February's Traveling More Quickly Than I...

It seems like just a day ago it was NYE, and yet here I am staring at Feb 11. This month I've just been trying to not get in the way of my LIFE as it attempts to run me over. :) As for my art, this means that I am unable to even attempt a complete piece every single day, but I am generally aiming for 1 per week--and thus far, somewhat successful.

I started 2 paintings this week.


This is *In-Progress* "Untitled"
18x14" oil on canvas board - non-ground

This one started with an idea for something completely different, though still orange. The original plan was for solid orange with blue (small) stripes peeking through...amongst other details. I definitely still want to bring that idea to life, but I decided that it will have a much different juxtaposition of elements than originally desired. It is currently still fairly wet, especially on the thicker parts, so it will have to sit a while. Hopefully by the end of this weekend I can get moving on it again. The curse of oils....

---

This is *In-Progress* "Untitled: Air-painting"
18x14" oil on canvas board - non-ground

Many times I start without an idea or thought or sketch. I just stare at the blank page, canvas or whatever & just wait for my instinct to tell me what to do. This is one of those pieces. I just knew I wanted to paint tonight. I actually thought I wanted to finish the stripes, but once I realized how wet it still was I knew I had to scrap that plan until a later time. I started out just with the intent to make a background & saw a hilly landscape developing in front of me, not unlike the Valley & her hills which trained & raised me in my youth. I accidentally discovered that when you use extremely thin oil, you can move it with air (breath). The one figure just happened to turn out looking like someone blowing breath forcefully. Sometimes, the Muse speaks through the universe & even more rarely, we are present enough to listen.

I'm excited for projects to come.

January AAD Reflections

I'm a little disappointed that I didn't *actually* do a piece of "Art a Day" like I set out to do. However, I'm happy with the fact that I did it. I'm aware that I'm not really that great of an artist, but I'm hoping that with practice I can re-hone my skills. Repetition is the mother of results...

Two very BIG things happened since the last posting...

#1: I became a Cornell University student. :) I have dreamed & fantasized about this for years. I had my 1st class on 1/25 & it's been a bit of a whirlwind ever since.

#2: On February 1st I became an Auntie!! We spent nearly 2 weeks thinking "today is the day" but he was a stubborn little dude. That being said, there was quite a lot of worry & travel & loss of sleep last week...even in our house. :)

So, all of that aside...now that we're a week into February, I suppose it's time to get the latest ones uploaded. I've actually done 2 pieces this month so far. One is a gouache piece to add to "Letting Go" & the other is another hemp piece.

I feel like I should add a side note: I'm *not* including ANY photography in this challenge. Photography is my main creative venue, however I feel like for this particular exercise I want to stretch the creative muscles that are not regularly "warmed". I actually got the idea to do this challenge from a friend's facebook album wherein she is posting a photograph every day. I kind of feel like that would be far too easy for me to cheat on, if I allowed it. Thusly, You are forced to look at mediocre "art" & can feel free to comment on it as such, should the mood move you to do so.

Until the next!

AAD 9: Bracelet 23 JAN 12

Hemp bracelet with Stone & Glass

AAD 8: Mixed Media 20 JAN 12

"untitled (waterfall)"
18x22"
oil & organic materials on canvasboard

IN PROGRESS...

AAD 7: Mixed Media 18 JAN 12

"Letting Go"
18x22"
stretched canvas

This is an IN-PROGRESS mixed media-mixed technique experimental piece. I started with a stretched canvas & used a mid-weight ground to add texture & visual interest. I've also thus far used cloth tape, acrylic & oil paint, permanent marker & thinner.

AAD 6: drawing 18 JAN 12

"Heart Doodles"
8x6"
vine charcoal on paper

This is the epitome of "I said I'd do it, not that it'd be mindblowing..." I had taken a few days off from the AAD challenge to focus on work & kids & family stress, as is customary about mid-January for some reason. I just needed to pick up the stuff & work something out.

AAD 5: sculpture 11Jan12

*IN PROGRESS!*

This is a sculpture that I'm working on. This part is done but it will be held up by two hands: one supporting it & the other force feeing the bottled love-poison to it. When it's complete, I'll comment fully on it.