Green Rocks in progress

I have had no time for painting. Three illnesses since Thanksgiving. Somehow Christmas happened, so that is good. I do feel blessed to be surrounded by family and friends. I do not want to complain that they are taking time away from painting. Perhaps this is not the stage in my life for focusing on painting, people are more important. Yes, I need to make sure I care for myself or I won't be able to care for others, I know. Today I needed to paint, so I did. This is just part of the painting I worked on today. Maybe next time I will be ready to show more of it.

Oak Leaves

I'm interested in the shapes of these leaves and the shadows they create. I'd like to say they have a deep meaning, but at the moment all they are to me are interesting shapes and I had fun drawing and painting them. Another realistic drawing of them is started and hopefully I will work on it more tomorrow.

More Lake Pepin

Brushes for iPad. I like this one better than the watercolor.

Lake Pepin

I went to Frontenac State Park today. It was a glorious sunny day, not too cold, no wind. As I was looking for a good spot to paint, I kept finding good spots and then going just a bit further and finding a better one. This spot was at the end of a trail.

Camp friendship

I was at a retreat this weekend in Annandale. It was drizzle and fog which made standing at the edge of the lake like standing at the edge of an abyss. Eerie stillness that was making me want to linger there, but there was not a dry place to sit.

Inner child

I dreamed about this painting last night. Photos of it were in the pack of class photos that was supposed to have my son's photos. Also in the photo envelope were photos of a woman wearing a white headband. It did not look like me, but I think it was supposed to be me. I returned the photos because where are the photos of my son? Next they gave me photos of a red-haired woman. This morning in real life the photos of my son were on the kitchen table. They must have arrived in the mail yesterday.
Shall I dye my hair today?

Change is hard

I just figured out how to make the keyboard big enough to type normally well almost normal. I do not like stopping to figure out how to do punctuation and other stuff that comes naturally on a regular keyboard. Change is hard.

First iPad post

It is hard to type on this tiny keyboard. I am hoping that I will post more often with this new device. This was made with the brushes app.

Carrying My Shoes

Carrying my Shoes, 20x16, acrylic and photocopy transfer, 2012

On Tuesdays, I go to a class about dreams.  In this painting, I'm climbing over rocks to a place where one lone tree grows.

I started this painting back in February.  I posted it back then and just the other day I finished it by adding the rocks and the tree.  

The artist whose talk explained the photocopy transfer method was Laura Young Bird.  She is a Minnesota artist.  Look her up.  Her work is fascinating.

I'm getting ready for a show of my paintings.  It is exciting and scary.

Overworked

work in progress, watercolor,  4.5x6, 2012

Last week was back to school.  All of my waking hours were devoted to school or family needs.  Today I read a book for fun, and I watched my son and his friend play ladder ball, and I painted.  This one was much better before I reworked the leaves and stems and shadows.  Now it is too muddy.  When I realized it was overworked, I said to myself, "self-portrait".

Springbrook Park

Springbrook Leaves, watercolor, 12"x9", 2012

New Life Old Moss Springbrook, watercolor, 12"x9", 2012

Here is what I did today.  Could not ask for more perfect weather.  This morning I was torn between wanting to get things ready at school and going outside to paint.  Every fall I never feel completely ready when school starts.  But how many perfect days with an open schedule am I going to have in my life?  I painted first.  I painted until I felt I had enough outside time.  The second one is a rework of one I started at Locke Park.

When I went to school, that was fine too because at that time what I needed was to be by myself.  I arranged things on shelves and drew the little colored shapes on the tables that let the students know their jobs, and then I was about to put up the signs for the table numbers that my student teacher made years ago.  The signs were too faded to use again, but the strings and boards were still good, and the students often comment on how they like the fancy numbers, so I used student acrylic to paint over them, keeping the shape of the numbers close to the same.  It was fun.  So I was at work, I was doing stuff for work, but not getting paid, so I figured painting fancy numbers was a good use of my time.  It was work and play at the same time.  I would have taken a picture if I had a camera there.  The art room really should have at least one camera. But I digress...

