Now What???

This is how the painting looked on Monday. By Tuesday night, I'd taken a palette knife to the rocks and they now have some luscious texture. Of course, that means that I have to bring more texture to the rest of the painting and I'm okay with that, really I am. It's just kind of scary, since I thought I was so close to being done and was happy with how it was going.

I am excited about this new lesson I've created for myself. I bought three new palette knives today at Jerry's Artarama and I've already pantomimed how I'm going to use them on the painting, so I know they're a good investment. Wish me luck!

You Can Copy and Learn

There actually is a time in your life when copying will actually help you learn. That is when you are copying a master painter, which is what I did today in conjunction with the Impressionism workshop I attended. I've actually copied this painting before, a year ago, when I was taking an acrylics class through UT Informal classes. It was using a whole different technique than what Cezanne used to paint the original, but I still remember feeling like I was learning something about how he painted by copying his brushstrokes. It happened again today. A year later, and using the same oil medium that Cezanne used (or close to it since science has definitely changed oil paints and mediums since then), I felt much the same as last year. I discovered that it's very possible that Cezanne has colors on his brush that mixed together on his palette just like I did. I enjoyed painting with energy and lightness in my short strokes. And the best part is that last year's painting is hanging on a friend's wall, but this one I get to keep! Woot!

Ten Days Later...

"Canyon Waterfall"

Ten days later and I'm still blocking it in, but it's getting closer to what I want it to say. You can almost feel the anticipation of the youngster about to go over the falls in what I would guess is some cold, cold water.

After the blocking in, I get to work on all parts of it to bring it into harmony in value and color and tone. And I need to work on the perspective so that you can feel the depth.

My independent study teacher is so excited about this painting. He keeps saying, "It's got good bones!" and assures me that it will be a magical experience. He may even be more excited about it than I am, but then that's because I know how much learning and work I have ahead of me while he just has the joy of showing me the way. It's delicious torture.

And We're Off!!

"Waterfall Cavern" Quail Creek Canyon, Utah

Off on another painting adventure, we are, my paints and me. After much hemming and hawing and fussing and kvetching, soul searching and soul rending, I decided to do yet another landscape. Will I learn something new from it? Don't know. Will I have fun? That is an unqualified YES...so far.

I got in a good sketch and blocking in of the lights and darks that need little adjusting at this point. The next step...dun, dun, dun...are the spots of color that signify light, shadow, atmosphere, distance. I can hardly wait! And yet I've put off painting for two days now. Life gets in the way sometimes and if I want to make it in this career I'm entering into, Life is going to have to step off and let me paint! Ya hear that, Life? This is Connie talkin' to you! Better watch out or I'll get my brother to beat you up!

Phew! I can tell that it's time to paint, at least for sanity's sake if nothing else.

Got 'Er Done!

"Lake Austin View"

This painting was going to have another name, but I think the working title works. I can just have some artist notes that explain what was going on.

I just love that I painted a $4 million dollar view (that's how much the house cost that has this view) on a canvas someone was going to throw out.

I also love the frenetic texture underneath this placid landscape. They don't go together at all, creating an interesting tension that mimics my life so well.

Tension? Moi?

Ready To Move On

Sami left for Paris today. She tours with her University group for about 5 days and then they all head to Lyon for 5 weeks of study and touring. To say that I'm jealous is an understatement, so I need to totally immerse myself in a painting to get back to my bliss.

This painting is getting there soon, and that means that I should be getting a new canvas and planning out my next painting. Bigass canvas for a big painting.

I have some inspirational material from the photos my bro, Joe, took on a few treks to Utah. I'm also thinking of checking with my other bro's uncle-in-law about setting up my easel a few days in a row overlooking the Llano river at his ranch. But, it's so hot right now that I wonder if I could stand to haul myself out there to do it. Then, there's the third option of painting something from photos that Sami will be sending home. We got a Blackberry International plan so she can email with us, which means she can send photos she takes with her Blackberry. Woot!

If I can't be there, painting what she's seen is the next best thing, right?

It's really weird that I was the one looking into a trip to Arles that's just finishing up right about now. It was a painting trip with a teacher whose work I just love. But, with a kid in college...

Kid graduates in 2 more years and then will hopefully get some sort of aid to attend grad. school, so maybe then Arles will be in the works for Frank and me. Maybe.

