Students work from my last workshop!

Can you believe it?  I'm so proud of all 10 of my students who did these paintings!  Mine is the second one on the top row.  I should have made you guess.  We had a super time and they did such a spectacular job learning how to make a messy beginning for textures and then add big simple shapes to create their subjects. Next home studio workshop is the end of July! 

How I get my ideas for paintings!

"Rhythm of my Mind"

 

Do you ever wonder where I come up with my ideas for abstracts?  I have many different triggers to get ideas, but one of my favorites is to do "little abbeys" and then use that little 4" x 6" painting as my study for a larger painting.  I start out by dragging my loaded brush across the cold press 140 lb. watercolor paper, and the skipping action is how the whites are saved.  (I do this in a drybrush fashion.)  Then I add collage papers to liven up the colors and add a center of interest by adding a totally opposite color in that area.  After that dries, I weave a unifying color through the painting, and lastly add blacks near the center of interest.  Below is the small study that I used for the finished painting, "Rhythm of my Mind".  Even though the colors are different, you can see some similarities, I hope.

I'm going to be giving a demonstration on this process this Thursday night for the Minnesota Watercolor Society.  The meeting starts at 7:00 and is held at the Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Boulevard, Edina, MN. Hope to see you all there! 

Monoprint, Patchwork Quilt style

"In Stitches"

This is from my second day teaching the Monoprinting Workshop that is in my home studio.  We learned how to make our beautiful handmade papers into a painting.  Seeing values was the most important lesson of the day.  The students also learned many design tips for better paintings.  My studio looked like a tornado hit it!  But everyone  had lots of fun, and very successful paintings. 

Gelli Print Mania!

"Patience"

I'm still enjoying playing with the gelli prints.  This one was a lesson on patience and being reminded of some important rules to good design.  I added the red collage papers (that were from my used acrylic palette) for a center of interest effect.  Then I took a photo to check out my values. (see photo below) The two big circles were contrasting too much with the values there.  So I subdued them with another printing, and that's why I added the light tan color over them. Lastly, I allowed myself to doodle with a permanent marker. Yesterday, at my critique group, we discussed being true to ourselves.  Figuring out what we really love and making it our own!  I love to doodle, and have always loved the paintings of Gustav Klimt. Yes, I think you'll be seeing much more doodling from me in the future!

Stencils and Mixed Media

"Morning Meeting"

I'm preparing for my home studio "Painting Birds" workshop, and wanted the last day's lesson to be a very easy one.  So, I decided to emphasize stencils and show them how to do a very easy illusionary painting. BTW, I only used 2 colors in this painting. (quinacridone gold and neutral tint) I will be having a mail order lesson on this process available soon, if you are interested.  It's a fun way to paint!
The image is 11" x 14" and is available for $145.

30 Paintings in 30 Days: Day 18!

"Sleeping on the Job"  $145  Watercolor and Acrylic  (11" x 11" image)

I knew that I wanted 2 owls in my series.  One that was wide awake, and one that was getting sleepy!  There is a double meaning to this painting.  I'm half asleep these days too!  Again, I want to thank Sarah Rosedahl for the use of her photo.  Love the way this owl's eyes are half open.  I used the same colors in this painting as yesterday's, just in case someone is interested in purchasing the two of them as a set.  Working on a wet surface is an easy way to get the feathers on the owl, but you must work with thicker paint so that the paint doesn't spread out too much.  This was a fun painting to do!

30 Paintings in 30 Days- Day 17

"I'm starting to see Circles!"   $125   Watercolor, Acrylic, and Collage  (11" x 11" image)

I've been planning to paint an owl from the beginning of this challenge, and got special permission from Sarah Rosedahl to use her photo as my reference.  She is a fantastic photographer and artist.  Click on her name to see her work.  I knew that I wanted to have circles in the background, to kind of accentuate the eyes of the owl.  But as I was halfway into the painting, I thought, what can I do to make this go faster and simpler?  See photo below.