Blogging is funny.  I feel like I'm writing a journal in public.  That is what it is, isn't it.  Maybe someone will read it, maybe not.  It does not really matter to me and that is what strikes me as funny.  It's more about my need to write and paint and have a record of what I was thinking as I made each picture.

Reworking

Living above the Waterfall, watercolor, 6"x4.5", 2012

Pine Springs Journey, watercolor, 9"x12", 2012

Lake Nancy Clouds #2, watercolor on clay board, 5"x5", 2012

We have been blessed with weather that is optimal for being outside.  I spent the last couple hours on the deck reworking some old paintings that were not finished.  Each one had areas I thought were successful, but each one also had areas that bugged me and I was not sure how to resolve them.  I was a bit reluctant to touch brush to painting at first, but then I realized I really had nothing to loose.  Mostly I was just reacting to what was there, balancing colors and values.  It was a peaceful experience.

JoAnn's Cabin

JoAnn's gift, watercolor, 12x9, 2012

It was a wonderful week of water, sun, bikes, and boats.  Here is our view of Lake Belle Taine.  Thank you JoAnn for the space, and thank you Schulers for great company!

Bemidji Walks

Lake Bemidji #1, watercolor, 9x12, 2012

After dropping off my Dad at his doctor apppointment, I went to the park in Downtown Bemidji.  Two families were taking photos at the Paul Bunyan statue.  I walked to the fishing pier because I thought the river might be nice, but that did not seem like the right spot.  So I backtracked past the statue, through the lovely garden with fountain, past the dragon boats, and finally found this spot on the path through the woods that goes toward Bemidji State U.  Thank you to whoever built the retaining wall that made a nice place to sit.

Lake Bemidji #2, watercolor, 9x12, 2012

Back at Dad's house, I made this one and the next one.  I never get the idea in my head to materialize on the paper.  The tree kept getting too big and too lollypop-ish.

Lake Bemidji #3, watercolor, 9x12, 2012

I used a hake brush on this one.  I like the type of marks it makes in the tree leaves and the water in the background.  I need more practice to control the intensity of the color.

Lake Bemidji State Park, watercolor, 9x12, 2012

Lake Bemidji state park has miles and miles of great trails.  I love the dense greens, reddish verticals of the tree trunks, and the spattering of sunshine that gets through the leaves.  This was a busy spot.  It is near the overlook at the top of the hill.

Bog Lake, watercolor, 12x9, 2012

This was not a busy spot.  About half a mile in from the road there is a boardwalk through a bog that goes on for about a quarter mile.  At the end of the boardwalk is a small very calm lake.  It was so peaceful.  Someone put a lot of work into the informational signs on the walk.  There was also a book that you could read as you went, because each page was in a plastic cover and posted about 20-30 steps apart.  It was called "The Belching Bog".  It has nice illustrations.  More people should go see it.

It is what it is

It Is What It Is (pink and green landscape), acrylic, 24x36, 2012

I showed up at the easel today.  It felt good.  Normally I would go outside to paint in the summer, but it is too hot and my back hurts.  I think this was better to use acrylic today.  I needed to splash some paint around a large space.  I also reworked a few other old ones, and started one new one.

This one was a grid landscape before I attacked it today.  (simple landscape in progress 1).  It was similar to the chessboard painting I posted a few months ago.  At first I thought I would just touch it up, but soon started to just cover big areas and let the colors blend on the canvas.  I mixed large amounts of a few different greens, blues, and pinks before I started.  That was a change in my usual way of doing things.  Usually I mix each color as I need it.  I had lots of leftover color that I liked when I was done, so I covered some other old paintings.

Shoe Sketch

I have not been painting much.  But I do bring my sketchbook pretty much wherever I go.  Running shoes have interesting shapes.  Yes, that ankle is way skinny.

I need to commit to painting/drawing more.  Sometimes I think I should just forget about it until my life is less busy, but I do not believe my life will ever be less busy.