I had my mom visiting for a week, so no work got done until yesterday. I'm heading upstairs to work some more, but wanted to document the progress. It's been fun and reminds me of why I love landscape painting so much. I think the month of June is going to be dedicated to some large landscapes and *maybe* a figure or two. Brother Joe has provided me with a ton of inspiration material from Utah, so I'm stoked! Now I just need to find the funding for the large canvases I need to purchase. Anyone want to buy a painting?

Moving On...

Following the success of The Mining Ruin, I've decided to do something totally fun. My teacher was okay with that once he saw the canvas I brought in and realized that it probably couldn't be taken seriously. It's an old canvas, full of texture from someone else's painting, and painted lilac. I took a photo of Lake Austin and have been doing a landscape on top of the textured canvas. I think it rocks! As my teacher finally admitted, it creates a lot of tension for the viewer to see a calm landscape on top of so much texture which is full of motion. It's cool!

Mining Ruin - Complete

Mining Ruin

It occurred to me that y'all hadn't seen the painting I referred to with the f-ing rocks. It's a work in progress, but getting closer every day.

The Mining Ruin is inspired by a photograph by Anne Kobdish of a ruin in West Texas near where her sister has a cabin. She took the photo in the early morning while tramping around with her camera and a cup of coffee. The thought of that coffee and the peaceful early morning stays with me while I paint this. Big sigh...

What Be Happenin'

I spent Thursday afternoon helping move paintings from the old Austin Figurative Gallery to the new location, an unfinished horse barn on 4th Street. Both Chris Chappelle and David Ohlerking were super excited and totally upbeat about the renovation ahead of them, so I would do well to emulate their attitude. Me, I like a brand new place so all I have to do is move in and hang pictures on the walls. Maybe buy a little furniture, do a little shelf paper. So, all I can see is a huge daunting task. What they see is the chance to do what they want with the space, since the owner is amenable to whatever they want to do to improve it. Well, I would be, too, if I was renting out four walls and a dirt floor. Whatever they do can only be an improvement!

While loading the ton of paintings from AFG into our cars, I came upon a couple of large canvases. Lin was going to throw them in the trash, 'unless you want them', so I brought them home. They're covered with texture, so I knew that I already had a good start on a painting. No smooth, detailed painting for these. Yay! Cuz after doing all the f-ing rocks on The Mining Ruin, I am done with detail for a while.

I found my inspiration picture while perusing a Realtor's site for a 4 million dollar home overlooking Lake Travis, the link of which came from John Mackey's blog. What I love about the painting is that Frank walked in the door last night and said, "Hey!" (which means he noticed it, which is a good thing) and when I told him that it was Lake Austin, he said, "Yeah, I could tell". So, another Yay! And y'all don't have to feel sorry for me that I live for the moments when Frank actually notices a painting I do. I use him as a good guage of the general public's taste. If I get a "Wow" from him, then it's possible that I'm getting close to a "Holy Shit!" that I'm working toward.

As I said, I am tired of being mingy with paints, so it was great to grab a huge paintbrush and paint large spots of color. By paying attention to tint, tone and shade, I think I've got the general feel for Lake Austin View heading in the right direction. I really only wanted to give an impression, but I'm sure that there is still more to do in helping it move in that direction without actually going into tiny detail. That's why I study at Noel Robbin's studio; he's a great guide.

I'll probably upload a different picture soon. This was the only one in focus when I took it upstairs in my "studio", formerly known as the game room. There are still vestiges of the game roomness that I am looking forward to letting go to a new home. Specifically, the daybed and the drum set. Interested?

I love having the space to move back and get a feel for my painting. Getting the drums moved out was a good step in the right direction. Now a floor covering so I don't have to be so super cautious with my paint. And better lighting because I'm going crazy with just windows and really poor overhead lighting. I'm thinking track lighting, which would be easier to install than going with the can skylights. Time to talk to my handyman.

Doodle Painting in oil 10x10

If you've never tried it, "doodle painting" is da bomb! Just like the doodles you do with a pen while you're stuck on hold for too long, or talking to some long winded friend/relative, it is a fairly mindless activity. You can consciously choose your colors and shapes, but it doesn't have to represent anything or have any meaning other than to be pleasing to your brain, your hands, your eyes.

