2010

This was the one I decided to enter in the State Fair.  It was rejected.  So, moving on....

DC New Life and Old Moss, watercolor, 9x12, 2011

This one I started on my trip to DC when I went to a farm that has a name I have forgotten.  I just finished it a few days ago.  I like the blue in the middle, although I have no idea what it is doing there.  I think showing just a suggestion of the rotten log looming over the fragile little plant is something I might try to do again.

Gooseberry Falls, watercolor, 9x12, 2011

We went camping on the north shore of Lake Superior this past weekend.  I enjoyed putting the color down wet-in-wet, and then it was so sunny it dried almost right away and I could add some detail.  I had to stop before it was done.  I may still add more value contrast to this one.

Knife River, watercolor, 9x12, 2011

This one was just something to do as I waited for the rest of my group to be ready to go to Gooseberry Falls.  This was 10 feet from our tent at Knife River Campground.  I highly recommend staying there.  The guy who owns it is refurbishing an old boat that is way cool.  We were there with some other families from our neighborhood.  The 10 year old boys in our group were playing at the edge of the river as I was setting up to paint this.  "What's that?  Oh!  It's a rock!"  "Are you going to put in the graffiti?"  This one doesn't feel done yet either, perhaps I should put in the graffiti?  Or perhaps the boys all trying to stand on the rock at once?

How about this one?

como sunset, watercolor, 9x12, 2011

I just finished this one.  I think I like it better than the other three I was considering for the State Fair.  It's got a feeling like time is running out.  Which it is.

Which one should I choose?

Time Lapse, watercolor, 9x12, 2010

Fall Retreat, watercolor, 9x12, 2010

Willow River, watercolor, 9x12, 2010

It's time for my annual attempt at the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition.  Not sure why I keep doing this, logically I should try some other shows where the competition is not quite so fierce, or where my work would fit better, but it has become tradition for me.  Perhaps it is good character development to experience the rejection.  It keeps me humble.

So my plan is to choose one of these three watercolors, or I might create something today or tomorrow that is better.  We will see.  When I registered online, I just said "watercolor, untitled."  If you want to give feedback on which one I should choose, I would welcome your comments.

Hometown

Before the Fire, watercolor, 4.5x6.5, 2011

study, watercolor, 4.5x6.5, 2011

study, watercolor, 4.5x6.5, 2011

A major portion of my hometown burned earlier this year.  I had not been there for a long time, but it still affected me to know it was gone.  I can't imagine the loss that must be felt by the people whose daily lives are forever changed.

On a lighter note, I attended my high school reunion yesterday and had a fabulous time.  Hayride, bonfire, good food and friends.

Time to tackle the clutter

Just a little watercolor sketch.  I have not been painting much so far this summer because I decided that organization is a higher priority.  Instead of escaping the clutter by going outside to paint, I am tackling the clutter.  At least for a little while.  I need to clear out unnecessary stuff from my studio area as well as the rest of the house.  I'm just tired of looking at piles.  I used to just blame my husband, but recently I have removed the log from my eye and saw that some of the clutter is mine and I can do something about that.

So my posts will probably be just sketches for awhile.

Yesterday I threw away 5-10 pairs of old shoes, and donated 2 pairs.

Today I made up a  box of art supplies to give away.  I put all my gouache in there.  I never use gouache. 

Summer is almost here

Rebecca's Purple Feet, pastel, 9x12, 2006

There is something about climbing on rocks that I just love.  Climbing on rocks in water is even better.  With this picture, I was thinking about the process of looking for a foothold, a stable place to stand.  Sometimes you have to take a step at an awkward angle.  The intense blue and purple is there just because I liked it.

wild grasses, acrylic, 18x24, 2009

Small stream tiers, watercolor, 9x12, 2007

The show went really well, better than expected.  It was a steady stream of people and some of them even bought something, so I am very happy about the whole thing.  It is fun to talk about art and so nice that people seemed to want to hear me talk about my art.

