Week 9: Feb 27 - Mar 4

Continued work with small canvases - still seem far away from 'done' - am patient to let them simmer a while longer. 

 

Below are small slices of a new painting - early stages of a 32x38inch canvas.  I'm not sure where it is going yet - have no expectations - a landscape begs to surface - comfort shining through - to stay inside the box or step out - that is the question. 

Time flies.
I worked on several small canvases months ago - added washes of acrylic, unified the cluster into one with color, imagery and text.  Together they represent moments and experiences of last summer. 

All were tucked away, packed, moved to a new town, unpacked and recently recognized as incomplete work in need of attention.  Pondering what to do with these - thought I would honor the content already there and not wipe out with a fresh coat of white....tempting... but chose to try integrating current imagery and thoughts - adding another layer, representing the journey and now. 

Work in progress - will continue to explore layers, imagery, more text, maybe collage, and the relationship between each one and the other 8. 

Week 5 & 6: Jan 30-Feb 12

 Bits and pieces of shape and line from inside:

            

        ...imagine and give shape to your world...trust whatever comes.  Rilke




 and from outside:

Week 4: Jan 23-29

Exploring layers the past week - acrylic on canvas with pencil and charcoal.  Images shown are small details - overall a bit blah - may need to add more contrast or be influenced by color during lunch.  Unfinished layers - will show up here again. 

Week 3: Jan 16-22

A small canvas I started months ago is finished.  I think.  To be sure, I'll live with it for awhile before an official date and signature is scratched on lower right corner.  This past week I painted transparent 'windows' and placed collage material (another layer of windows and trees) over the paint and changed the arrangement and changed it again, got opinions from family - and then used glue.

The painting started during a time of transition - a time when the stretch or extension of boundaries was necessary - the circle (the stretch) was the first shape.  Text of quotes, conversations, emotions, and thoughts were added in a way unclear to those who like to 'read' words in a traditional manner.  Layers of color followed and more text.  Windows and trees - a personal standard & connection - pushed the work to where it is now. 
    
"If only we could see a little farther than our knowledge reaches and a little beyond the borders of our intuition, we might perhaps bear our sorrows more trustingly than we do our joys.  For they are the moments when something new enters us, something unknown."  Rilke

My family acquired a work of art over the weekend, created by my father-in-law.  He placed his work of art in a fundraiser auction.  My husband bid on his dad's small sculpture until it was ours.  Once home, there it was - an interesting connection.

 
 

Week 2: Jan 9 - 15

This past week - went so fast - like all the rest.  Watching basketball, volleyball, teaching online art history, laundry (some of it), a walk, and the book The Fault in Our Stars, all found a place - found some time.  Art - wedged itself into the week as well.  It doesn't seem like the week was overly productive but I've come to realize and appreciate that artistic thought counts for something.  Thoughts, questions, reflections constantly exist and may lead to an actual piece of artwork -  maybe not or not yet.  But no matter - here are a few things from the week. 

A while back I went to visit my friend, Target.  Every visit I always grab a cart - just in case I find a clearance item among the other things I don't need.  Found flower bulbs in a pot ready to hide in a dark space - don't remember the type of flower but this past week I watched them bloom.  I'm not a photographer - but enjoy contrast and composition. 

This small canvas was something I started last July and was packed away for a few months.  Since the studio is now organized, the canvas resurfaced.  Text was added with acrylic and pencil.  

Will continue to mess with collage and perhaps more layers of paint - maybe color...or not...I'm not quite ready to know. 

Week 1: Jan 1 - 8 2012

Haven't been in our house very long so needed a "set up" week for the studio - one of unpacking, organizing, finding supplies, and preparing the space.  All is organized, ready for work - rest of house is - I'll get to it. 

The Start

Ready for Work