Thursday, May 26, 2011

My shoes do fit . .

I received my Dick Blick order. What a surprise - my shoes do fit in the Dick Blick box.
That's probably because I ordered the big tubes - which would account for the cost! So, back to painting.
I only have 15 days to finish these two paintings.
I'm in so much trouble! 

Friday, May 20, 2011

A Good day for Dick Blick

I've started painting the Rabbit. I realize I should have given myself more time, I'm afraid one month might be cutting it close for these two paintings. And - as I'm painting away - for the one or two hours a night that I have - I realize my collection of acrylic paints leaves a lot to be desired! I used student brands for the underpainting, but when I got out the good stuff, I was sure there had been an acrylic home invasion because what was in my paint box was not what I had pictured in my mind! So again - Dick Blick to the rescue, but I qualified for the 15% discount and the free shipping. Over one hundred bucks and my shoes probably won't fit in the box the paints will be in!


Monday, May 16, 2011

Alice Underpainting

The ALICE underpainting is complete also. Both paintings are ready for the final painting. At this point I will use the actual colors I have planned. I might add more paper or fabric as I see fit. Even though it seems I have planned the whole painting, while I am actually doing it, there will be times when a particular paper cries out to be in the painting, I never know what might end up on the canvas. The only thing I am sure of is Alice will not have blue hair - even though I do love it!
Please visit this blog to meet a real live Alice in a Wonderland of her own making:

My Lake this Summer . . .

I live on a lake, a small lake. It is man-made, forty plus years old,
surrounded by small vacation homes that have since been converted into year round residences. Aside from the one-hundred homes in my neighborhood, the lake is a home to ducks and geese and turtles, fish, muskrats, beavers and snakes (I pretend they don't exist).

My favorite time of the day, is late afternoon when the sun is reflecting across the lake like dancing crystals. But I know it's not really crystals - it fairies - fairies dancing in the sunshine across the top of the lake.


But - sad news - our lake needs some maintenance to fix the forty year old dam equipment. Maintenance that will necessitate the draining of the lake. Luckily we are attached to a second lake, so the fish and other aquatic mammals will go there and the birds will go there. But I will miss the geese who's night time banter puts me to sleep and the quaking ducks who wake me up. As the water recedes more and more each day, my dog watches his favorite play spot disappear.

Sadly, he does not understand where his lake is going.
It's going to be a long brown and muddy summer.


But, mostly, I wonder where the fairies will go.



 

Monday, May 9, 2011

Rabbit Underpainting

The Underpainting for rabbit is complete.
As you can see I've used paper, fabric and paint. every square inch of the white canvas is gone gone gone! In some areas, like the blue background, I used a cool color, knowing the color I will paint on top will be warm. Hopefully some of it will peek through. 
I'm not happy with the clock parts, I need to rethink that area.

If you like rabbits or "hares" check out this blog:
http://moonlightandhares.blogspot.com/




Thursday, May 5, 2011

Underpainting - Alice

I've just started the Alice underpainting. Some fabric, some paint, I'm hunting for just the right collage paper. The Alice painting will be mostly cool colors, so I'm looking for a warm paper to use in the underpainting. And weaving - fabric weaving is in the works. I'm not worried about the details - just laying in the color and getting rid of the blank white canvas.


Hearts. are the underlying theme running in both the ALICE painting and the RABBIT. I've even made some of the leaves hearts.

If you like hearts, check out this blog:

Monday, May 2, 2011

Underpainting - Alice

"In art, an underpainting is an initial layer of paint applied to a ground, which serves as a base for subsequent layers of paint."

Underpainting is usually monochromatic, used to plan the light and dark. I, however use a full palette to build my foundation. Mixed media starts in my underpainting - paint and paper - color and texture - yum yum! I made a paper weaving using velvet ribbon and paper and glued it to the right side of the rabbit, you can see that little square. Even though I love the weaving, I decided it was too much to use it on the whole background.

I want this painting to have mostly warm colors. So I might use some cool colors or opposite colors in the underpainting. This will help the final painting to pop. So far all I've applied is collage paper. I can't stay away from the glue!

2022

   Merry Christmas