Digital Cupcakes Version #1
Size: 6 x 8
Medium: Giclee



Still taking stock and reviewing my situation, but meanwhile here's an update.

I have been in the mood for a camping trip...in a small travel trailer....to an idyllic, country setting, maybe the woods of northern California...where I would set up my paints and enjoy the fresh, tree-filled air. Perhaps it's because my friends Kate and Gerard tell me about their lovely backpacking trips to mountain meadows in Idaho. Perhaps it's all the reading I do on the TinyHouse blog. But alas, such a trip is not a possibility just now. But a field trip, a day of painting in the country, this I can do.

Tuesday in the last few hours of the afternoon and again Wednesday morning, I set out with picnic, canvas, brushes, paint tubes, sketches, container of water, rags and of course, a cup of tea. I was heading for a spot with trees, the sound of a bubbling creek, the songs of birds, the glimpse of wildlife, the scent of the earth and a comfortable place to sit, where I would be undisturbed. In less than 60 seconds I was there....on my own tree-filled-canyon balcony.

The bubbling creek was my water fountain but the rest was actual country. The piece I worked on was in response to a challenge on the Different Strokes painting blog. Not a plein air scene, as you might expect. But cupcakes! The timing was perfect.

Neighbor-friends were recently married and they like cupcakes. Although the invitation strictly forbade gifts, I thought that I would give them some special cupcakes as a "non-wedding present". But when cupcakes served as their wedding cake it seemed redundant. Besides, the new pastry shop I had in mind suddenly closed. A casualty of the times I think. Then came this painting-challenge and I decided to paint cupcakes for them that I would also enter into the challenge.

Looking through all the entries, I wanted to do something different than any I saw and that would also appeal to the newlyweds. I decided to paint two pieces. One in oils on canvas and one digital piece, using only my clumsy mouse as my drawing tool. I am halfway through the painting and I am on my second version of the digital piece. Unfortunately, I discovered later that the challenge is closed to digital art. But as it is a style I like I will continue to work on it.

It has been lovely painting outside and I plan to continue as long as my canvases are small and the weather is perfect.

Blue Moon

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.

Size: 10 x 10 x 2 framed
Medium: Papers and paint
Date: 8/28/09


This feels like a secret post. It isn't being sent out to the subscriber list. Just the art and I as I evaluate my situation at the 3 year mark of painting and selling art on line. In a way it feels good to write this way, more like a private diary and personal record of my journey. Something to think about. Update: this piece just returned from the October 2009 Regional Juried Show at MOLA in the 1 foot category.

Reevaluating

No art to post for today. With the economy as it is I find I need to periodically reevaluate my approach to art as livelihood. For the next few weeks I will be doing just that. If I have anything noteworthy to post, I will. Otherwise I will be back in touch down the road a bit.

Paper Route 2, SOLD

LDClick image to enlarge. Click title for more views and information.
Title: Paper Route 2
Size: 24 x 18 x 1.5 framed in a contemporary, clear acrylic box frame. Non-directional.
Medium: Assorted papers printed on my inkjet printer: on craft paper; acrylic paint.
Dated: 8/14/09


Continuing the theme from last week, is Paper Route 2. It's been fun taking this detour back into collage work. I am exploring another collage idea now but also another painting.

The painting idea is inspired by a painting I saw of a San Francisco street. It was part of a weekly painting challenge blog I stumbled upon. The blog host Different Strokes from Different Folks posts a photo and artists submit paintings of their interpretation of the photo. At the end of the challenge, selections are posted.

On another note, below is a poster of a collage/painting I finished July 1, 1998 called Pianos. It was made on one side of a brown paper bag. I have never been willing to part with it and have it hanging in my home. But I thought it would be fun to turn it into a poster and list it on eBay.
Pianos for $9.99 on eBay

Paper Route

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information or to bid.
Title: Paper Route
Size: 25 x 19 x 3/4 framed. Non-directional
Medium: Assorted papers I printed out on my inkjet printer, on newspaper with acrylic paint.
Date: 8/10/09


It's August. This means it has now been three years since I began painting and listing my art on eBay! Therefore, in honor of the occasion, today's collage/painting is linked to the eBay auction, rather than to the Yessy site.