Half finished painting

So, I took one of my paint jar lids and dipped it in the paint, and wallah.... doing stencils made it lots easier.  I also used caran d'ache crayons and a permanent black marker to add finishing touches.  The branch is made from a circular patterned collage paper, and then I painted back into it, so that the paper would be incorporated into the piece a little better.  I only used 4 colors to paint the background on this painting. (2 main colors, plus white and black)   I learned how to make swatches of harmonious papers from Carrie Burns Brown.  Check out her video if you get a chance.  It's one of my favorites!Tomorrow's post will also be an owl, so keep posted!  Thank you for following my blog.  It really means a lot to me to hear your comments!

30 Paintings in 30 Days: Day 14!

"High Wire Act"   (11" x 11" image)    Acrylic and Collage  $125

My goal with this painting was to make it fun and really easy.  So, I started the painting by covering the whole paper with bright colored acrylics.  Then I sprayed it with a water bottle, held it vertically, and let it drip, so that the colors would be interesting.  Below is what it looked like in the early stage.  It was so much fun!!!

First Step

After that dried, I drew the bird shapes on and negative painted around them to create the birds.  The only collage on this painting is the checks.  Otherwise, it is all acrylic. I actually wanted to go further with this, but slapped my hand, reminding myself that today's goal was to keep it very simple.  :)  Don't you think this would look so cool on a canvas bag?  I might look into that!

Painting from my Soul

"Standing Tall"

I’ve been painting figures lately that are neither male nor female.  They symbolize hope and triumph of the human soul.  This painting evolved into very tall figures, so I named it “Standing Tall”.  If you know my family, we are all tall, so I was probably influenced by genetics here.  It had been awhile since I had painted in acrylics.  I always go back to my notes from the workshop that I took from Carol Barnes, and love to start my acrylic paintings with wild abandon.  I took a workshop from Carol Barnes at Springmaid Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC many years ago, and she really taught me a lot about acrylics.  I had done many 30 minute sketches of these 2 figures, and after picking one of them, I drew my design on the wild background, using chalk.  This painting turned out to be one of my favorites.   I have several friends who are facing health challenges, and so I was thinking of them when I did this painting.  I believe anything is possible with the help our faith and our friends.  Hope is such an important feeling to hold close to our hearts!  I entered this painting into the AWS (American Watercolor Society) Exhibition which is held in New York.  Wish me luck!

Design sketches make winning paintings!

I just realized that I forgot to post that I had won second place award at the Northstar Watercolor Society Fall Show, for my painting, "Sailing Through Life". I truly believe that if I hadn't taken the time for a value and color sketch, this painting would not have turned out as well.  I'd like to talk a little bit about the importance of a plan as we paint. Whether you're the type of artist who flies by the seat of their pants, or one who likes a plan beforehand, SOMETIME during that painting, you need to stop and make a plan!  I'm the type who likes to have the plan to start with; but I have been known to start very free and wild, and then, 3/4 of the way through the painting, I will make a value sketch where either my medium or light values connect.  Plus I try to combine shapes, so that I have as few shapes as possible, making for a stronger painting.  I really LOVE making color sketches, using Tombow markers in my little 6" x 6" sketchbook.  Another trick that I use is to take a photo of my painting, then copy and paste it into Microsoft Word.  Then click in the middle of the photo, and pick Format.  Then pick the black and white version of that photo.  This isn't a gray scale.  It's where the values below a value 4 become white and those above a value 6 become black.  This truly shows where you might need to combine shapes, or simplify busy shapes. It also spells out whether your painting is balanced.  I love using the computer as a "spell check" for values.  What ever did I do before all the wonderful technology?

Progress of a Painting, finished

"Sailing Through Life"

Here is the completed painting.  Just in time for framing tomorrow and delivering to the show on Sunday!  Whew!  This painting had many layers of minor adjustments to the color. First it was too grey, then too blue, then not dark enough. But the good thing about acrylics, is that you get many chances to change it up.  I knew that I wanted it to have an antiqued look, which is new for me.  There are only about 3 pieces of collage paper in this painting. Otherwise, this started on watercolor paper, with a watercolor underpainting.  Then I switched to acrylic.  Usually, I really like to work on Strathmore Aquarius watercolor paper when I paint with acrylics, so this was learning experience for me, using Arches paper this time.  At the very end, I actually painted with a twig, dipping it in my black paint.  I wanted it to look scratchy, and it worked.  So fun!!!

