It's been one heck of a ride these last two months, hasn't it? It's also brought up a few issues, hasn't it? You haven't been feeling the most confident about your art, have you? That fear of the Art Police has been rather entrenched as well, hasn't it?
Here's some advice: Shut up.
Let's look at this. Since July, you have started how many paintings? Two carnival poster paintings; one orange slice ferris wheel, several tomatoes on the vine with tentacles, two with fruit and dinosaurs, one medium sized one where the tomatoes are getting revenge on a cutworm, a series of four smaller ones of them getting revenge on other insects, one of a kitsune, one 'inner self portrait,' and another series of four of various critters wearing top hats, bowlers and bow ties. Of these, three are still in progress; two were painted over and the rest went to the gallery.
Of the gallery paintings, two have sold; three have come home, two stayed in the gallery and four were delivered today. That's seventeen paintings in two months and eleven of them ended up in the gallery. That sounds like a good record to me.
So...shut up. Paint. If the Art Police show up, just pretend that It's 106 miles to Chicago, you've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and you're wearing sunglasses.
Showing posts with label painting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label painting. Show all posts
Friday, September 04, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Dreams and Calendars
Tired. I got to work on two of the four inch paintings today. It went fairly well. I think I need to make the bugs a little more prominent. After all, they're the reason why the tomatoes are getting revenge!
I painted for several hours, beginning around 9:30 or so. No wonder I was ready to take a nap around 3:30, which is exactly what I did while a storm came in. I only slept for about fifteen minutes but it was interesting. I had one of those rare dreams where I knew I wasn't too far asleep and I was talking to someone. I don't remember who or what was being said this time but I felt calm and fairly peaceful when I woke. I had the feeling that I had gotten some good encouragement somehow.
It was somewhat like the dream I had not long after Granny died. We hadn't gotten along in a long while but in this dream, we settled things. Like today's dream, I don't remember much about what was said. I do remember very clearly standing in the kitchen, like we always did. I was leaning against the stove, cup of tea in hand. She was making biscuits and we finished our conversation before she got out her 'biscuit cutter,' which was a small, old tin can with both ends cut out. It was like those tins blueberries used to come in with the blueberry pancake mix.
____________________________________________________
Lammas is coming up on August 1, or Lughnasadh, if you prefer. I really need to find something more meaningful to me. I've stuck with this Celtic calendar...for convenience, I suppose, or laziness. I have tried over the years to make peace with it (no one can call me a quitter) but it just doesn't resonate with me. I may come from a line of farmers - two! - but I'm not one. No matter how it's dressed up, it's still an agrarian calendar. Outside of Samhain and Yule, it just doesn't cut it.
Plus, it's a Celtic thing. I come from Celtic stock but the calendar and mythology just doesn't resonate either. According to the origins of my last name, there may also be Anglo Saxon as well too but a lot of that leaves me cold too.
I do love Egyptian mythology but I'm not sure of the calendar. It seems to be lunar based or something because it doesn't seem to be like Western calendars and the holidays wander. I need to look into that. Maybe.
I know, I need to just get off my ass and figure this out. Of course, now that the month and NaJoWriMo is nearly over, that's when I finally start getting down to the heart of things.
I painted for several hours, beginning around 9:30 or so. No wonder I was ready to take a nap around 3:30, which is exactly what I did while a storm came in. I only slept for about fifteen minutes but it was interesting. I had one of those rare dreams where I knew I wasn't too far asleep and I was talking to someone. I don't remember who or what was being said this time but I felt calm and fairly peaceful when I woke. I had the feeling that I had gotten some good encouragement somehow.
It was somewhat like the dream I had not long after Granny died. We hadn't gotten along in a long while but in this dream, we settled things. Like today's dream, I don't remember much about what was said. I do remember very clearly standing in the kitchen, like we always did. I was leaning against the stove, cup of tea in hand. She was making biscuits and we finished our conversation before she got out her 'biscuit cutter,' which was a small, old tin can with both ends cut out. It was like those tins blueberries used to come in with the blueberry pancake mix.
____________________________________________________
Lammas is coming up on August 1, or Lughnasadh, if you prefer. I really need to find something more meaningful to me. I've stuck with this Celtic calendar...for convenience, I suppose, or laziness. I have tried over the years to make peace with it (no one can call me a quitter) but it just doesn't resonate with me. I may come from a line of farmers - two! - but I'm not one. No matter how it's dressed up, it's still an agrarian calendar. Outside of Samhain and Yule, it just doesn't cut it.