And...I think it is like a palette cleanser for the brain. If you're hanging onto too much angst about a painting that you're working on, this is the equivalent of jumping up and down, shaking your arms, rolling your shoulders and saying, "Whoooo!"

It is not a painting that will hang in a gallery and elicit a "Holy shit!" by the viewer (my ultimate goal as an artist). It is an "Oh, how fun!" kind of painting. So have fun!

"What's Up, Doc?"

Not original, I know, but kinda fitting. The painting is an abstract for a show we did at Austin Figurative Gallery this weekend. Never having done an abstract/deconstruction, I was wary of how it was going to turn out. I think, because I had a concept of the human body being dehumanized by medical procedures, it was easier to do than just saying I was going to do an abstracted figure.

I suffered through the first two weeks' painting and then had to go for a mammogram and Xrays of my back and neck. The whole experience of feeling like body parts instead of a human being is what helped pull the whole painting together. And then the last part was to make an incision down the spine to allow the glow of the human spirit to pour forth.

The final touch was the medical label at the top right, like you see on Xrays and charts.

If you don't know, I had a total hip replacement 3 years ago, which is included in the painting. Because of that piece of ceramic and titanium, I AM less human, but because I can now live a life free of pain (and pain killers), I am able to feel more human and alive.

And paint to my soul's content.

"Winter Still LIfe II" fini!

"Winter Still Life II"

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I am using a new book to work on getting my colors right, "Fill Your Oil Paintings With Light And Color", by Kevin Macpherson. His main theme is that if you match your colors exactly, then the values will be perfect and the light will shine true. I think he'd got something there. What do YOU think? It's not finished yet, but I'm on a roll and think it's getting close.

Here's A Winter Still LIfe

Here's a little something I'm working on using water soluble oils. I'm not fond of the medium, for two reasons: they dry out too fast and are a bear to work with when that happens AND they're messy like regular oils. When I'm working on a painting, I am often at a studio and then have to transport it home. At other times, I want to take my painting to "show and tell" at Jazzercise and again have the issue of transporting a wet canvas. Messy, messy, messy.

I guess I've been spoiled with acrylics, which dry fast and transport like a dream. But, guess what! Old Holland has come out with acrylics that they report look and feel like oils. I couldn't find anyone in town who carries them, so bought a starter set online through Jerry's Artarama, the only ones I've found so far who carry them. I'm so excited to try them out. If they work as well as I hope, I will do one final HUGE painting with my oils and dump what's leftover...unless anyone wants them? I'm waiting for a CD from my bubba, Joe, (of Saucy Joe fame) which has photos of his hike through some Utah canyons. I bet there is some inspiration there for a hugeass painting. Oh boy!

How Could I Forget This One?

"Mark up!"

Some Paintings I've Done In The Past 2 Months

I Think I've Figured It Out

It came to me clearly this morning that the subject matter I am most drawn to is that which seems to relate to American life. Marching Band, people with pets, kids on the beach, soccer players are some of the subjects that I've had the most fun with. I do love me a landscape, too. I feel a lot of peace when painting Nature, but feel most in tune with LIFE when I'm painting people. That is why I think the Austin Figurative Project is going to be a very good thing for me. I will paint study after study and get really comfortable with the human form. Then, I can paint what I feel about the people I observe. I'll be able to put their personalities on the canvas and that will make me supremely happy. All my painting sessions lately seem to be bent on maintaining a festive atmosphere, so it looks like I had better practice being more lighthearted about painting in the company of other people. I have never thought of myself as a serious person, but I sure come off that way when I am painting. I am amused that that is the impression I make. What they don't know is that I will usually sing and dance to whatever music is playing and that is why I don't drink and paint. Gotta keep that foolishness under wraps for now.

The Big Pear

Our final painting for Phillip Wade's "Magnificent Acrylics" was a project on a textured canvas. He brought in all sorts of pears for us to paint or we could do a landscape. He thought that it would be a fun exercise to paint one huge pear, hence the name of the last project, "The Big Pear".

He was right, of course. It WAS fun! After a fashion. There was a point where I didn't like how muddy it had gotten, but what looked muddy close up, turned out to be kind of bronze when you step back...and I am most amazed at how sleek and rounded the pear looks even though it's painted on quite a rough surface.

