COLOR /VALUE QUIZ answer (newsletter)

SO.....you knew it was a trick question, yes? The answer is that the the line in all three rectangles is the same, but it appears altered by the colors and values of the the colors surrounding it. (value meaning lightness or darkness) This is something I learned many years ago...and I use it all the time in my work......and yet it STILL fascinates me!!

sentinels of winter

Every year once the leaves have fallen, I find myself watching the bare trees and the light surrounding them. They are sentinels standing against a silver sky. The motion as I walk or watch from a vehicle constantly shifts their relational positioning and flickers of light bounce off the bark. I am beginning to explore this fascination in my work.

magical place

I just finished up a little pastel series based upon a magical place in Denmark, Maine.

working away

Lula and I have been working away on some new acrylic paintings. Actually mostly, I am working and she is napping, but we all have our jobs. I am very interested in creating both a beautiful image which speaks to the spiritual quality of nature .....AND a beautiful surface. It's kind of a tall order, but I am making my way.

immersion

Today I stood in front of a large white canvas which I primed some time ago. At that time, I had a vague idea about the painting I wanted to make. But other studio commitments and unexpected occurrences put two months between my original thought and this moment. (Thankfully, my loyal assistant, Lula was there to offer support.) Hmmm……..where to start??? I believe the best way to start a painting….is to start it. I cannot execute the entire process first in my head. I need to put something down on the surface and respond to that…..and then respond to that, etc… And so I began putting down color and then layering it………not exactly sure about where I was headed. There is something about that unknown that pulls me forward. At some point I realized I was smiling. I was fully engaged in the creative process. It brought to mind that feeling of taking a deep breath and diving into the ocean. At once one is immersed, exhilarated, happy.

hot off the easel

I just finished a commission consisting of ten small pastels. Next week I will begin another commission which is for one large pastel. Took advantage of a brief interim to complete several pastels which have been close for awhile. I just needed to spend some time with them to make any final adjustments.

interesting juxtaposition

I recently said to a friend that although I was enjoying the holidays, I was looking forward to getting back to work in the studio. I realize that just being able to make that statement makes me very lucky. I have been moving back and forth between twelve 6” x 6” paintings for the ETA7 show and two 48” x 48” canvases which are somewhat related to my recent pastel series. The larger canvases barely fit on my easel! And as acrylic dries fairly quickly, I need to really move the paint across the surface with a great deal of energy. (This could be a new workout!) Only then can I stand back and evaluate the whole. LOTS more layers to go, but I am enjoying the process and the feeling of expansiveness. After a few days of that, I went back to working on the little guys. These feel very intimate. I am right up against them, working with very fine brushes. It has been an interesting juxtaposition!

genius

A friend recently stopped by my studio to purchase a painting for his new apartment. As he was looking around he said he thought he would like to buy a new painting for each season and then rotate them in the same space. What a fantastic idea! I'm pretty sure he is a genius :)

AND..........a recent not so small pastel

small works in acrylic

I just finished up some small paintings in acrylic. NO, not as small as the mini pastels for the deCordova gala. These are 6"x6". Some are on canvas and some on panel. It's nice when working this size, to be able to experiment with materials. In some cases I primed the surface with modeling paste. In some I used iridescence in the paint and / or finished with a glossy "leveling" gel.

exhausted assistant

Occasionally after a working frenzy (which I have been in since about January) I need to take some time to individually clean and re-sort the pastels in my working tray. It can be a tedious process, but necessary. Now my tray is all spiffed up and ready to go for the next project! Lula, my loyal assistant, found the whole thing rather exhausting.