Plus, it's a Celtic thing. I come from Celtic stock but the calendar and mythology just doesn't resonate either. According to the origins of my last name, there may also be Anglo Saxon as well too but a lot of that leaves me cold too.
I do love Egyptian mythology but I'm not sure of the calendar. It seems to be lunar based or something because it doesn't seem to be like Western calendars and the holidays wander. I need to look into that. Maybe.
I know, I need to just get off my ass and figure this out. Of course, now that the month and NaJoWriMo is nearly over, that's when I finally start getting down to the heart of things.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Creating the Big A...or Not
Geez, it's hot in here today. I guess it's no surprise. I looked up the temps a little while ago and it was 86, with a heat index of 96. Phew!
Today was spent in one of my favorite ways - building supports for the birch boards. The gallery owner gave me an idea based on the Revenge painting and said I could have a week or so to do more paintings before the show became too hard to rearrange, so...
I came home yesterday and did my research on tomato pests. Today, I made the supports and got them gessoed. I thought about working on the painting on the easel while the glue dried and I had used all my clamps (I really need to replace some and add to the collection. Like brushes, one can never have enough clamps.) but it took much effort than I was willing to put in after several hours of measuring and sawing to switch back and forth between 'building' brain and 'painting' brain.
Someone told me yesterday that she hadn't painted in fifteen years but has been getting the calling to pick up the brushes again and it's scary. We agreed that on one hand, it could be a freeing thing - she doesn't have all that academic stuff in her head and she can just play. Then she said an interesting thing: "Well, plus I finally realized I'm not going to make some Big Art. I think we all through that at some point."
It's true. There used to be that little voice at the back of my head. It said that the art had to be Good - a Masterpiece - that could hold up against Masters of Art: Dali, Miro, Warhol...of course, I would do it all my own way too.
I wonder why we think that? Is it more than just artists that go through this? Is it just one of those engrained childhood things? I mean, don't most parents say their kid is going to do Big Things? "My kid's going to be a Doctor! A Lawyer! The PRESIDENT!" I know it's a good thing meat to be positive thoughts for the future but I just wonder. Maybe I'm just warped.
One thing to remember is that Van Gogh sold just one painting during his lifetime. It also strikes me as a lot of trouble to have so much attention on your work. I read somewhere about an artist (I can't remember his name) who got so popular that the business side of things took up so much of his time that he had two hours a week in which to paint.
I have ideas of how I want my art career to go from here, plus I have a standing invite for the gallery as well (that will and can be a post all in itself.) I may as well get off my ass and do it. It's not going to make itself.
Today was spent in one of my favorite ways - building supports for the birch boards. The gallery owner gave me an idea based on the Revenge painting and said I could have a week or so to do more paintings before the show became too hard to rearrange, so...
I came home yesterday and did my research on tomato pests. Today, I made the supports and got them gessoed. I thought about working on the painting on the easel while the glue dried and I had used all my clamps (I really need to replace some and add to the collection. Like brushes, one can never have enough clamps.) but it took much effort than I was willing to put in after several hours of measuring and sawing to switch back and forth between 'building' brain and 'painting' brain.
Someone told me yesterday that she hadn't painted in fifteen years but has been getting the calling to pick up the brushes again and it's scary. We agreed that on one hand, it could be a freeing thing - she doesn't have all that academic stuff in her head and she can just play. Then she said an interesting thing: "Well, plus I finally realized I'm not going to make some Big Art. I think we all through that at some point."
It's true. There used to be that little voice at the back of my head. It said that the art had to be Good - a Masterpiece - that could hold up against Masters of Art: Dali, Miro, Warhol...of course, I would do it all my own way too.
I wonder why we think that? Is it more than just artists that go through this? Is it just one of those engrained childhood things? I mean, don't most parents say their kid is going to do Big Things? "My kid's going to be a Doctor! A Lawyer! The PRESIDENT!" I know it's a good thing meat to be positive thoughts for the future but I just wonder. Maybe I'm just warped.
One thing to remember is that Van Gogh sold just one painting during his lifetime. It also strikes me as a lot of trouble to have so much attention on your work. I read somewhere about an artist (I can't remember his name) who got so popular that the business side of things took up so much of his time that he had two hours a week in which to paint.
I have ideas of how I want my art career to go from here, plus I have a standing invite for the gallery as well (that will and can be a post all in itself.) I may as well get off my ass and do it. It's not going to make itself.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Shop Talk
The paintings for the Tomato Art Fest are done! Yay! All that's left is to put the info on the back of them (title, medium, contact info, etc.) and delivering them tomorrow. I do wish I hadn't obsessed so much on the carnival theme. I would have gotten more paintings finished. C'est la vie. I hope the caterpillar painting's photo is okay - it was a bitch to photograph. Then again, I didn't have the greatest equipment for the job.
