PAINTING, LAYERS OF PAPER, MORE PAINT, MORE PAPER, WHERE DOES IT ALL END????

I think I may put those wings back into it though.
I liked them.

I'm sure you've never put yourself through this,
have you?????

WHAT WAS I THINKING !!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, this painting is officially stalking me.
It started out like this............

I actually liked the windows with the washed out words.
I had a lot of fun working on the wings, painting on the acrylic and
glazing and working on the details.......yes, I really did like those wings.

But then when I stood back and looked at it, I was horrified !

What is that big blob of glazed white in the middle?
What? You're asking me?
How in world do I answer a question like that !

Even I don't know .....

I'm still not sure where this is going,
I guess I'll have to wait,
just like all of you.

Stay tuned !

OIL PAINTINGS, GALLERYS, SANTA FE

Ground Zero. Santa Fe ~ the "big kids" art world.

Amazing how I can walk out my little suburban house, get in my car and in less than one hour be at Ground Zero for the art world.

Yesterday my husband and I did just that.

A day spent on Canyon Road in Santa Fe can be simply amazing.


Some of the pieces are not particularly my cup of tea but one has to admit that the technical expertise, the feeling, the light, the sheer awesome beauty of truly wonderful art is an experience that rivals many others.

Artists like Ed Mell, Betsy Bauer, Melinda Hall, Robert Daughters.

In the end I come home over stimulated. Unable to sleep. Images swimming through my brain.
If I could rub the magic lantern and ask the genie for three wishes, I think that "being able to paint like the big kids" would be one of the three.

I'm sure they all started out somewhere just like me.

CREATIVITY, PAINTING, ACRYLICS AND HAIRCUTS

Lately, feeling in a bit of a rut. Looking at the work of other painters, acrylic, encaustic, collage. It is easy to see other's work as "creative" and then look at my own and see "less than".

My husband is such a champion for me. He's my lover, my mentor, my coach, my best friend and business partner. He said things that truly hit my heart and reminded me that painting is what I do, I am unique, I have a passion for painting and there is nothing wrong with digressing down the encaustic road.

And to Annie who commented yesterday, you are absolutely right! I do always paint straight from my heart.

I'm going to go ahead and take the encaustic workshop. What a great opportunity to meet some new people, try some new moves out on my brain and get a breath of fresh air.

"Breath of fresh air" ~ ha !! Reminds me of a man I once worked for who called it "blowing off the stink" !!!!!!!!!!!!

So what does all this have to do with a haircut? Yesterday by the time I got off work at 4pm , I was desperate to get rid of what felt like my dowdy haircut. I took a leap of faith (every haircut is, really) and stopped at one of those $10 clip joints at the shopping center. Wow, I got a really cut haircut! Layers, whispy and light. Like a burst of new energy and creativity.

Feels wonderful and I'm ready to get back in the studio and paint !!!!!!!

I hope your day is great and, Annie thanks for the reality check. Smooch

Oh and I hate making posts without an image, so here is a little eye candy !!!!

Paula's Photo

Our Lady of Guadalupe
Cuba, New Mexico
2007

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

How many of you artists out there stick to just one style. Say for instance, all birds, all abstract, portraits only, landscapes only?

I struggle with wanting to visit around with different techniques and styles. But if I do this, is it at the expense of professional branding? The majority of my art revolves around mixed media on canvas. Recently I've become aware of an encaustic workshop and would love to learn this technique.

From a business standpoint I understand how important it is to focus on the product, the branding, the marketing. Staying clear in the eye of your audience. What does that do to creativity though? Being someone who is always curious about the creative process yet needing to stay marketable, where is the balance achieved? Is there ever a balance?

Ideas? Suggestions? Thoughts on the matter? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

CESTANDREA AND MISS DOODLE MAKE MY DAY

I was thrilled to learn that I was the lucky winner in the drawing over at Cest Andrea !

So running home every day to check my mail box and finally it arrived ! I received the most wonderful earrings (an image that holds much significance for me) and a Miss Doodle painting which now graces my desk !!!!

Thank you so much for such a lovely gift. This means so very much to me!

Thanks again.

DOES YOUR ART REFLECT YOUR LIFE?

Plaza Dog Turns 55
12 x 12 x 2 gallery wrap canvas
mixed media
$250

Does your art reflect your life? Do you employ stream of conscience technique in your creative lineup?

This piece was a fascinating process for me. I started out just laying down paper, paint, ink, and once finished I stepped back and thought, oh my gosh, this says so much.

I have never thought of my work as self illuminating.

Lately I've been just sitting down and letting myself wander. The results are interesting and quite unpredictable.

What is your process like? I'd really like to know how you go about your work, your art, your life ~ what drives creativity? What motivates us to do what we do? Whether it is painting, writing, or cooking..................

THE VOICE INSIDE

Jack and Friends
4 x 6 postcard
Mixed Media

I made this postcard to my daughter-in-law a year or so ago. I really loved the mood that "jack" gave off. Kind of a "make my day" attitude!

I especially like making art on top of layers of old paper, pages from books, whatever strikes my fancy. For me those faint words in the background are like the unheard, inside voice we all have. The things we are thinking but wouldn't dare say, for fear of hurting, insulting, building false hope or whatever.

