Landscape or Landfill?

I'm very excited about the series of paintings I'm calling "Land Scopes".  Naturally, there's an occasional 'practice' piece. Watercolor is not forgiving; it's easy to make mud. I always try to salvage the picture by adding another medium, so I applied oil pastels. The colors were vibrant, but it still didn't do it for me. I was getting ready to pick up the scissors and make a collage out of it when I turned it upside down to look at. I liked it. Ha

What do you think? Do you like one? Which one? What do you like about it? Should it just become 'Land Fill?'

This is the original

Night and day photos

This is the same painting photographed in morning daylight and night time by lamp light.
It was startling for me to see as I tend to be rather casual around taking pictures of my work. I generally just do a quick snap with the Ipad for ease of posting on the blog. I like both of these, but might actually choose the warmer, lighter one (lamplight).

Grapes Alone

Very interesting Mindfulness Art Group this week. The prompt was about simple vs complicated.

We were asked to start with a simple drawiing of an object. There were grapes in a bowl on the counter. There were raspberries as well. I decided to simplify by only drawing the grapes

I also did not belabor making the picture. It was very fast.  Simple. I tend to overdo warercolors. They can get very muddy. Not pretty. Click the pic-this is the good one.

The Paper Makes the Difference

I've been noticing how the kind of paper I choose for each picture makes a difference in the work.
I'd been using a lot of inexpensive paper. It's 140lb., cold press and it's
got some texture in it. But more often now, I'm using a better brand, and the paint is not absorbed as readily. I'm also using larger paper again. It really makes a difference in my posture, the way I hold the brush, and the subject matter. I don't always have the energy to paint small and with great detail, on a paper about 5X8.

What's It To You?

The only concept I had here, at the start, was to do something with layers. I enjoyed  working with these colors, and I used the better paper which I left unpainted in parts. It is meant to be abstract, but I think it looks like ...something. What do you think it looks like?
Click the pic

Happy Birthday Millie

The rhododendrons were so beautiful this year. Too bad the rain trashed them. It seems that many beautiful flowers bloom for a short time. We must enjoy them while they're here. I made many sketches of the rhodies, always finding them a challenge. I tried different paints trying to get the color. I tried wetting the paper; dry paper, dry brush. I drew with pencil, marker, watercolor pencil.
I finally came up with this ink and wash that I like a lot. It feels kinda loose and has an ease about it.
Millie liked it too, as I used the image for her birthday card. (It's today, June 12th) Click the pic

Happy Birthday Millie

Earthly Delight

Haven't been able to get the idea of an over and under at the same time image out of my head. I'm also fascinated with cross sections. It's all about layers. Waterccolor requires layers of another sort: washes of colors on top of each other build the picture. As I've done in the past, I start at the bottom of the page and build the layers going up. What does it all mean? Not sure, but it's deep.
Click to enlarge.

Mindless Mindfulness

 Had a wonderful Mindfulness Art class with Deb.  The theme was "adding". We were exploring the concept of how drawings (and life) change when we add something. Sometimes in class I feel very philosophical and conduct experiments and think a lot. In this class, I was feeling rather laid back. There was a bowl of beautiful strawberries out on the table and everyone chose to make them the subject of their pictures. Here's my contribution. In the first piece, the black and white, I used pencil for the drawing, then added pen. In the second, as you can see, I added colors. It was all very pleasant for me. It was a mindless, mindfulness session. Click on the pic

Look At It This Way...

Inspiration for making pictures can come from just about anywhere. I’ll tell you how this one came about.

I saw some absolutely fabulous photos capturing life above and below sea level at the same time.  http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/matty-smith-over-under-ocean-photos

Knowing my friend, Kay Canavino, loves this kind of thing, I sent her the link. We had a lively discussion about the pictures. Shortly after, I Googled some phrases like above and below ground and clicked on ‘images’ at the top of the page. I found a photo that I liked and used it for a reference for this painting.

It’s actually not the first time I’ve painted layers. I have painted many. Here are some:
http://andreafeldmanstudio.blogspot.com/2014/01/for-love-of-layers.html

Circle Game

I often look to painting as a moving meditation. Just getting my materials set up can help to calm me down. Sometimes though, I stall when I face the empty paper, because I don't know what to paint. When that happens, I paint circles. That's my default. It's very useful in getting directly down to painting, rather than having to search for inspiration. Once I get started, I become absorbed in the process and enjoy the soothing benefit I was seeking.
Click to enlarge.

Shadow dancing

I hadn't painted out doors since last summer. I looked around the studio to see what I would need to take. By the time I finished, you would think I was going camping. There was so much; water for painting and iced tea for drinking. I needed paper, pencils, paint, tissues...