I accidentally got an oak board when I bought
I want to advance my skills and damn it, I'm going to do it! My paintings need a bit more...what's the word? Sophistication. Keep the whimsy and odd but advance the techniques.
My re-ment came on Thursday! I ordered some loaves of bread and ceramic plates to put them on. They're so tiny, yet detailed! The plates are about an inch square and the loaves are about as long. They even have the cuts in them so they could 'expand' as they 'baked.'
I see why so many people get hooked on collecting the stuff! I want a few more things, lettuce being in the mix, of course.
This means I need to properly set up the shrine. Altars, I'm used to having but this is a new thing for me. For one, I'm not used to having a deity take so much interest in me. I've had a few that asked me to do things for them but not *this.* Then again, there haven't been that many I would even consider setting up a shrine for. I mean, there hasn't been any I really considered cultivating a relationship with.
This is new alright. I've resisted the whole deity thing from the beginning. When I first became Pagan, way back in :::coughcoughmumblemumblecough,::: everyone was insistent on two things: everyone had to become clergy as soon as possible and everyone needed patron deities.
I never was very good at following the crowd or the rules but look at me now...and I can't figure out way a god of chaos is interested in me. :-D
Friday, July 10, 2015
A post about painting and Egyptian Gods in which Star Wars references were NOT made...
I was seriously considering blowing off tonight's entry. Sleep will not be long in coming tonight, I hope. I worked about six hours on a painting today and when I say six hours, I mean "turned on the podcasts and off I went without a break." I listened to some old Snap Judgement Spook episodes and Dreamland, plus one interview with Brian Cox that I completely forgot I had.
The painting ended up being redone from yesterday, but I was prepared for that. I'm not entirely in the love with the background - mostly the purple left from the previous composition.
I hope the painting will be fine. After I finished for today, I hung it on the porch in the usual place by the door for the night. A storm blew up and it was a strong one. The wind blew the rain in horizontally...all the way to the front door and the painting. Hopefully, it will dry without any spotting.
All this work today...I suppose some people will be disappointed to find out it is the third composition for that board. I finally just painted over the ferris wheel. It just wasn't working and it was a chore to work on - hell, to look at again. I had forgotten my rule of thumb: if it doesn't make me smile or chuckle, then it needs to be gone. It's a lesson I've been relearning on several fronts lately.
Perhaps that is why Set is back, perhaps He was never gone and I was just not in shape to perceive Him (hell, I could barely perceive the mundane there for a while.)
ANYWAY...
He's been on my mind a lot lately. A friend posted in her blog night before last about the Furies and mentioned how they have been maligned in modern times and how they were originally storm gods.
The same could be for Set. I'm not saying He has a completely undeserved reputation and He is all puppies and ice cream (heh.) It simply isn't the whole picture.
He is one of the oldest gods in the Egyptian pantheon. Of course, one the best known stories about Set is the one involving Osiris. You know: family squabble, Osiris gets murdered (there are two different stories about how it came about) and it's all because of jealousy.
But was it? Really?
The thing about mythology is it sometimes get influenced by whoever is in charge. In the older stories, Set is simply the opposite of Horus. He was Night to Horus' Day and they were equals - more like yin and yang. Some say this is because the lands were in peace, Set's North and Horus' South. Somewhere along the line, the South may have gained more power, hence Set being maligned.
What does this have to do with Osiris? If you look at the stories, in the beginning, Osiris was a vegetation god. That's it. But once Set got a hold of Him, Osiris descended to the underworld...and became Lord of it and of resurrection. In other words, He went from being a vegetation god to being a Big Deal. Without Set's actions, He may have never risen (pun intended) within the pantheon. I suppose it could even be seen as an initiation.
I could make a comparison to Darth Vader and Obi Wan but I'll refrain.
Coming back to today's painting, destruction was certainly the name of the game. Hopefully, this comp is infinitely better than the other one with the ferris wheel. I had wanted to do something different but I don't know. It just wasn't working. Perhaps the idea just needed time to go to ground and come back bigger and better.
The painting ended up being redone from yesterday, but I was prepared for that. I'm not entirely in the love with the background - mostly the purple left from the previous composition.
I hope the painting will be fine. After I finished for today, I hung it on the porch in the usual place by the door for the night. A storm blew up and it was a strong one. The wind blew the rain in horizontally...all the way to the front door and the painting. Hopefully, it will dry without any spotting. All this work today...I suppose some people will be disappointed to find out it is the third composition for that board. I finally just painted over the ferris wheel. It just wasn't working and it was a chore to work on - hell, to look at again. I had forgotten my rule of thumb: if it doesn't make me smile or chuckle, then it needs to be gone. It's a lesson I've been relearning on several fronts lately.