"How are you spending your one and only life?"  Someone said that and it stuck with me.  Does anyone else remember where that is from?

Orange Pansies

Orange Pansies, watercolor, 12x9, 2012

I'm calling this one done.  I seem to be interested in leaf forms these days.  These pansies were a door prize at a baby shower I attended a month or so ago.  The darker leaves are a flowering plant that has not flowered yet this year.  Metaphorical possibilities abound.  I need to continue to work on this sort of thing.  I'm switching techniques too often in the one picture, and I still struggle with light.  Maybe focusing in on a smaller section would help.

Rice Creek Leaves

work in progress, 9x12, 2012, watercolor

work in progress, 9x12, 2012, watercolor

It is a hot day today.  I went out painting before it got too warm, but had to stop to go pick up my daughter from cross country practice.  I plan to try to work on these some more this afternoon.  My deck is in shade in the afternoon.  If necessary, I could work inside as well.  

I'm feeling discouraged by the wide gulf between what I envision and the reality of what is showing up on the paper.  I know from past experience that what I need to do is just keep painting.  Still....

Locke Park Leaves

Locke Park Leaves, 7"x11", watercolor, 2012

I went looking for a place that was not too far away and had moving water.  This park had many footbridges over a fast moving stream.  Very nice.  The spot I chose also had some fallen logs that had turned mossy with new plants growing between them.  The idea I was going for here was the sensation of focusing on a small detail among the cacophony of stimuli. I'm also trying to do this post as quickly as possible so I will believe that I can post more often.  This time it is 20 minutes from photo to hitting the post button.

Duluth Waterfalls

Studies, Congdon park and Lester Park, Duluth, each one is 4.5x6, 2012

Here is more of the work I did while in Duluth.  I am amazed at how you can be just a few blocks from downtown and be in the woods next to a beautiful waterfall.  Congdon (spelling?) park is lower than the surrounding landscape which makes it feel even more secluded.  The moss grows thick.  In the fall the moss blooms bright red.  I hope to go back to see that again.

Water and Rocks and Bridges

Amnity Creek Duluth, watercolor, 9x12, 2012

Many thanks to Jill for suggesting this spot!  It has got it all, water, rocks, a bridge with a semi-circle form.  This painting needs a bit more before I will call it done.

Banning State Park Kettle River Rapids, watercolor, 9x12, 2012

I think this one is done.  On the way home from Duluth, I noticed the outside temperature rose from about 48 to 65 by the time I passed Moose Lake.  And the sun came out.  I did not see the sun the whole weekend in Duluth.  I decided to stop at Banning State Park to do more painting and hiking.  This spot is called "Dragon Tooth" on the hiking map.  I think the actual Dragon Tooth rock is on the other side and I left it out because it messed up the composition.  If I go there again, I may try to work it in.  Somewhere in my house is an unfinished picture of this same spot from about three years ago.  I want to find it.

Bemidji

North of the Barn, watercolor, 7x4.5 (each), 2012

I went out to paint north of the barn after supper because that was where the light was best.  Mosquitoes chased me inside before I finished, so I finished them this morning.  Mosquitoes in Bemidji on March 21.  Today it is colder.  We will visit awhile, play some board games and head for home.  This meadow might be garden by next year, that would be fun to paint also. 

Willow River

It has been crazy warm here in Minnesota.  I'm on Spring Break right now and I did not need to travel anywhere to be able to paint outside.  Well, OK, I went across the border to Wisconsin.  Willow River State Park is so beautiful.  Miles and miles of great hiking and a spectacular waterfall. 

Willow River 3.19.12 (1), Watercolor, 4.5x7, 2012

Willow River 3.19.12 (2), Watercolor, 4.5x7, 2012 

After sitting by the waterfall for an hour or so, it was a nice change to find a quiet spot near still water.  I worked on these two paintings of the fallen branch at the same time.  It started to rain while the sun still shone, creating a full rainbow.  Wow.  I love how at the end of the day the water has pink in it.

