34 in 30 day 16

Joy Springs Eternal WIP

So this pose, this odd "what is she doing?" pose is taken from a dancing magazine. When the painting is done, I will give you more of a detailed description of what, where and who... in short, for curiosities sake, the idea was taken from a photo of dancer. In the photo, she is dancing in a yellow, youthful springtime dress with these cute purple and red socks. I loved it and wanted to interpret it in my painting. I hope to start a series of paintings inspired by these absurdly beautiful photos of these dancers striking remarkable poses. Each painting will give the photographer credit and also give the background of the dancer. I have changed the color of the hair, and the background to suit my interpretation. And, being that I am not great or even remotely confident with life drawing, my renditions will stay true to my style.

I am at the part of this painting where I look at it and say, "...oh what have I done. I hate this!". In the beginning, when it's just a sketch and looks simple and raw... I almost want to leave it at that. Completely minimal. But in my head, I picture it much differently and I love color. So I keep pushing forward. It's a lot like making a soup from scratch. When you just decide to make soup, no recipe. A little of this, a little of that. In your mind, you have an idea of what you want it to taste like, complete.
Add the wrong ingredient, and it throws the entire pot off. So you then have to compensate by adding other ingredients.... and on and on until you get the combination of flavor you were originally looking for.
I will be working on it all day again oday and hope to see it blossom in the direction my personal recipe requires.

34 in 30 day 12

Ok, so this whole "art a day" thing is wayyyy harder than I anticipated and I have the right to blame at least half of it on the gray weather.
O'the plight of the Sun in Spring!

Anyhow, I feel it is my duty to show proof of my creative spirit, even if it is not in paint form.

It's all coming together nicely. I will be excited to complete a few projects that have been swimming in my head.

Oh yeah, it was my 34th birthday on Friday. I spent it alone for the most part, it was low key and fine. Next year, I want to go dancing.

Birthday in a nutshell.









I wholeheartedly promise more from myself this next week. Now that the flu from hell has left my body, I can focus and get back on track.

Happy day to you!

Spring

These are rough draft ideas for a large painting I would like to work on soon. I guess because I am sketching and doodling means there's no "soon" about it, I am working on it "Now". I got the idea for it while watching a really bad 80's movie. There was a part in the movie where actress with bad hair #1 is at a singles joint. At one point she and her huge freaking hair look to the side, over the shoulder, all "meow" like. The pose is what was rad, acting and actual hair and attire, awful. But the body language and the way her hair shaped her entire pose... that was the ticket! Spring is Seductive. There's "Spring Break" "Spring Fever" "Spring Cleaning" and other Spring derivatives. Everyone gets a little crazy and we start spending more and more time outdoors, like real mammals. Spring is romantic, haphazard, moody, unpredictable and full of growth! We love it. I am no expert on anything, really, but I do know what the thought of wearing cute dresses and being able to be out without rain gear does to me. Not to mention seaside campfires, camping, hiking, waterfalls, new plants, gardening... the longing for Spring is like missing a long lost love.

So, I sketched a little sketch in my journal, and then thought of her being part rabbit. Like my version of "Spring Jessica Rabbit", which is the smaller sketch in the corner. Then I decided I wanted to see the idea in color, so I drew another "Spring" in color. I realized then that I am in serious need for markers and supplies... I am going to have to figure that part out.

Anyhow, I look forward to getting said supplies and working on the larger version of "Spring". Bright and green, beautiful and rich... I hope I am able to capture those qualities in the final piece.


I also am adding a few other Spring photos. One I took of Casey while he was cutting off his hair before shaving it. Another of the plants showing signs of Spring and the work we are doing the little patch of yard downstairs. I made Seitan yesterday for St Patrick's Day. It turned out great and I will be adding a separate food blog soon. It was devine, with potatoes, cabbage and carrots. I also made a berry cobbler that beat all!

Today I am cleaning house and working on my grocery list for the cooking class I am teaching on Friday. It's my first class and I am really nervous. I will be making homemade butternut squash ravioli, Mmmm! It will be fun and I will learn a lot about slowing down. I always cook on autopilot, and in order to better share, I will really need to slow down and explain a little. Maybe I will learn some new things too!

Spring is around the corner, luring you toward growth and progress, whether you like it or not...time to wake up!

You've been missed...

I have been very excited about creating new art and starting this blog. It's been inspiring to dive within myself and spend time there for a while. Yesterday I worked on the yard, which was just nasty. So much junk. The owner of this house has obviously given up on the poor old place, at least for the time being, but since I live here... I am taking responsibility. I would rather see the ground being used to promote oxygen, flower, veggies, herbs and make the soil stronger than to see it trashed and neglected. It was nice to work in the sun and to clean things up.
After that, I threw the headphones on and had a day of Dub.
Actually, it started with Stevie Wonder, just to get the party started, then it turned to good, heavy bassin', Dub. The good stuff.
It was nice and kept my emotions in a safe spot.

I made a pretty good pizza, wheat flour, fresh basil, Italian sausage (veggie-nat.), fresh mozzarella and a balsamic tomato reduction. Not bad.

Art wise, I worked like a mad woman on a doodle. I have learned very recently that one CAN indeed doodle just as long as someone who is working on an oil painting. I've been cheating on Painting lately with the Camera and Photoshop. I JUST got Photoshop for the first time and what can I say... listening to Dub (via headphones), tummy full of organic goodness, and Photoshop after a day of gardening and cleaning is pretty rad.
Anyhow, I created the above pieces last night, and was up until 3AM doing so. I just had to get it out. The combination of another approaching birthday, Spring Fever, and the anniversary of losing a friend...along with a few unmentionables... I had to get it out.

My completed idea is this:
Make prints of all of the above, throw frames on them and hang them together. It's a process piece and was a process to get out.
I was in my own world, my bubble, my zone... and it was great.
I also want to paint the last piece, Pt 3, on a huge piece of wood-making Pt4.
The thing I love the best about them are the colors used.
Even with the digitally enhanced pieces, all of the colors and where they are placed, each texture, movement... all chosen initially by me, thus keeping it 100% original. Each part captures my mood completely.
I was happy to lose a little sleep over it.

I am warming up for my 34 in 30.
Getting all of my supplies ready and checked-filling my journal with thoughts, ideas and goals.

Today I will be recording samples from the bass, through the space echo.
I love the Space Echo.o.o.o.o.o.



I am going to see if I can sell the completed samples on Etsy!
I mean, why not?
And if not, I will use them for my own music.

So that's it. That's my Friday the 13th of March in a nutshell.

Is there an appropriate way to end a blog? I feel as I need to wave or thank you for coming or something...hmmmmm. I've never been good with endings.