Perhaps that is why Set is back, perhaps He was never gone and I was just not in shape to perceive Him (hell, I could barely perceive the mundane there for a while.)
ANYWAY...
He's been on my mind a lot lately. A friend posted in her blog night before last about the Furies and mentioned how they have been maligned in modern times and how they were originally storm gods.
The same could be for Set. I'm not saying He has a completely undeserved reputation and He is all puppies and ice cream (heh.) It simply isn't the whole picture.
He is one of the oldest gods in the Egyptian pantheon. Of course, one the best known stories about Set is the one involving Osiris. You know: family squabble, Osiris gets murdered (there are two different stories about how it came about) and it's all because of jealousy.
But was it? Really?
The thing about mythology is it sometimes get influenced by whoever is in charge. In the older stories, Set is simply the opposite of Horus. He was Night to Horus' Day and they were equals - more like yin and yang. Some say this is because the lands were in peace, Set's North and Horus' South. Somewhere along the line, the South may have gained more power, hence Set being maligned.
What does this have to do with Osiris? If you look at the stories, in the beginning, Osiris was a vegetation god. That's it. But once Set got a hold of Him, Osiris descended to the underworld...and became Lord of it and of resurrection. In other words, He went from being a vegetation god to being a Big Deal. Without Set's actions, He may have never risen (pun intended) within the pantheon. I suppose it could even be seen as an initiation.
I could make a comparison to Darth Vader and Obi Wan but I'll refrain.
Coming back to today's painting, destruction was certainly the name of the game. Hopefully, this comp is infinitely better than the other one with the ferris wheel. I had wanted to do something different but I don't know. It just wasn't working. Perhaps the idea just needed time to go to ground and come back bigger and better.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
A few things...
One thing learned: no more playing with background color behind the text. It comes through the feeds looking like a FOIA document.
Well, for good or ill, here are a few paintings...
6" x 9"
Oil on birch
This was a quick, end of day study. He took over my chair while I was painting and I couldn't resist. I'll probably go in and clean up that lower right corner sometime but otherwise, I like it.
And here he is from the front:
"Oh good god. Another damn photo?"
I love my Japanese rabbit. This is a study I'll finish as soon as I figure out how to do the copper bits on the brushes. That is what's stumping me at the moment - I know I just need to sit down and draw them but I guess I decided to take the hard road and you know, not draw them.
The shadows need something too - I'll tinker with them. Maybe.
6" x 6" Oil on primed watercolor paper
I was thinking of those old Silver Stream campers when I began this one. This is a possible entry for this year's tomato festival. That is if I can get it to come together a little better. It's better than it was - I completely redid it this morning. I got entirely too fiddly and overworked the hell out of it. So reboot.
It has potential. Somewhere in there.
9" x 12"
Oil on birch
That's it for now, y'all. Have a good one.
Well, for good or ill, here are a few paintings...
Oil on birch
This was a quick, end of day study. He took over my chair while I was painting and I couldn't resist. I'll probably go in and clean up that lower right corner sometime but otherwise, I like it.
And here he is from the front:
I love my Japanese rabbit. This is a study I'll finish as soon as I figure out how to do the copper bits on the brushes. That is what's stumping me at the moment - I know I just need to sit down and draw them but I guess I decided to take the hard road and you know, not draw them.
The shadows need something too - I'll tinker with them. Maybe.
I was thinking of those old Silver Stream campers when I began this one. This is a possible entry for this year's tomato festival. That is if I can get it to come together a little better. It's better than it was - I completely redid it this morning. I got entirely too fiddly and overworked the hell out of it. So reboot.
It has potential. Somewhere in there.
Oil on birch
That's it for now, y'all. Have a good one.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
In progress: Red
Okay, I guess I lied. Even though I feel my brain tripping merrily off on its very own little roadtrip, I'll ramble a bit about Red Riding Hood.
Even though this painting isn't finished yet, I wanted to go ahead and post it. I consider this a "sister" piece to the werewolf painting in my icon. The entry about Little Red Riding Hood on that paragon of knowledge, Wikipedia, mentions the story may have come about around the same time the werewolf trials were going on. (Who knew there were even such a thing as werewolf trials in the Middle Ages?)