Now it is two weeks before the end of the school year.  I look forward to setting myself down in front of a stream and watch how the water passes over and around the rocks.

I think there is a deadline today at school for some paperwork of some kind.  I'd better get over there.

Shady Green Space, acrylic, 2007?, 14x22

Nevis Pine Trees, watercolor, 2008, 9x12

Today is the show.  Tomorrow too.  Let me know if you need the details.  These are two paintings that have lived at Dee's house for the last two years since the last show.  I had forgotten about them!  I like the sense of form and the yellow/blue.  That one branch really did curve like that.  I thought of changing it, but decided it added an interesting ambiguity.  And some visual contrast.

I went to a staff development event at the Walker Art Center on Friday last week.  They taught us about the new elements and principles of art.  Time, Appropriation, stuff like that.  It left me wondering what to do with that information.  Is my art irrelevant?  They said that the old elements and principles of contrast, balance, emphasis, etc. are still important and these are just additions.  So that made me feel a little better, but still.  I have to ponder this a bit longer.

Wordless and Done, acrylic, 20x30, 2007?

One of the Wm. OBrien sketches, pastel, 9x12, 2006?

Big Fish?, acrylic, 36x36, 2009

The show is hung.  Now I am trying to get organized with things like labels, receipts, and I am putting more unframed pieces in plastic sleeves.  Here is some free advertising for clearbags.com.  Great place to get clear plastic coverings of all sorts.  That saved me SO much time.

I'm trying to create a catolog of my work.  I have started this project many times and change my mind about the specifics often enough that it never gets done.  These three pieces are connected in my way of thinking about my work, but I do not think they are connected in the way a catalog would organize my work.  The first one is about the feeling of exasperation at trying to explain something that no one understands, or finish something that will never be truly finished.  The second one is about barriers and how life keeps moving forward.  The third one was my get-out-my-frustrations painting for a long time.  Eventually it started to look like rocks in a river.  As I worked with it, it started to look like fish.  Is that one shape a fish or a rock?  You tell me.

Happy Accidents

Long Lake Solitude 2, watercolor, 9x12, 2010

Branson, watercolor, 9x12, 2010

I like to see what different types of marks remind me of.  I also like to use those watercolor accidents and let them become the focal point.

More Trees

Off the Trail, pastel, 9x12, 2010

Scary Tree, watercolor, 7x11, 2010

I'm trying to post as many of the show pieces as I can.

Now I will read to my son.

Preparing for a show

Fall Retreat, watercolor, 9x12, 2010

Breezy Point, watercolor, 9x12, 2011

I've been going through my work and deciding what to keep, what to toss, and what to show.  I have a large stack of work that I like and is important to me, but too personal.  Maybe I'm not ready to show that work, or maybe it is not meant to be shown.  I had a teacher once who looked at one of my drawings and said something to the effect of: This is good, but it's not for public consumption.  It is showing you a direction you need to go.  I believe that was good advice.  So I have a special place to keep those and I take them out and look at them once in awhile and they inspire me.  Both of the pictures in this post have things in common with some of those pictures.

I almost just deleted that whole paragraph because how rude is that to talk about the work you are not going to show.  I figure people who create art might understand.  To the rest of you I appologize.  If everyone made art, if our society valued creation like we value exercise, perhaps I would not need to appologize.

Next I need to do some framing and organizing.

1988

untitled, oil paint, 30'x40', 1988

I made this painting in 1988.  Yeah......  I often complain of not having time to paint and yet do I paint?  What am I doing instead?  Living my life I guess.  All these things I do are important things, even the relaxing and the visiting and the driving kids around.  If I painted more, I would have to neglect one of these other very important things. And yet, without painting more, I know I am not able to get to the level I want.  I know it takes a while to get into a mental space where I can improve and I know I am not going to have that much time, so I don't start to avoid the frustration of having to stop.  Sure, I could continue to do happy little landscapes and people like happy landscapes, even I like happy landscapes, but there is more I want to do.  Yeah, I know, quit my whining and paint.