As I opened the gate to my yard, I scanned for the right spot: shady, level, not too close to the compost pile. I opened my chair and table. I tested the table for stability. One leg sank into the mud. It took a few tries to find my spot. Finally situated, blank paper before me, I was ready to immortalize the lilac tree. My hand reached out, but came back empty. I searched once more half-heartedly, but knew I'd forgotten to bring brushes.

Then I noticed a little piece of a sponge in my pencil box. I submerged it in water and squeezed it out on the grass. I dipped the edge in paint and looked at my paper to see where I would begin.  Branches of a huge pine tree were dancing across my page. I squinted, but was unable to see beyond the shadows, so I spent some time trying to catch them. Click on the pic to enlarge.

On the Rhod

 I love rhododendrens. They came up so quickly this year. Seeing them, especially the magenta ones, elevates my spirits. So gorgeous. But I was struggling with residual doom and gloom. So I decided to take some photos and paint from the pics. But to change up a bit, I used my non-dominant hand. First I drew in pencil and then I used watercolor. I admit that my left hand got tired so the other hand helped a bit. Did I transform my mood? Not really. But I was nicely distracted for a while.

Truncated

I don't know what the name of this tree is. We have several of them on the property. I enjoy looking up close as the bark is so interesting. Sitting right next to it, I could only see a small part. Of course, trying to paint the whole thing would be too big for the paper.

Pull up a chair

Got a new chair today at the tractor store. The tractor store! Don't I sound dainty?

It's a great chair. Opens and folds easily. I can get up from it without groaning. It's a rocker, too.

I think it's difficult to find a comfortable chair. And some chairs are impossible. Like the hi tops in a bar or restaurant. I cannot get up on one without looking like a complete fool or hurting something. Or those ice cream parlor chairs. They're all twisted metal with a little round seat. They're awful. Movie seats kill the lower back. You have to have a jacket with you to roll up and stick behind you.

Maybe we should all have our own customized personal seating to carry with us; collapsable, light weight. Then we can always have a comfortable place to sit.

Well for now, I'll just enjoy my new chair right here on my deck and not have to carry it anywhere.

Happiness runs in a circular motion

Happiness runs in a circular motion
Life is like a little boat upon the sea
Everything is a part of everything anyway
You can have it all if you let yourself be
--Donovan

When I'm feeling blue, I paint circles...tap picture to enlarge

Lead the way

I've been painting smallish pics lately, like 5x7 or 6x8 inches. I decided to let loose and use a 12x16 sheet of paper. Bigger brushes, more area to cover, led to bigger trees, sweeping fence and path. Very different experience by just changing the paper size.

Lilac Close-up

I made a practice piece of one of the lilac trees on my lawn. I call it practice piece has it was the first time I tried it and consider it part of my learning process. I misjudged the size of the tree I wanted to paint and as a result, the tree got pruned a bit too much. I also didn't leave enough room on the page for other elements I wanted to include, like mountains, sky, etc. So I cut up the picture to try to make something out of it. The result? A close up photo of the flowers and leaves. Just 'cause. Tap to enlarge.

Your Fat

My mother made me wear a girdle. I think I started when I was about 11. I don’t remember when I flat out refused to continue wearing one, but she did finally stop bothering me.

Panty girdles were supposed to hide your panty line in your slacks, and be much less confining than regular girdles. The top always rolled down, however, creating even more of a bulge above the waist. I always wore ‘boy legs’ to avoid chafing. You had to be careful, in the summer, that your shorts were long enough so they wouldn’t stick out.

One time, I was at my friend Susan’s house and her mother gave me a pat on the tush.
“Oh, that’s hard,” she said. Susan said, “That’s because SHE WEARS A GIRRRRDUL!”
Susan’s mother said, “That’s alright, you could stand to wear one, too!”

When the family was invited to a fancy “affair”, my mother bought me an all-in-one. That was a panty girdle and long-line bra, all-in-one. That took a lot to get on. Not to mention having to undress and sit half naked just to pee. How embarrassed I felt hanging my party dress on the hook in the stall and proceeding to peel off this armor like a wet bathing suit. Of course, this was all to appear thinner and more shapely. Hmm, I think it just made me look like Kate Smith.

Lilacs--4 ways

Holding Up My End

Lymphedema Woman-It's
been heavy, but I'm OK

Pond.....er

So I decided to continue to attempt a painting of a pond as requested by my friend, Christine. Now, I've been at this for a while, trying to get the hang of it, but I'm enjoying the challenge. What I get excited about, is making something new. Don't you?

Pick a pond

I've had a request for a picture of a pond. I said I would try. I made several. Here are 2 of them. Which do you like better; #1 or #2?

T

Another door opens

Here's another gate picture with a door only slightly open. It was a request. Thanks, Christine.