Throughout life I've usually abandoned the idea of the "inside voice" but as I age I find myself reserving those inside thoughts more and more.

At the first of the year I quickly abandoned the notion of a New Year's Resolution for something more like "My 2008 Motto". My motto for this year is:

Keep It Simple and Be Nice.

So I guess that is what's going on with Jack here. He's being nice and keeping things simple by not allowing the others to hear his inside voice.

Do you have an inside voice? One that you keep to yourself? Why? When? What happens with you have the overwhelming urge to just say what you think? "Oh that art really sucks!" or "Gee I sure hope that hair color isn't permanent"............or..................."I love you".

Please comment, I'd love to hear your inside voice on this topic.

Enough for today.

So check out this one !

You all seem to like these trucks as much as I do!

If I remember correctly we got this photo
in a small village near Penasco, New Mexico.

I imagine the little old guy who loved this truck.
He probably took it out rabbit hunting.
Or maybe he used it to haul hay
for the horses.
Or maybe,
he took his sweetie pie out for a ride
where they had a sweet kiss or two????

Pickup trucks with character abound here in New Mexico.

Recently I was at a local gallery dropping off some of my work
and there was a fabulous painting, quite large, lots
of wonderful color. It was a painting of a
pickup truck. And it was SOLD.
I'm always fascinated when I see paintings like this,
made by someone who really sees
their world.

Spring is getting closer every minute and the world
is out there banging away on your door to
creativity.

Will you see pickup trucks and turn to your canvas today?

I'm thinking it could be fun !!!

Go out and see some fun stuff today. Be inspired.

Elements of Love
16 x 20 x 1 gallery wrap canvas
mixed media
$250

Passion, pain, tenderness.
Whether it is friend, family or lover,
the elements of love run true and deep.
Layer upon layer of passion, pain and yes,
mostly tenderness.

ROSA OFFERS HER HEART

Rosa Offers Her Heart
16 x 20 x 1 gallery wrap
mixed media on canvas
$250

Springtime and Rosa feels love in the air.

What is that song?? How does it go????
"Love Is In The Air"
I think it was from the old TV series "Love Boat"?
I never watched that show but for some
reason I'm remembering the theme song.

So anyway, back to Rosa. She is an angel, see her halo?
She keeps sheep and they graze about her house.
They don't need a corral since they love Rosa and they
never leave her yard.

Tulips ~ ~ ~ Rosa is a lot like me.
This girl loves her tulips !

I wonder if a shepherd looking for work will ever
wander by and offer to care for Rosa's sheep, and
yes,
well,
er,
her heart as well.
I bet she'd offer it up.

Feautred Artist !!!!

Kim at Kim-Creating Space really got me going this morning. She has included in her current post a project that I can hardly wait to run home and try out. I just love the effect she got with technique and can think of all kinds of ways to make this fun and different and my own. How about you? Ready for a little distraction? Try this out !!!!!

NEW CAMERA

Wow! A new camera makes all the difference in the world ! A few weeks ago I took a photo of this cat and it was nice but this new camera makes it fantastic ! Want to look like a professional? Get a decent camera. I certainly didn't spend a lot of money but just a bit more sure does help.

ART THAT MAKES A MARK

Making a Mark on your life. Thinking about life and all those I come in touch with and the implications of making a mark. I like to think I am making a positive mark on the lives of those around me, my friends, family, co-workers, and especially my spouse and grandbaby.

Making a Mark is also about what my art says. The message I convey, I hope, makes a positive mark on those who view it.

Life is short, make a positive mark.

SPRING FEVER

I have serious Spring fever.
It is beautiful here today but I know there are plenty of cold days ahead.
I'm so glad to have this photo of my flowers from last summer.......*sigh*.
Where do you live? When does Spring arrive for you????

"ROCKY"

"Rocky"
acrylic and paper on gallery wrap canvas
17 x 20
$250

I once had a great old cat named Rocky. He was a stray found by some friends and he came home with me. He was a great hunter. Pretty independent. Rocky was a good guy.

ALL OF LIFE IS ART

Thinking about art, like I do.........

All of life is art. There is the art of romance, the art of negotiation, the art of fine dining, the art of simply living.

This coming week I will manage a fairly large project (for me it is large). The company I work for is having new carpet installed in the office. Big project you say? Well it means moving 25+ employees out of their cubicles, taking down those cubicles, laying the carpet and then putting it all back but in a new configuration. Oh my gosh, electricians, data drop and phone technicians, movers, carpet layers, the guys who take care of the cubicle build. And then thee are the employees. Everyone has so much stuff and it all has to go in boxes. Just the computers, copiers, printers, phones, keyboards and incidental equipment is mind numbing. We are a 24/7 type business so our customers need product and service at all times................yes, life is an art.

So for the next week, or so, I'll be practicing a different kind of art from that which I post about here. I'm going to focus on this as art, I'm going to look at this in a different way than one might expect and see what bubbles up.

ART MIND

Yet another day with my friend, ART, no-no-no, that's "art mind", not some hunk of burning love guy. Though I did know a guy named Art once. I digress......................

So many ideas swimming around in my head and not enough time to get them all out. Funny how sometimes it seems like a game of creative feast or famine. My "art mind" is so afire with ideas that I have a hard time sleeping. That is the trouble with this day job....I'm sure I'm not the only one who suffers this disease.