I'm Back

These are some works in progress that I started today.  It took me over 15 minutes to do the whole process of taking photos, editing and uploading.  I wish I could do that faster.  The kids are hungry and the water has been boiling on the stove for some time now to cook the noodles for spaghetti.
At least I painted SOMETHING today.  

Frozen Waterfall

Frozen Waterfall, acrylic, 12x16, 2011

Here's a valid metaphor for my artistic life right now.  Hopefully spring is on it's way.  I did not get a chance to finish the driving painting because school needed my time today.  I did get a few things knocked off the to-do list, but a few more were added, so on we go.  I was glad I went to the events my colleagues had worked so hard to plan and execute.  I enjoyed talking to the students about their science fair projects, and seeing students at the book fair.  So I actually do like my job, I just wish I could do it in 40 hours per week or less.

I did not post this painting when I first painted it because of technical difficulties, and then I did not post it because something about it really bugs me.  Something in the basic composition.  If anyone wants to give suggestions, I'm open.  No ego to bruise here.

Grandma Valerie

Not out of the Woods Yet, pastel, 22x28, 2000

Here is a drawing of Grandma Valerie who passed away recently, and her husband Arne, who passed away in 1999.  In the photo I used as a reference, they are seated at a long folding table at their grandaughter's wedding, watching the bride and groom dance.  There really was a styrofoam coffee cup sitting on the table, of course the trees are my invention.  They were married 67 years, I believe.

The pastor who did the service was new to the church, so he never met Valerie or Arne, but he asked some of the longtime members about them and did a really nice job talking about memories different people had of them.  Bill and his sister did a nice job too in talking about their Grandma.

I drove 400 miles yesterday, so now would be a good time to try to finish that painting I posted the other day.

Work in Progress

Traveling, acrylic and oil stick, 16x20, 2011

This is an unfinished drawing/painting that is in my studio space right now.  I will be traveling to Hibbing for a funeral soon.  There have been times in my life when I spend an extreme amount of time in a car, I think that is what this one is all about.  I'm not sure how to resolve the composition issues here, perhaps I will get some inspiration on this next road trip.

Seattle trip

brown purse doodle, ink, 6x9, 2011

One of the sessions I attended at the conference was about Joseph Albers' style of teaching drawing.  He was most well known for "Homage to the Square", which was an exercise in creativity.  (if you keep the shape and texture constant, how many different ways can you paint it?)  It intrigued me to think about how many different ways can you combine the same type of line.  He said they worked a long time of elipses, and then he brought a bunch of pumpkins in to draw, and they found they already knew how to draw them.

On the plane ride home I was thinking about that and in looking at the purse on my lap, I noticed that it was made up of hundreds of slightly curved lines all about the same length.  I started to sketch it with a felt tip pen.  The picture above is how far I got before I needed to stop.

The pictures below were done yesterday (Saturday).  A sunny day in Seattle!  I spent about two hours at the water and a little over 2 hours at a park that had a lovely wooded ravine with a stream and bridges at the bottom.  My goal was to use as many sheets of my watercolor block as possible and not worry about making finished pieces.  I was trying to figure out how to make the marks.

Driftwood beach, 9x12, watercolor, 2011

Wooded ravine, watercolor, 9x12, 2011

Drawing for Prizes

Self Portrait, oil pastel and pen, 9x12, March 18, 2011

Almost two weeks since my last post!  I've been busy and I've been sick, but all better now. 

I'm in Seattle at the National Art Educator's Convention.  One of the vendors is offering a bagful of free art supplies to everyone who takes the time to draw a self portrait in oil pastels.  At first I planned to only spend 10 minutes or so, but I found that I needed to draw more than I needed to stick to my original plan of sessions to attend.  I really truly need to draw more.  I do not even know yet what I want to draw or paint. I think that the only way to figure that out is to make lots of drawings and to make them fast.