The imperfect path

Made a path picture last nite with watercolor. It had become rather muddy from too much water and my unsure hand. Rather than crumpling it, I took markers to it and gave it the scribble treatment. It looks better when I squint.

Loving the Daffodils

Still enjoying daffodils. Was gifted with a large bunch of beauties. They are sitting on my table where my drawing board usually sits. It's tucked underneath the table for now. I decided to snap some photos and see what I can do with them.

More Daffodils

Here's another piece from yesterday's mindful art class.  I made it in response to the prompt which had to do with exploring what 'edges' meant. I drew with ink, then used a watercolor wash on top. This was a way to define the edges of the flowers.

Graffiti

Had a wonderfilled time today in mindfulness art class. We could choose anything we like to draw, as always, but there was a host of lovely daffodils so I couldn't resist using them. I made a number of pics and I came home after class and continue to play with them. I took photos with the Ipad and have been editing the photos.

Blog Time 2

Just messing around.

Watercolor, paper construction, digital

Blog time

I was blogging nearly every day for a year. I made a comitment to create something I could post, every day. That was very powerful. I made my creative time a priority. And I had a great time trying new things. I drifted out of the routine, but I've become more mindful and have begun to build up momentum. Here's today's entry.

Paper construction, watercolor, digital

Opening Up

I like the garden gate theme. This time I left the gate open. The picture, however is kinda dark. Gotta lighten up, eh?

Garden Gate

Made this pic today with new paints. Beginning to see how to use them. The colors dry very light, so it takes more washes. The colors are also brighter. Because this pic is small, about 5x8", I was aware of how I had to go so much slower, using a tiny brush. It's a good reminder of how to pay attention.

Not Pretty

Got some new paints so I'm trying them out. They go on very lightly. The colors are not very saturated. I made a muddy mess trying to get them stronger by layering washes. The paper will tear if I put any more water on it. Oh well.

Rollin'

When I want to enjoy the sensation of putting paint to paper, and I don't know what to paint; I often paint circles.

Rolling Along

Haven't been posting much. Been painting a bit. Where does the time go?

Beautiful Day!

There are still piles of snow, but a lot went away today. The river is really high from all the melting. We were out all afternoon, with wonderful friends, without coats! We're home again. I'm watching the sun set from my studio window. Nice.

Non-dominant shoe

Wonderful Mindfulness Class yesterday. The theme was about parts of yourself. One of the warm up prompts was to draw something you were wearing with your non-dominant hand. 

I find that very freeing. The emphasis changes from how the image will emerge to the much more basic challenge of how to hold the pencil to make a mark on the paper. The result is much more raw and stripped down.

Selfie Thursday

I like to draw myself. I do it on a regular basis. It can help me see how I am.
Also,  I got a new drawing board on a stand and I wanted to try it out. Sort of like a tabletop easel. I can angle it to be comfortable for drawing. I've also been not-so-comfortable with paint for a bit. I was looking for something different. Pencil is not usually my thing, but it can happen. I enjoyed myself. I like her expression in the picture; kind of thoughtful.

I wanted to be a cool girl: confessions of a chubette

I stood on a kitchen chair. My mother was pinning up the skirt she bought me. She had gone to Mays and brought home a selection of items for me to try on. It was easier than taking me and my little sister on the train.

She had chosen from the Chubbette department. The penalty for being over sized was that they looked like fat clothes. They were made larger but not proportioned to fit my short limbs and thick waist. Everything needed hemming. I inevitably ended up rolling up the waistband and the sleeves.

It was painful to feel so out of fashion as the popular girls got to wear their trendy treats. Even my footwear was so lame. The cool girls wore cordovan colored penny loafers. I wore "good shoes", as my mother called my lace up oxfords. I had angry red grooves in my skin from the rubber bands I used  to hold up my knee socks.

There was no sharing or trading clothes with my girlfriends. I was too embarrassed to do sleepovers. Not that anyone invited me. I never invited anyone over either. Not even for supper. Lots of times my parents weren't even home. And I felt like there was nothing to do at my house.

I discovered thrift shops and vintage clothing after high school. 40's and 50's styles, both men's and women's fit me in a way that mainstream clothes never could. I bought up all I could find and clad myself in complete movie star fashion, down to the underwear. Finally, I was a cool girl!

It's all but a memory now. Vintage has a different meaning; probably more like the 80's. I don't know as I never shop in second hand stores. I rarely shop for clothes anymore. Things change and what was once important is no longer. I live in the woods now, far away from New York City and the cool girls. I love it here, but I still have to hem everything.

At the Book Fair

Haven't the patience, nor wherewithal to paint or even doodle. 

I've been helping my Millie with her new venture. We had a table at the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers Book Expo this past weekend. It was intense but a really good experience. So many friends came out to support us.