Now my kitchen still life collection is complete. You didn't know that I was just painting to decorate my kitchen and art had nothing to do with the decision to do the Big Pear. Maybe it did a little, because it's the pears that I paint that Frank loves so much, so doing a Big Pear was something fun I could do for him.

"Art By Design" '07 show

Here are some pics from my second Creative Arts Society juried show, "Art By Design" held at the Design Center of Austin.

A Couple of Paintings

As promised, here is a photo of the first still life I did in Phillip Wade's class. And here is a painting I started last fall. It originally had purple floors and walls because I was in a purple state at the time. It's been changed so much that it definitely has lots of built up layers, as Jennifer Balkan so nicely put it. I really should sign it, varnish it and stick it on a frame. Time to move on already!

I'll tell you something that I'm really looking forward to doing this coming week at Inks Lake. Last year is when I did my first plein air painting and loved the process. I can't wait to get some time to paint outdoors there again and get a few good paintings of the area. Or at least some good studies that I can finish out at home, since I'm kind of a slow painter still.

I'd like to talk about another project that I have in mind, but it might not happen, so I'll wait until I get started on a sketch at least. I will say that it involves soccer players and the reason that it might not happen is that I'll chicken out. Meaning it may be more than I am ready to take on. But, there will come a day when it will happen. This I vow!!!

Frank Calls This "The Pear Painting"

Frank loves the pear in this and that's how he refers to the painting. I find it extremely amusing that he can totally focus on what he likes and ignore the huge blue pitcher.

I love this painting and therefore will only work on the onion until it looks like an onion...seeing as I bought an onion just for that purpose today. Then, it's getting signed and varnished and a little hanger on the back to put up on the kitchen wall. My other still life (which I still have not photographed!) will go up on the wall, too. And I understand our last project, with the textured canvas, is called "The Big Pear", so will have a third still life for the kitchen walls. Yay!

But, right now I need some inspirational photos or pictures of landscapes for this coming Monday's landscape painting lesson. I'm fresh out of ideas and a little sick of seascapes. Send me your ideas pronto!

Hello Stranger

I think I may have been a little busy. Been paintin' and paintin' and learnin' and such. It's good to be back in a painting class. I learn so much faster when there's a teacher and I keep getting great teachers, so the brain is getting a workout for sure.

Recent paintings: Owl's Head Lighthouse and Crooked River, Oregon. Can you tell that I had so much more fun with Crooked River because it was an 18x24 canvas and I got to use huge brushes, as opposed to Owl's head Lighthouse which was 10x10. The small restrictions were a requirement of the Austin American Heart Association for their "Find Your Heart in Art" show and silent auction. The larger piece was from Phillip Wade's first class. I love the still life I did this past Monday, too. I'll get a shot of it one of these days.

Self Portraits Can Teach

I was lucky enough to get a critique from Jennifer Balkan, my figurative painting teacher this summer, on this self portrait just before turning it into the Austin Figurative Gallery for the Self Portrait Show this past Saturday. She pointed out what I'd wanted to change and I'm so grateful that I finally "got it" about light sources and the power of shapes. It was a realy lightbulb moment for me to finally understand how powerful a composition can be when the viewer understands where the light is coming from. And the more subtle power in a composition that has interesting shapes.

Of course, I didn't get it good enough to create that really well on my canvas or I wouldn't have gotten the comment, more than once, that it had so much more interest when seen in a better light. So, something to work on in my future paintings...don't be so dull!

It was a very interesting show and such a treat to be displaying my work with Austin artists, as I still consider myself an art student.

NOW It's Done

October '06

I think this is the best painting I've done so far. I hope to continue to improve with each painting so that when my friend Lucy (pictured at the fence) retires, I can give her this painting as a retirement gift.

I figure that doing this for the past year (September 9th), on a constant basis, and taking classes on a constant basis, I have improved quite a bit, learned quite a bit. What do you think?

And Now For Something Completely Different

I changed the water in this painting...completely! And now I like it. Stay tuned...

Evening Reverie...I think

I think I've come up with a name for this painting...in progress. I need to do a little more detail work and then stop! Put down the paintbrush! Move away from the painting!

"Evening Reverie"

Two Paintings In The Works

No good working title for this one yet. I've considered "Contemplation" and "The Gaze", but nothing's just had the right ring to it yet. This one was done with a raw umber ground.

