Building A Mystery - 16x20" Paint and Paper

Secret Numbers - 16x20" Paint, Papers and Stitching

 

 Spring - 8x10" Papers and Stitching

 

Emerge - 9x12" Papers and Stitching

 

Wonder if anyone sees or reads this blog any longer. It's been quite awhile since my last posting due to computer issues and just plain human operational error! Blog neglect aside, I have been busy creating art. In the past months, inspired by the Target Practice collages (see previous post) I've been exploring the world of paint, papers and glue. Above are some samplings. I plan on continuing with these and have a thought of creating a series inspired by my love of quilts....we shall see...one never knows what will or will not take shape.

Abstract for a Sunday

Sketched out the basics of this abstract during the week and started painting it yesterday. My husband really likes it. I think I do too. It's acrylic paint on 140lb watercolor paper and measures 22" x 30".

Cosmic-Ness

Last night was one of those times that the stars were all in alignment and the good fairy was waving her wand over my world.

I ‘attended’ a Twitter Chat Party that included many of the artists involved with Seth Apter’s book, The Pulse of Mixed Media. It was an hour of fast streaming posts that included much laughter, talk about art and some great nice-to-meet-you conversations. If you don’t know about Seth or his book head over to his blog and see all the good art and artist exposure over there.

The Twitter fun came on the heels of receiving the information that Orange Regional Medical Center would like to include some of my large abstracts in a summer show that exhibits in a main hallway there. What? Really? Who would have thunk it?

Writing on the Wall

These small little artist trading cards started out as gelatin plate prints and ended up looking like this after I added photo transfer images from one of my abstract paintings, some marks and additional layers of paint. I like to make these little jewels to sell in my Etsy shop....they have found homes all over the world...how cool is that?

The Struggle

I should be cleaning. I could be doing laundry. I must complete some work from the day job (that has now become a 24/7 venture, thank you very much). But instead...I painted...to feed my soul. Now it's time to throw some dinner together. My poor husband.
Acrylic paint, gesso & soft pastels on claybord. 24"x18"

Small Abstract

When I started this small one (5"x7") I had thoughts of something quiet and low key in color as inspired by Graceann Warn's work. I, by no means, wished to copy her work but I wanted to push my envelope a bit.

Working on a Collage

Hmmmmm.....I took the gelatin printed on tracing paper collage from the other week and added some layers of paint and transparencies......hmmmmmm. It measures about 13" x 13".

Abstracting

I grabbed the paper, the paint, the rubbing alcohol and got to it!

18" x 24"

Might just end up in the Wallkill River School's annual fund raiser.

Pastel Abstract

Karen Stiehl Osborn posted the photo above on Facebook yesterday. I asked her if I could interpret it in a painting. She gave me her blessing.

So last night I picked up pastels for the first time in - like forever. I've never done an abstract with pastels. I'm not even sure how I feel about this painting but I do know that I liked visiting this medium again. All that layering and rubbing (or adult finger painting as someone I know calls it) really speaks to me.

More Gellies

Messed around with gelatin plate printing on this snowy Saturday morning. I'm pretty satisfied with the results and find that Golden fluid acrylics work really well on the gelly plate. I have some other art plans for this weekend....that involve a photo taken by Karen Stiehl Osborn. Karen is an incredible multi-media artist. More later....

Monotype Gelatin Prints

Scrapped the Marks 6x8"s in lieu of some monotype gelatin prints I did awhile back. These will be submitted to the Beacon Open Studios gallery call. I forgot how much I love gelatin print painting and the effects that can be achieved. 2012 will be a great year to do some more!

More Marks

This one is made of molding paste, cheesecloth and lots of paint layers. The one I made yesterday? It was bothering me this morning so I proceeded to add more paint and achieved a mess! I'm going to work on it some more and see if it can be salvaged....chances are not good but we'll see....

Marks

Making some 6x8 abstracts to submit to Beacon Open Studios. Come join the fun. No entry fee, no juries, no theme, no stress.

Small Wonders

A couple of weeks ago I met Laura, a lovely and talented collage artist who does lots of artist trading card sized art. Her collages are chock full of emotion and sentiment. I found them quite compelling. Laura frames these wonderful 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" pieces of art in larger white mats and they look fantastic. The large mat pulls you right in to view the small jewel they contain. Laura's work inspired me to create more ATC sized work....and....so...I did....(available in my Etsy shop should the spirit move you).

Perelandra

Many of us have lives inside our minds that don't reflect much of the real world or actual situations but are gee-normous indicators of our internal wishes, wants, desires, and - well - souls. As I create an abstract I know that what evolves as the painting unfolds is from deep within these recesses and is part of the essential makeup that is me. Some of the best abstracts are not consciously created - the energy flows from the body and spirit. The paint is only a vehicle.

Portals

So many roads, so many possibilities...sometimes the issue with choices is the unknown. What about this, what about that? The trick is to be able to make a rational decision based in reality...and the realities in any given situation can be diverse and complex. Crystal balls not withstanding, it's often difficult to know which door to choose....door #1, door #2 or door #3? The consequences can be a bit higher than those of a game show.

Cause and Effect

Wow...was I ever influenced by the moon last night. Stayed up way too late and woke up much too early. I'm blaming it on the moon...since it - certainly - couldn't have anything to do with the fact that my mind was racing a hundred and twelve miles per hour.

I struggled with this for good parts of both yesterday and today. It is on a very large stretched canvas (16x40) and I've come to realize that I like working on 140# watercolor paper much better than canvas. Anyway, the photo isn't the best but it gives you an idea of the piece. Odd, but the piece looks much more like it's title in person......Crumbling Walls.

Tomorrow night we're going to hear the NY Philharmonic and see fireworks....where?....at the site of the Woodstock Festival...now known as Bethel Woods. I love where I live.

Freedom

Messing around this morning with some exercises from this book. I took a painting that wasn't working and smeared gloss gel on it - thick. Then when it was tacky I combed into the gel with a plastic fork and then let it dry completely. After that lots of layers of transparent paint were applied, partially pulled up in places as it suited me and then more layers were added. I might still need to add some accents but it's time to let it sit for awhile and go pick some strawberries.

Reveal

Painted again today. Hooray.
Anyone out there care to share their thoughts on abstract art? Do you like it or is it something you can live without? Why? Who is...or are...some of your favorite abstract artists? I don't have a lot of knowledge about abstract art (yep, I'll admit it) and I'd love to learn more.