Well, that's all I needed to spark this idea. The other painting is based on the old German legend that says witches would plant tomatoes in their gardens in order to draw werewolves to them. So...who said the wolf in the woods was just a wolf? Why does Red here have a wolf mask? Is she trying to fool the wolf and sneak past him to Grandma's house? Is she really a wolf herself, wearing a human mask and carrying a second wolf one? Is she hunting herself or is she just smug because she's getting away with the ruse?Good questions, huh? I rather like them. I'll let you come up with your own answers, though.
Okay, I think I'm done for real this time. I'll post Red again when it's finished.
Oh yeah...btw, I didn't forget to put in the hand that's supposed to be holding the mask. I just haven't gotten it where I like it yet. She's not really that orange either. I guess all that red is messing with the scanner a bit.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
As the Tomato Turns...
I'm kind of glad the last week and a half is over, mainly because I am so tired of myself. Last Sunday, the owner of the gallery presenting the Tomato Art Fest emailed me a question: "Would you be willing to do more of those little paintings?" So I decided to see what I could do.
Apparently, not much. At least, not as much as I thought I should be able to if I could just get out of my own damn way.
Monday was great. I cut the boards, built supports and glued them all together. Gessoed. Cussed a bit when said gesso dried too fast and cracked. Still, I love this craftsman phase. Saws! Hammers! Industrial Strength Glue! What's not to love?
But by Wednesday, Captain Oblivious was in full command. I had it in my head to go back to some of last year's ideas. "I know! I could try to work out the snail! I love that idea! What about the cherry one that has a little critter embryo in it? That can easily be adopted as a tomato..."
This was one of those times where the good Captain just needed to be shot. I lost two days to the Captain before I realized Meg meant "more paintings like the one you turned in last week."
So Friday, it began. The Great Painting Frenzy. Tomatoes in various "poses." Painting in phases because the paint would just turn to mud otherwise. Sleeping, eating and feeding the cats as the paint dried. At one point, my back hurt so badly from sitting, I vowed I would never sit again when this was all over. I also got so tired of hearing Dave Shuffett because KET4 decided to run a weekend long Kentucky Life marathon and I just never got around to changing the channel. I ended up getting four tomatoes finished:
I've also noticed something...well, stupid about myself when I delivered the paintings yesterday. I have to keep a clamp on my mouth because I can just feel the urge to start babbling when I'm around Meg. She has nothing but great things to say about my work. She has even given me a standing offer to bring her more work to hang in the gallery.
...and that's the problem I have to get over. I'm not in school anymore. I'm not going to get constructive criticism here. I have to stand on my own two feet. The work is good or it's not. I have to fight the urge to just start babbling about what I can do to make it better next time. In my own head, I can always do ever so much better.
Secretly, I wonder when everyone is going to figure out I'm just not that up to par. Until then - or I can just get over myself - I'm going to keep plugging away anyway.
Apparently, not much. At least, not as much as I thought I should be able to if I could just get out of my own damn way.
Monday was great. I cut the boards, built supports and glued them all together. Gessoed. Cussed a bit when said gesso dried too fast and cracked. Still, I love this craftsman phase. Saws! Hammers! Industrial Strength Glue! What's not to love?
But by Wednesday, Captain Oblivious was in full command. I had it in my head to go back to some of last year's ideas. "I know! I could try to work out the snail! I love that idea! What about the cherry one that has a little critter embryo in it? That can easily be adopted as a tomato..."
This was one of those times where the good Captain just needed to be shot. I lost two days to the Captain before I realized Meg meant "more paintings like the one you turned in last week."
So Friday, it began. The Great Painting Frenzy. Tomatoes in various "poses." Painting in phases because the paint would just turn to mud otherwise. Sleeping, eating and feeding the cats as the paint dried. At one point, my back hurt so badly from sitting, I vowed I would never sit again when this was all over. I also got so tired of hearing Dave Shuffett because KET4 decided to run a weekend long Kentucky Life marathon and I just never got around to changing the channel. I ended up getting four tomatoes finished:
I've also noticed something...well, stupid about myself when I delivered the paintings yesterday. I have to keep a clamp on my mouth because I can just feel the urge to start babbling when I'm around Meg. She has nothing but great things to say about my work. She has even given me a standing offer to bring her more work to hang in the gallery.
...and that's the problem I have to get over. I'm not in school anymore. I'm not going to get constructive criticism here. I have to stand on my own two feet. The work is good or it's not. I have to fight the urge to just start babbling about what I can do to make it better next time. In my own head, I can always do ever so much better.
