Monday, April 30, 2007

" The Little Artist's"



Saturday was my latest venture with the Plein Aire group, this time Marta went along. We agreed to paint at a function called "Art in the Garden" at some private homes that were having tours through their gardens. They scattered the artists at all the homes that were on the tour. Marta and I were assigned to the same home. We decided to walk the property and decide where we would paint without all our gear first. We were required to paint from 10:30 - 4:30. It was only 10 am but it was in the 80's, we knew it was going to be a long, hot day. At one point during the day the owner, showing the property, referred to us as "the little artists". We had to laugh because we knew she was referring to her assumption of our social status but we decided to claim it as our body size. Its all in your perspective, right!? I have decided that everyone has an opinion about artists, maybe because the term is over used and is too vague. I hate to even call myself artists most of the time because I think people expect someone with blue hair and tons of jewelry with only part of their brain working. I think I look too main stream to qualify, so who really qualifies as an artist? Is it an education in art, or a teaching degree, award winning recognitions or just a gift to create. This word "Artist" is used to describe painters, sculptures, people who draw, designers, quilters, hair stylists, and Michelangelo. There seems to be no true qualifications to call ourselves artists, we can just assume the title. Years ago you had to study under the masters as an apprentice for years before you could consider yourself an artist. So maybe, we are little artists, that's OK, because its a journey. We come with different skill sets and exposure but with a desire to learn and improve, so I will enjoy being little because I have the ability to grow.

Here are my two paintings I did, they are fair, not too exciting, this plein aire thing is almost as challenging as some of the people I have met lately.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

More ATC's







Ok I am on a roll here!!!Such fun, I love them. Here are some more.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Great Advice!!

Wendee made a comment on my last post about working with a bigger brush for looseness. It reminded me of my conversation with one of the wives from the plein aire group, I was telling her how I was painting so tight and was really trying to loosen up. She said her husband was having the same issues and was taking classes from a famous plein aire oil painter. At one of their sessions the teacher was telling him you are just too tight, let me see you glasses. He took the glasses and said ok now let me see your brushes, and pulled out the largest one. He handed it to the man and said ok, now paint!!Since he couldn't see the details he couldn't paint them and the larger brush helped him not be so fussy! I loved that piece of wisdom, now to try it!

TATS's







Marta and I have been working on these little ATC's. She was doing them for fun, I was in a swap with WC. I don't know what it is about these little guys but they are so addicting. Maybe because they are small and fast but we have had fun. She painted me a wonderful china man, inspired by her brush she was painting with! She ended up sending it to me in the mail, I just love to get fun mail! So I thought I should reciprocate and send her some fun mail too. Even though hers was a postcard I was working on ATC's and so I painted her a statue in a garden in Italy. Another painting from my mom's photos from her vacation. Thats when it hit me! Lets share travels with each other through these trading cards. I thought it would be so fun, especially since she is going to Europe this summer for a MONTH!! Lucky her!! So here are some of my first cards plus Marta's postcard. What a fun project!

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

More Dos Lagos paintings


I have tried another, better but still not what I want. I find the harder I try the tighter my painting gets. AHHH and I am trying to get looser. Go figure. Anyway, I already started another one too, so I will see how that one turns out. Comments appreciated, I learn for each one. This is really a learning experience. This Saturday we have another plein aire paint day! Thank God for cameras.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Dos Lagos Plein aire day


Happy Earth Day!! Our Plein Aire group went out to paint nature and encourage Earth day. It turned out to be a pretty lack luster day for me. I couldn't really settle in on what to paint and I have decided that Plein aire is just hard!!! Its hard for me anyway, I have to figure out how to settle in on what to paint. My mind hasn't figured it out yet so it becomes very frustrating to be painting pictures that look like a first grader got ahold of my paints and then to have people stopping by to watch you! I didn't have much fun today. I am determined to figure this thing out though! I will let you know how I do, I am going to paint a few more of these photos I took and see if I can come up with something worth selling the owner. I am in the middle range and lack value and interest in all the stuff I painted. UHHH bad art day today.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

More mini paintings



Hi all, I have been busy painting these little things, fun still. Two of this group are colored pencil drawings and the gerbera daisy is watercolor. I had the opportunity to go with Marta to an art store called Sterlings, wow, it was so big we didn't even get through the store before we had to leave. I was able to buy some things I had been looking for like acrylic inks but we didn't get to look at everything, so we need to plan another trip!
Tomorrow the Plein Aire group I joined at the Art museum has been asked to come a paint at a big Earth Day function at a fancy outdoor venue. I am excited and nervous, the owner wants the people to be able to watch the artists paint, he has agreed to purchase one painting from each artist, so there was a good turn out! Its a bit cold here and rainy, but I hope all goes well tomorrow. Will post some pictures later.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

More of the same



More of my little paintings, I guess these are collectable, who would of known! I got two more in the mail, they are really great. I had one artist send it along with a certificate of authenticity! So much fun.

Monday, April 16, 2007

New ATC's



Ok these are my latest pieces, I have done 10 so far, it is a blast, and so fast. I have shipped all over the world, some of the closer addresses have received them and now I can post some pictures. I think the whole experience has been great, its kind of like having a artist penpal!!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Mini paintings


I joined an ATC group in Wet Canvas, they create these small works of art and mail them all over the world. I just got my first 3 in the mail, they are fun and fast and I am enjoying working on something so small (2 1/2" x 3 1/2")that I can complete in one sitting! It will be such fun to recieve them from Thailand, Australia, England etc. I can't wait to get my first one. It also is good in the fact that it keeps me drawing and painting just about everyday. Here are my first 3, two are watercolors and one is colored pencils.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Easter









Easter turned out to be a wonderful day. It started out somewhat iffy but ended ok. Everyone came over for dinner and we played games and hunted for our dyed eggs. The backyard is still all torn up due to the construction but next year we should be all set up. I took a ton of pictures that I hope to get a few paintings out of. It is so easy to get caught up in the silliness of the bunny thing and forget the real reason for our celebration, the Resurrection! Happy Resurrection Day!
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