Willow River 3.19.12 (3), Watercolor, 4.5x7, 2012 

Willow River 3.19.12 (4), Watercolor, 4.5x7, 2012 

I returned to the waterfall before heading for home.  I only penciled it while there and then painted it at home.  There was a large group of rock climbers there early in the day, when I returned later it was just one woman climbing by herself.  She did get down safely.  

Getting into my car I realized that I would be driving west for a long time at sunset.  Thankfully, there were clouds at the horizon so I did not have to stare into the sun as I drove home.  That day was a gift.

Climbing Rocks

Climbing Rocks, acrylic and acrylic photo transfer, 16x20, 2012

I went to a workshop where some Dakota and Ojibwe artists showed their work and talked about it.  I learned about this method of using photocopies and acrylic medium to do the transfer from one of the artists there.  I can't remember her name and I tried to look it up just now with no luck.  I will find out and include her name in the next post.

I really like the combination of photo and abstract strokes of color.  I plan to do more with this.

More Simple Landscapes in Progress

Simple Landscape 2 in progress, acrylic, 18x24, 2012

Simple Landscape 1 in progress, acrylic, 24x36, 2012

Should it really take 20 minutes to create a post?  What am I doing wrong?  Too much agonizing over photography and editing to try to get the color right.

Painting today was short, but I enjoyed pushing the paint around.  Showing up at the easel.  That is what it was all about today.  Feel like I'm coming down with something.  Headache and nausea.  Hopefully it will not still be here in the morning.  Gotta drive the kids to band in the morning and then teach other kids about Chinese art, and then Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry, and then Winslow Homer.  No wonder I'm feeling a bit scattered.

Simple Landscapes

simple landscape in progress, 36x24, acrylic, 2012

I feel a need for wide open space.  I do not have it here in my house.  I spent some time at school yesterday trying to create it there.  There are about 2 hours of daylight left in the day, maybe a walk would do me some good.

Chessboard, 36x24, acrylic, 2012

I got a new easel and 3 big canvases for Christmas, I think the chessboard one is finished.  I was thinking about the relationship between the bishop and the pawn, thinking at first that this arrangement provides a possibility that the pawn could take the bishop, but only if the bishop is prevented somehow from attacking the pawn, perhaps by some other piece, but it is quite clearly wide open space, no one else around.  If it is the pawn's first move, it could move two spaces to safety, but then it is stuck there.  Why did I choose a bishop?  Because of some connection to religion?  No, because they move diagonally, and it makes a more visually pleasing arrangement.  But it is called a bishop, so the religious connection is there, whether I want it to be or not.  I really like this one.  But I do not know what to do with it.  I can't imagine displaying it anywhere.

Distance

Distance, watercolor, about 4x4, 2009

When I painted this, I was at a friend's cabin and the scenery was beautiful, but I did not paint the scenery.  I sat outside and painted from my imagination.  I used the paint in a more opaque way than usual for me.  I left the white spot near the base of the tree because it felt right to do so.  The title distance comes from both the close-far feeling in the painting, and the fact that it reminds me of how sometimes I just need to remove myself from others for a little while.  

I almost did not put this one in the show.  I'm not sure why.  But I did and it was one of the first to sell.  Interesting.

Chess

Chessboard (in progress), acrylic, 24x36, 2012

sketch for chessboard, pencil, 6x9, 2011

Board games seem to be a big part of the lives of people around me.  I enjoy playing a board game now and then.  Those near and dear to me play more often than I choose to play.  I think the forms of chess pieces are interesting and the distorted grid has intrigued me for some time.  Lots of metaphorical possibilities with this one, I will think on that more as I continue to work on it.  I think the sky is too dark, but I like the purple/yellow grid.  

I fell away from blogging in 2011.  I think I was questioning if it is worth the time, and even questioning if painting is really how I should be spending my time.  I'm hoping to post weekly in 2012.