Secretly, I wonder when everyone is going to figure out I'm just not that up to par. Until then - or I can just get over myself - I'm going to keep plugging away anyway.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Throwing fits
There are a few paintings that have given me absolute fits lately. Here’s the 4’x2’ King of the Fits:
I don’t know exactly why this thing is giving me such fits. I like the corner those two donuts are in on the left. I also like the pool of glaze on the right. Excuse that big blob of ochre on the right and that thing in the bottom center – I was trying to get something going.
Those were some great donuts though.
Another painting that gave me fits is Instant Ancestor#1:
I think I’ve got what I need to finish it now. Part of my problem with this painting was its cuteness. It’s almost too cute. So yesterday, while I was raking leaves for the garden, part of her story came to me.
“Her ‘pet’ (it can’t be pronounced by our tongue) is the reigning Grand Champion as well as currently standing at number one in its class. He has killed 243 of its competitors, surpassing his Grand Champion dam, who could only claim 130.”
Now, this isn’t at all like dog fighting. Nope, not at all. It is more likeWestminster...well, okay – Westmonster. She’s so proud, isn’t she?
(Which reminds me: I should clean the story off the front door where I wrote it on the glass with a china pencil, although it would be interesting to see the faces of people who come up…)
Here are a few more ideas for Instant Ancestors:
Yes, beside the “normal” guy, it says “The black sheep – we don’t talk about him.”
One more:
I played with the anatomy of this satyr (well, that sounds wrong.) I like the idea of the horns and the tail but it makes more sense to me to use the front legs of a goat. They are a little more analogous to the legs of a human. I don’t know but I like this guy.
Here’s a doodle of Bast on part of a 3”x5” card. I keep trying to end our little cat fight.
I couldn’t pass this one up. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to use it but what imagery. You should be able to read it by clicking on the picture.
…and one more. I read a story a while back that had a crow who just happened to also be a parson. I’m still playing with it but here are a few things so far:
Yes, that is a comic book. You can’t expect a Trickster like Crow to actually pay attention during a ceremony, can you? I don’t know about the girl yet. I think I’ll work on her a bit – or get rid of her entirely. Who knows?
I don’t know exactly why this thing is giving me such fits. I like the corner those two donuts are in on the left. I also like the pool of glaze on the right. Excuse that big blob of ochre on the right and that thing in the bottom center – I was trying to get something going.
Those were some great donuts though.
Another painting that gave me fits is Instant Ancestor#1:
I think I’ve got what I need to finish it now. Part of my problem with this painting was its cuteness. It’s almost too cute. So yesterday, while I was raking leaves for the garden, part of her story came to me.
“Her ‘pet’ (it can’t be pronounced by our tongue) is the reigning Grand Champion as well as currently standing at number one in its class. He has killed 243 of its competitors, surpassing his Grand Champion dam, who could only claim 130.”
Now, this isn’t at all like dog fighting. Nope, not at all. It is more like
(Which reminds me: I should clean the story off the front door where I wrote it on the glass with a china pencil, although it would be interesting to see the faces of people who come up…)
Here are a few more ideas for Instant Ancestors:
Yes, beside the “normal” guy, it says “The black sheep – we don’t talk about him.”
One more:
I played with the anatomy of this satyr (well, that sounds wrong.) I like the idea of the horns and the tail but it makes more sense to me to use the front legs of a goat. They are a little more analogous to the legs of a human. I don’t know but I like this guy.
Here’s a doodle of Bast on part of a 3”x5” card. I keep trying to end our little cat fight.
I couldn’t pass this one up. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to use it but what imagery. You should be able to read it by clicking on the picture.
…and one more. I read a story a while back that had a crow who just happened to also be a parson. I’m still playing with it but here are a few things so far:
Yes, that is a comic book. You can’t expect a Trickster like Crow to actually pay attention during a ceremony, can you? I don’t know about the girl yet. I think I’ll work on her a bit – or get rid of her entirely. Who knows?
Names
I’ve been playing with the idea of changing the name of my studio. I’ve been calling it Black Horse Studio in my head since I was in my teens. Yes, there were reasons behind it but I won’t bore you with them. Let’s just say the name has done its job and I want to retire it with honor.
Off on a tangent for a second… there is the #1 Chinese restaurant in Gallatin (yep, that’s its name) that has all these neon animals in the window. There’s a cow, chicken, pig and best of all - a shrimp. I love that thing. The Neon Shrimp would be a great name. For what, I don’t know.
Anyway, I’ve been playing. I don’t know if I’ve found quite the right thing yet. Here’s the first idea I had (and favorite):
Not too far away, there is a little spot in the road that used to be a thriving little town in the late 1800’s. It had a general store, post office and school. It struck me as ridiculously pompous and fun that I could be, instead of a studio, a one person art society in a town that doesn’t exist anymore except on some maps. Of course, I had to pay homage to Calico Jack, Anne Bonny and Mary Read too.
