Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Week Three



Squash 12" x 12", acrylic on canvas

I've always liked this painting, this is its 4th and last background. 







Lewis & Clark Compass, 8" x 10", acrylic on board

From the Smithsonian's 100 Objects that Changed America.







Kids' printing and painting collage project,
 ink on paper, paste paper and print on transparency.




Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Week Two


One Chair, Two Tables, acrylic on board, 8" x 10"


I have to confess, painting is starting very slowly this year. 
When I actually sit down and paint, it's all there, but getting there has been a struggle.

 With this painting I was noticing how attached I get once a line I like is down,
 even if it stops working with the rest of the piece.



More Horses!



I thought about making these creatures some day with some class and since I don't have access to a kiln at the second school I teach in, it was time to do these as horses, in honor of the Year of the Horse. Once they were made, they reminded me of Alexander Calder sculptures
I hadn't thought about the similarities of the forms until I saw the show in LA last weekend. 
Which was fabulous, by the way, if you're in Los Angeles, go see it!








Reworked Painting, 2/16/14



This painting of Gram was never right. It looks much more like him now and I am pleased with the looseness of the paint. I left the eyes alone and now they are a little too tight, but that's okay.

The question, why paint and not just photograph? comes up a lot for me, especially since I usually paint from photographs. I have decided it comes down to the quality of the paint on the surface, if done right, it adds so much depth, it becomes something more than just the image. 

The paint on the surface is what I am continually working on. 
It takes a certain amount of caring and not caring at the same time.




Thursday, February 6, 2014

First week, Happy New Year of the Horse!



Butter Dish, Acrylic on Board, 10"x 8"

This is under the Allowing category, felt like painting an object this week!





White Bowl, Acrylic on Calligraphed Rice Paper (circa 1933) on board, 10"x10"

Repainted bowl, the under painting was of a fish bowl, never really liked it.... now it's better!






Clay Horse, 8"x 6"

Student project last few weeks for the year of the horse. 

We now have over 65 of these around the school, herds of good luck for the new year!