The Eiffel Tower painting is nearly done. I did it for Sami's apartment which has stark white walls. It's been fun. This was done with a quinacridone Red ground.

Farewell Photo

I had fun getting this photo before bubble and plastic wrapping these paintings for the CAS "Surf's Up" show at Cypress Grill.

I guess I really like water and sunsets.

"Sunset Over Lake Michigan"

Acrylic on canvas 9x12 It's amazing how good this looks sitting in a frame. I had bought the frame for a silly still life and am so grateful that I never framed it because it just makes this painting. See it for yourself at the "Surf's Up" Creative Arts Society show, Cypress Grill on Wm. Cannon west of MoPac, July 26-September 27.

"Sunset Over Lake Michigan"

"Sunset Over Lake Michigan" acrylic on canvas 9x12

I was attending this sunset a week ago with my oldest girlfriends: Patti, Lynda and Lucy, in St. Joseph, Michigan.

There's a wonderful lookout point, with multiple decks, but this view was off to the side where the fence was hanging loose. It spoke to me more than the magazine type shots I got from the top deck.

I'm nearly finished and just wanted to share my joy at finally painting something at home. It's been nearly a month and my paints had gotten fuzzy! I've been sketching and painting, but that was at the beach and at painting class. This piece I did just for me...and the CAS show at Cypress Grill the end of this month. "Surf's Up" is the theme, so my palm trees, sunset boats and this one are going in it.

I've got a million paintings in my head. Time to start sketching.

Giclee, Another Way

Well, then. I've been researching having giclee (pronounced zhee-clay) prints made of four of my paintings and am having second thoughts about the idea. I'm beginning to think my husband really IS smart when he'd say "just paint another one" after I'd fuss about wanting to keep a painting but also wanting to give it to someone. For what it will cost me to get prints made of just ONE painting, I could paint 30 paintings. And, I guess, if you're going to be that prolific, you're not going to want to keep all those paintings yourself and it's not so painful to let them go to new homes. So.............................................I guess I will save my money on prints and spend it on canvases and paint and just continue to do what I do, only not keep them like favorite puppies.

"Samurai Penguin" and "Quick! To The Tractor(mobile)!

Birthday Fairy

My wish for the Birthday Fairy this year is actually a service. I'd like to get some prints made of my paintings. Well, that and a trip to Jerry's Artarama. My daughter tried telling me that "art is an expensive hobby". I put it in perspective for her...I'm an art STUDENT and we all know that education is expensive. And if I weren't studying art, I'd surely be spending lots on manicures and massages, Restylin and cosmetic dentistry. In fact, I believe I'm even SAVING money by being an art student and I have the added bonus of not caring if my hands are manicured or if I have something new to wear. What a relief. I think Farmer Batman and Samurai Penguin are done. I'll sign them tomorrow morning and get a photo before I pack them for shipping to the niece and nephew. I've learned that even the suggestion of subject matter can seem like a commission and that I don't like commissions. I've learned that I can paint a pretty good tractor, which I find encouraging enough to think about doing other vehicles. I've learned that you can't fight your style, even when it doesn't suit the subject matter. And, just this week, I've learned that I really hate the idea of someone wanting to buy one of my paintings. How bizarre is that? The more I paint, the odder I get. It's just a matter of time before you find me sitting on the bench in my front garden, yelling at kids to "get off my lawn!"

Little Treasures

Sunset Boats "Wish I Were Here" One of my painting teachers calls the small canvas paintings, "Little Treasures" (I corrected this from an earlier post where I called them "Sweet Little Paintings"). I had a couple of 9x12" canvases left over from my landscape painting workshop, so I decided to make some slp's. They're fast because they're small...much smaller than the 24x30 that I usually work on. The first one was boats at sunset with lots of pinks and purples. My mom is fascinated by how the color seems to change with the light of day. I may have to break down and give it to her since she's so enamoured of it. I think I'll get some prints made first, though. The second one I did this weekend and it's of palm trees with a hammock, tentatively titled, " Wish I Were Here". In case you haven't figured it out, the theme running through my paintings is just that sentiment. That is, until this most recent request from the teenage niece and nephew with extremely creative and slightly warped minds. I'm presently researching Batman and farm equipment, penguins and Samurais. You figure it out.

My first art show!!!