However, after dealing with one particular crazy making person (who also inspired a painting,) I thought it may be better to go with a little burro as a mascot and change the words around a bit. This guy is a little too horse-like but you get the idea. The motto could be “Sometimes, at the end of the day and despite your best efforts, you’re still just an ass.”
Speaking of that painting, here it is:
I call this my therapy painting. This was pretty much how I was feeling. I had a brand new wooden pencil when I started writing on the canvas. I covered that sucker and had just a little stub left when I was finished. Don’t believe me? Here it is:
I love the way this painting worked for me. I started out pissed as hell and ended up musing where we would be if someone didn’t have the curiosity to ask “What if we put cheese in a spray can?” and how I could make tens of dollars.
Off on a tangent for a second… there is the #1 Chinese restaurant in Gallatin (yep, that’s its name) that has all these neon animals in the window. There’s a cow, chicken, pig and best of all - a shrimp. I love that thing. The Neon Shrimp would be a great name. For what, I don’t know.
Anyway, I’ve been playing. I don’t know if I’ve found quite the right thing yet. Here’s the first idea I had (and favorite):
Not too far away, there is a little spot in the road that used to be a thriving little town in the late 1800’s. It had a general store, post office and school. It struck me as ridiculously pompous and fun that I could be, instead of a studio, a one person art society in a town that doesn’t exist anymore except on some maps. Of course, I had to pay homage to Calico Jack, Anne Bonny and Mary Read too.
However, after dealing with one particular crazy making person (who also inspired a painting,) I thought it may be better to go with a little burro as a mascot and change the words around a bit. This guy is a little too horse-like but you get the idea. The motto could be “Sometimes, at the end of the day and despite your best efforts, you’re still just an ass.”
Speaking of that painting, here it is:
I call this my therapy painting. This was pretty much how I was feeling. I had a brand new wooden pencil when I started writing on the canvas. I covered that sucker and had just a little stub left when I was finished. Don’t believe me? Here it is:
I love the way this painting worked for me. I started out pissed as hell and ended up musing where we would be if someone didn’t have the curiosity to ask “What if we put cheese in a spray can?” and how I could make tens of dollars.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Things you need to clean a palette, especially if it's long overdue
- Razor blade to scrape the dry paint off
- Container to put the scrapings in
- Towels to clean the blade, palette, your hands and whatever else. Those scrapings can fly.
- Mineral spirits to also help clean the blade, palette, hands and whatever else
- Something stiff. Jack works well. Vodka too, probably.
- A
goodexcellent vocabulary. A sailor's is a good starting point.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
The other Tomato fest entry as well as the good, the bad and the "eh?"
This is one of the smallest paintings I've ever done. It's 6 and 5/7ths(-ish) by five and 7/8ths(-ish) on Masonite.
I didn't get the wolf peach idea finished enough to enter. Someone told me I should have entered it anyway but 1.) the edges were way too messy for my liking and 2.) I don't think I could sell it. I'm just inordinately proub (proud, even) of my first effort of painting hands.
Here is the original sketch and painting:
Sorry about the quality of the sketch. If you click on it, you can see a bit more detail on all the leaves and vines down the left side. The painting is an odd size (I can't remember the reasoning behind it) 8"x12", I think, on Masonite.
Here's some ideas that didn't quite make it:
That's supposed to be a cuttlefish or perhaps a nautilus in the upper left corner. I really like that snail.
My mom suggested I paint some tomatoes just hanging on the vine. After thirty seven years, you would think she'd know me by now.
You have to say it like that guy from the Princess Bride: "The Squash of Despaairrr."
Thursday, July 19, 2007
This once a week stuff just doesn't cut it...
I still don't have a computer at home. I think if I hear the phrase, "I'll try to have it for you this weekend" again, I'll scream. Yeah...scream...
The frenzy has begun. I've been working like crazy, trying to get as many paintings finished as I can. I'm allowed three in the show but I like (the idea of) having my pick.
Damn it! I want to post photos! I've also been wanting to play with sound files but I haven't checked into whether Blogger will let me upload them, other than mobile entries....consider yourself lucky. You're not being subjected to the high soprano wailings of a with delusions of melodiousness.