Because I sat there so long working on this, one of the employees gave me a set of "artist's quality" oil pastels.  They have lightfastness ratings and everything.  I have a hard time believing that oil pastel drawings can be permanent.  Anyone out there have any thoughts or knowledge about that?

A new painting!

untitled, shiva paintstick, 16x20, 2011

It's not much, but I am just getting back into it.  I was thinking about Kandinsky's claim that blue represents the spiritual and yellow is earthly, but I just let it become what it wanted to become.  Looks like a building in the snow with clouds and a giant red bird.  Ha.  Better not analyze it too closely.  Just make another painting tomorrow.  This one I painted yesterday (Sunday).  Today was conferences until 8pm, so no painting today.  I should have a free hour or so tomorrow.

Making Space

quiet afternoon, colored pencil, 8x10, 2011

I read Kandinsky's book "considering the spiritual in art".  Very intense, intellectual, academic read.  Thank goodness it was less than 100 pages.  But it motivated me to draw something again.  My intention was to just draw non-representational shapes, but they looked too much like hair, so I let it become this portrait of I don't know who.  

I drew this while sitting in Coffman Union on the U of MN campus.  My daughter was in a swim meet at the aquatics building.  I remember protesting the construction of that building.  That was a long time ago.  The swim meet was so crowded I absolutely could not find a place even to stand without being in the path of people trying to enter or leave.  Crowds freak me out, and it was going to be at least an hour before her next race, so I went for a walk around the campus and ended up in that quiet spot.  Shortly before I left to return to the swim meet, someone sat down at a nearby piano and began to play.  It was quite pleasant.  It was less crowded when I returned to the meet and a friend saw me and made space for me next to her.  I was very grateful.

Happy Birthday Granny!

Saltwater #6, acrylic, 14x22, 2004

It was my grandmother's birthday on Friday.  She has been an inspiration and a rock of stability throughout my life.  The reasons for choosing to make pictures of Salt and Water remind me of Granny.  Life if about balance.  We need salt, but not too much.  Water is essential for life, but an ocean of saltwater is not going to quench your thirst.  My grandmother taught me to use warm saltwater gargles to cure a sore throat.  Salt and Water are simple and they are complex.  You need to figure out when and how and how much to use.  The white square on the plate is a saltine cracker.  They sort of remind me of communion, which is also simple and complex at the same time.  I guess what I am trying to say is that Granny seems to me to be a person who has figured out something about life.  Her outlook on life seems to be that we should get out there and DO stuff.  And help people.  And take care of ourselves.  And have fun.  Happy Belated Birthday.

Happy Birthday Denise!

perfect day, acrylic, 16x20, 1999

This is a day late for Denise's birthday, and there is another important birthday today that I will post later today.

Denise, this is called perfect day and that is what I hope you had yesterday.

Happy Birthday Jill!

Duluth Again, pastel, 11x14, 2006

Here is a drawing of a waterfall in Duluth in honor of my friend Jill's birthday.

Study for more Rocks and Water

study, 2007 or so, watercolor

It is early and I need to get to my coffee.

Rocks and Water

Emerging Worlds of Rocks and Water, pastel, 22x28, 2004

I made this on my way home from a Split Rock Art Program workshop in 2004.  It felt like it worked.  It was wonderful sitting there in Jay Cooke State Park just me and the landscape and the pastels.

I've been reading that Kandinsky book a few pages a day because it is a heavy read.  He talks about color and form and representation as three elements of painting.  If I understand him correctly he says that the only way to get at the essence of color and form is to eliminate the representation of known objects.

I tried to make a picture with no representation the other day, the shapes looked too much like hair to me so it turned into a portrait.  I'll try again perhaps.

technology whine

study, acrylic, 2006

It annoys me when people whine about their technology not working, but MY TECHNOLOGY IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!  Updates to things that were working fine before the update make no sense.

More later.