art

Painting: practice

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This started as a project in mix media (acrylic, pastel, pencils) that went wrong then I basically painted over in oil.

The bottom is the inspiration that hangs on our entry wall.

Next up first attempt.

And the top painting, after messing that up, I have ended here.

I know I am my worst critic but for all I am lacking I am just glad for the time I can practice and try different things. Press on.  🙂

Picking up the paints

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It’s been a very long time since I last Sat down to paint. You’d think being retired would mean time on my hands but, alas, a rolling stone gathers no moss and a traveling artist gathers no brushes. But today it is raining and I begged off running around with my husband looking for deals so I could just paint. What a pleasure!

So, at our eldest daughter’s enthusing over the adorable Scottish Highland cows, I googled images and here is my inspiration and my painting. What do you think?

Art in stages part 1: toddler in crib

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I really want to learn to paint people well but I don’t want to take classes; though I’m sure I would benefit from it, because I just don’t want to hassel trucking supplies,  driving to and from then spending a couple hours.  It represents a chunk of time I feel guilty taking when my help is needed elsewhere.  So I found lovely paintings in a calender and have begun to try my

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hand at copying the style.  This first picture shows my start on the left and the calendar painting on the right.  Isn’t it just too precious?!

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Part 2 of A new work in progress

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We are in constant unfinished remodel at my home.  I have utterly lost my art space and, looking not to discourage my wonderful and do it yourself husband I try not to complain.  This morning I felt the itch to create and pulled out an art book, paper and pastels.   After getting started I remembered why I don’t do pastels. Pastels are tempermental.  Have to have paper with tooth to grip the chalky color.   Very messy.  I was excited to just have started but I’m not sure I will finish with pastel.  We’ll see.  As you might have noticed comparing my inspiration with my painting I’ve taken the color another direction.  I’m not sure if that stays either.  We’ll see .e

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Well I thought I’d makeover the pastel because it is so messy and much too green so I painted over it in oil.
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Now I’ m not loving try #2. The more I compare it to my inspiration the less true it is to the original. Its darker, stormier, too vivid. My first impulse is to give up and scrap it. I really am a perfectionist. I am impatient and easily distracted so it takes the wind out of my sails when I see there is no quick fix. I guess this is a metaphor for my life. I won’t ever improve beyond beginner/ intermediate if I don’t draw the line in the sand and wrestle with it until I really learn what I need to know. Sigh.

Art on the cheap or waste not want not.

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Today it is stormy, cold, wet and windy and today, of all days I was compelled to create.  I lost my art room to support the remodeling cause so I gathered my supplies and set up camp in our gazeboimage

My canvas is a large board picked up from the wood scrap pile at Home Depot.  I discovered, much to my delight, that Home Depot sells 2 quart containers of paint for 2 bucks each.  I bought 13 in assorted colors then dropped in to the Michaels store with a 50% off coupon which I used to buy a cool Martha Stewart set of letters to decoupage.  I’ m not gifted in making up art out of my head but I can do a fair to half baked copy of what I see so I tried my hand at my favorite book by Nancy Tillman, WHEREVER YOU ARE MY LOVE WILL FIND YOU.  I stenciled words Sing Dance Rejoice because I want to blend the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Then as a final touch I tried to splatter white to create the starry effect Nancy added to her book cover and to my horror I totally goofed and big runny gobs of white paint were dripping down everywhere.  O NO!!! I groaned in shocked disbelief.   Then determining not to put another ounce of energy into my masterpiece gone wrong I turned the dance under the moon into a dance in the sprinklers under the moon.  What do you think?  Is it worth saving?
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Rocking Out With Yard Art

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My neighbor just lost her mother.  I wanted to convey how much God loves her so I pulled Jesus’ analogy from the sermon on the mount in Matthew where He uses the care God takes with creating magnificent flowers that are so short lived and points out how very much more he cares about meeting our needs who, to God are of far greater worth.

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I found this photo of the lily and painted both the flower and Matthew’s verse in part.  I loved this rock because of its size and interesting colors.  This work is not finished but when it is done I hope my neighbor will find a place in her yard for this and take comfort every time she sees it.

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These are a few of my favorite things

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On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman is such a precious and delightful celebration.  It speaks volumes to the reader of love and tenderness and precious longings that, to me, clearly express the heart of Jesus.  When I first read Nancy’s 3 books I quickly bought more to give away for gifts to friends and relatives.  The words are so dear and the art so engaging, fun and gorgeous.  Who wouldn’t be captivated by these treasures?!

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KING BIDGOOD’S IN THE BATHTUB by Audrey and Don Wood is a hilarous and visually delicious story.  Don’s illustrations bring the silliness to life and makes you long for more. 

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All rated G for GREAT fun for all ages!

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