What was I saying? Oh yeah. (See? This once a week stuff reduces me to rambling.) I have two paintings at the moment that are...let's say "pushing me out of the comfort zone." One is based on a something I read about German folklore saying witches planted mandrake and nightshade in the garden to draw werewolves. It's quite a bit more complicated than what I'm used to doing. Another one started out as an extreme closeup of a slice of lime but is morphing into something abstract. I only hope I have the chops to pull them both off. I'm afraid I may not. It's scaring the hell out of me but I'm painting anyway.
Ack! Five minutes left. Just enough time to check for misspellings...
Have a good one, y'all.
The frenzy has begun. I've been working like crazy, trying to get as many paintings finished as I can. I'm allowed three in the show but I like (the idea of) having my pick.
Damn it! I want to post photos! I've also been wanting to play with sound files but I haven't checked into whether Blogger will let me upload them, other than mobile entries....consider yourself lucky. You're not being subjected to the high soprano wailings of a with delusions of melodiousness.
What was I saying? Oh yeah. (See? This once a week stuff reduces me to rambling.) I have two paintings at the moment that are...let's say "pushing me out of the comfort zone." One is based on a something I read about German folklore saying witches planted mandrake and nightshade in the garden to draw werewolves. It's quite a bit more complicated than what I'm used to doing. Another one started out as an extreme closeup of a slice of lime but is morphing into something abstract. I only hope I have the chops to pull them both off. I'm afraid I may not. It's scaring the hell out of me but I'm painting anyway.
Ack! Five minutes left. Just enough time to check for misspellings...
Have a good one, y'all.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Today's offerings
I can't believe I forgot to post this the other day. I painted it in honor of my friend Connie having some work accepted into last year's Tomato Art Fest. It was the first time I'd tried to paint a tomato - I didn't quite get there, but I think it has possibilities.
Okay, I'll admit it. The idea for this came from both a painting Zezrie posted and looking at the photos from David Nykl's new movie. I got to thinking. (I know, I know...dangerous territory there.) I've got a hat and a backpack that are some of my most favorite things in the world - why haven't I ever drawn or painted them?
So this is a rough sketch I did for composition. My hat, my backpack and the old, beat up chair I can be usually be found in when I'm being a bum - or an artist, for that matter. I'm going to be painting this one pretty soon.
Sorry for the quality on this one. I tried to get a good photo but it just didn't want to cooperate. This was a "It's late in the day, I'm hungry and out of tea" sketch. This mug is one of three or four of my favorites. It's orange and I think I paid twenty five cents for it at a yard sale last summer. The mouth looks a little off to me but hey, like I said: It was late, I was hungry and I was out of tea. That's enough to make anyone not sketch right.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Hmmm…look at all these cobwebs.
Wow. Has it really been Thanksgiving since I made the last post? Geez. I’m sorry y’all. I didn’t mean to abandon everyone.
Let me play catch-up. March rolled around again and Emo!Azra tried to make another appearance. (What is it about the third week of March that just makes me want to hide under a rock, cry and mourn something I’ve never had?) Anyway, this year I was on to her and there was no month long reign of melodrama and angst. Emo!Azra was sent tothe cellar a home away from home and chained, damn it given a nice, peaceful rest.
Art wise? Until recently, it could be summed up with one sound: pppphhhhhttttt! You want an actual word? Poncif. I’ll show you the ones that barely made the cut, in my opinion anyway. Sorry for the quality of some of the photos. I don’t have all my graphics programs back yet.
These two don’t even look finished to me. The bottom one’s a little more complete. Still, it was fun to paint the shadows of the cup and someone liked them. I don’t know why.
This one ended up being a Christmas present. I like taking vases like this and filling them with the tips of hickory or oak branches. They usually have the most curves and interesting shapes to them, although you can’t tell it by this painting. It needed “something,” so I added the dogwood blossoms. I like how the vase turned out.
Let me play catch-up. March rolled around again and Emo!Azra tried to make another appearance. (What is it about the third week of March that just makes me want to hide under a rock, cry and mourn something I’ve never had?) Anyway, this year I was on to her and there was no month long reign of melodrama and angst. Emo!Azra was sent to
Art wise? Until recently, it could be summed up with one sound: pppphhhhhttttt! You want an actual word? Poncif. I’ll show you the ones that barely made the cut, in my opinion anyway. Sorry for the quality of some of the photos. I don’t have all my graphics programs back yet.
These two don’t even look finished to me. The bottom one’s a little more complete. Still, it was fun to paint the shadows of the cup and someone liked them. I don’t know why.
This one ended up being a Christmas present. I like taking vases like this and filling them with the tips of hickory or oak branches. They usually have the most curves and interesting shapes to them, although you can’t tell it by this painting. It needed “something,” so I added the dogwood blossoms. I like how the vase turned out.
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