From Point A to Point B

Things are really progressing in my art studio these days.  I really can't WAIT to show off the new birds and their cages!!  The studio is brimming with excitement. 

Thursday night while William had baseball practice Mailey and I scooted off to the local Barnes and Noble for some magazine therapy.  She's understands this therapy now and actually finds her own magazine to get lost in.   While cruising through one of the crafty mags I saw an ad for this book: 

So we hustled over to the crafty book section and on the bottom shelf when I was about to give up I found it. it's written by an artist I've admired from afar for some time now, Carla Sonheim.   Last night I nestled into my bed and read it.  I know, most of you probably just look at pictures in magazines and books like these.  But I READ it.  Devoured it actually.  You see, before I called myself an artist and was just an art educator, I filled my sketchbooks with whimsical drawings of little girls, fairies, ballerinas, cows, chickens, horses, hippos, giraffes and more.  All in black fine tip sharpie.....all never made it off the pages of those sketchbooks.

This morning with my coffee in hand and a quiet studio, I pulled out those sketchbooks and started pouring over the pages.  And wondered to myself how did I get form these amazing little doodles to what I am now?  I miss drawing horses with giant teeth and pencil legs.  I miss giving bunnies fabulous purses and high heel shoes.  sigh....So Drawing Lab in hand and my new sketchbook I am going to let myself go and doodle today.  I wanted to give you a heads up because Mattie and I may be introducing some new friends to her social circle in the very near future. 

If you haven't already, please be sure to read my interview with the talented Tiffin Mills of Linwood Avenue below!  Have a wonderful , creative weekend!

Painting Happiness

I guess it's the teacher in me, but I enjoy showing you the process I go through when painting.  First, before I start anything I have brainstorm sessions.  I had a session last night with the sketchbook and am literally jumping up and down at the new ideas!   I have a nice hardback sketchbook that I make little thumbnail drawings and notes.  On one page there might be 8 mini drawings.  I really do not like to draw, so these are quick sketches that basically just get the idea out of my head and onto paper.  I also have started trying to come up with my own words to add to the paintings, so those go in the book too.

Meanwhile, I've prepped the wood canvases with black gesso.  This is a fairly new technique for me.  I love the texture paintings (where I put the putty on and carve),  but was needing a new technique that wasn't quite so time consuming, but had the same outlined look.  I love black outlines.....

I use a white colored pencil to lightly sketch in the composition.  Then using HEAVY body acrylics, I paint the first layer of paint on really quickly.  I BIG puffy heart my heavy body acrylics.  This first layer is painted in a hurry and really loosely.  I leave a gutter around all the images to give it a natural outline.

After the first layer dries I start layering the paint.  I love to mix wet paint right in the canvas.  And yes, I use colors right out of the tube.  I never mix on the palette, just right on the canvas.  Once the paint has dried the collage elements are added and last but not least, the words.  So that's about it in nutshell folks.  At this point my head is so spinney with ideas it's crazy.  I've got about 20 paintings to go for my show and I have a feeling those paintings will flow seamlessly from the sketchbook to the canvas.  Look for more postings on how they all unfold!

Sketchbook Inspirations

I decided to give you a sneak peak into my little sketchbook world. I try and get my ideas into this book, but alas, lately I've been slack. While on hand rest last month though, I did explore the left hand a bit and made these fun doodles that I am sure will make it into some new paintings soon!

I put all sorts of goodies into my books, from doodles, color scheme ideas, magazine clips, cards, etc. I was taught to make what are called "thumbnails" to map out compositions before going to the final stage. So my book is full of these little boxes with little compositions in them. This is now a habit I enjoy and helps later down the road when I have a idea block. I can just flip through this book and find an idea I've yet to work through. I really like the Popsicle idea.