I seem to be veering further into collage. This one is assorted papers I printed out on my inkjet printer and then pasted onto a collage of newspaper pieces making a sort of collage on collage. The black line circumscribing the colored pieces forms the "route". The title "Paper Route" refers both to the declining newspaper tradition as well as to the playful journey the painted line takes around the papers.

Update

No painting to post for last week or this. I thought I had an idea for a new collage/painting of the seashore but the sketch didn't quite work and I have been awaiting a new inspiration. Maybe next week...maybe not.

Little Dog, Big Plans. SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 12" x 24" x 7/8"
Medium: Oils and Paper on Canvas
Date: 7/22/2009



I did another collage/painting of a little dog for this week. Not sure what I will do for next week. Dachshunds, aka Wiener Dogs; Hot Dogs; Sausage Dogs are another favorite of mine so I how could I resist a painting?

On another note, unfortunately Little Folk Art Houston was not accepted for the Elder Street Gallery It's a Small World miniatures show. When the show opens I will include a link so you can see what they did select.

Loft #12...SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 30"x40"1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas
Dated: 06/09/09



Good news #1: Got my external hard drive working again just in time for this week's post. I needed to have access to all my painting files. And after a week of troubleshooting my old keyboard and two non-Apple replacements I am back at work with my new Apple keyboard and able to type again.

Good news #2: Waiting, the painting I posted last week, was selected by jury for the upcoming SDAI Regional show. Modern Folk Art Flower was entered as well, in the One Foot show, but I still don't know whether or not it was accepted.

Waiting. On View at SDAI Regional Show Through 8/23/09

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information and views.
Size: 20x16x1.5
Medium: Oils, Acrylic And Paper On Canvas.
Date:07/08/09
This painting will be on view at the San Diego Art Institute's Regional show through August 23rd. Dr. John Marciari, Curator of European Art at the San Diego Museum of Art is the juror.

There are two paper parts in this collage/painting: the lining of the shoe and the chain-linked fence. The most challenging aspect of this entire piece was the fence. The painting had been moving along well and was finished, except for the fence. I found the image I wanted to use, printed it out, carefully matched the fence parts, glued the pieces together, sprayed the paper with a protective coating, carefully cut out the dog's hind quarters and glued the entire piece to the canvas. It looked perfect. And then it happened.

Right before my eyes the paper buckled and puckered! After waiting a week for the oils surrounding it to sufficiently dry, I wet the paper and removed it. The next week was spent printing and reprinting the paper until the background colors were the exact right shade (I ran through two ink cartridges); spraying and re-spraying the protective coating because it kept leaving spots on the paper; cutting and re-cutting the dog's hind quarters out of the paper to fit exactly, and then finally gluing it back down. It would have been faster to build a chain-linked fence and install it on the painting! Even the tiny little paper shoe-lining was cut a number of times to get just the right shape and angle! Although I could have painted these elements, in the end I am glad I used the collage-method because it adds interest and I like the outcome, at last.

On another note, yesterday an artist-friend took me to a gallery in La Jolla he rightly thought I would enjoy called Quint Contemporary Art . It was founded in 1981 by Mark Quint, whom I remember from high school and I have been intending to visit it ever since. I'm proud of Mark for managing to open and continue running a gallery and doing it this well. Afterward I was treated to a delicious lunch on the patio of the Museum of Contemporary Art a few blocks away. It was an inspiring afternoon and a perfect break.

Loft #11. SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on canvas
Dated: 06/08/09


Just to show you I am really and truly working on multiple paintings, here is one of the new Lofts.