Progression of a Painting

Sometimes, I get myself in some jams.  This time, I entered a show with a title, "Sailing Through Life", without the painting being done yet.  The deadline is coming up this Sunday, and so today, I decided to start the show painting, ready or not!  I have my design sketch worked out, pictured at the top, and also have the napkin as my color inspiration.  Do you ever do that?  I find that napkins, or scarves get me started with a color scheme.  I might not follow it by the end, but at least it gets me started.  It's been a little while since I've painted in acrylics, so this has been a struggle so far.  I keep telling myself to get the big shapes in now, and I'll be able to doodle and negative paint later.  Warm Dominant.  Check!  Now to add some mystery and excitement to this painting.  I'll hopefully post the outcome of this tomorrow.

Day 26- 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Climbing to the Top"

I felt like doing an abstract painting today, and I have to confess, there's a national show deadline coming up and I really want to enter an acrylic in it.  So, I read the rules, and found out that collage is approved in this show, but it has to be handmade, and it can only be 20% of the painting.  I have quite a few collage papers that I made some time ago, after watching the Anne Bagby DVD .  It was fun grabbing some of them and adding them to my painting.  I really love collage, and I like using magazines and purchased papers too, but couldn't use those this time, due to the rules.  If you've been following my blog during this 30 in 30 Challenge, you know that I stated that all of my paintings have to be people paintings.  If you look closely at this painting, you'll see the figure at the top right. It is my intention that you won't see the person, till you study the painting for awhile.  It reminded me of a person climbing to the top of his career goals, hence the title.  This painting is 14" x 14" image, matted to 20" x 20". 

Day Twenty- 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Hidden Agenda"

Starting this painting as a total abstract, my plan was to include a woman at the last minute.  I had an all day painting day with my friend, Lana Grow and we had a great time trying to make a total collage painting like Carrie Burns Brown does.  Her DVD is one of my favorites.  Below is the painting before the changes.  When I got home, I knew that I would have to get the acrylic paint out and fix the painting.  I like that I have her right in the center of the painting, and yet, I got away with it.  (In my opinion, anyway)  I believe that the dark big shape on the right side of the painting adds more weight to that side of the painting, thereby disguising the fact that she is in the center.  What do you think? I called this painting, "Hidden Agenda", because I like the fact that the viewer doesn't see the woman right away.  This acrylic and collage painting is image 12" x 12" and is available for $295.

Painting BEFORE changes

Acrylic painting, Letting Go

Here is the finished painting from my study that I posted on January 24th.  I'm pleased with the simple shapes and the drama factor of this one.  I've been having so much fun painting in acrylics lately.  I use Strathmore Aquarius paper for the large paintings and I paint on stretched canvases for the smaller ones.  I use completely different procedures for the 2 of them.  This painting was one of the first paintings that I liked after going through the dreaded "January artists' block".  I'm having so much fun looking back through all the 30 minute studies that I've done over the last year and a half, and intend to do many paintings in the next few weeks, using the studies.

New painting, "The Journey"

OK, here it is!  The finished painting, that I called, "The Journey".  It was a struggle to finish this one, but it turned out to be one of my favorites that I've ever painted.  I brought it along to Karlyn's Paint-in last week, and the group really liked it.  In fact, it sold there!!! I love it because it tells a story of my journey as an artist, with lots of inspiration from all the friends in my life.  I try to surround myself with positive people.  No time for negative vibes!  And that tall person right next to me, would be my husband, my greatest support ever, and the love of my life!  I got permission from the buyer to keep it till the end of May, so I'll be able to show it at my open house, and it matches my sister's pillows so well.  I'm going to enter it in a national show also.

Acrylic painting

I'm falling in love with acrylics lately.  I still love watercolor, but only if I can add collage with it.  I'm almost finished with a painting that I started many months ago.  I used this 30 minute study as my model. (done with Tombo markers) I had set the painting aside for several months, due to other things taking priority.  I came up with this idea, that my sister and I should coordinate our art.  She is a seamstress, and makes wonderful pillows and a variety of functional art.  In fact, her business is called Functional Art.  She sewed some beautiful pillows, and I painted a painting to go with them. They are pictured below.  This will be my first coordinating painting!  I'll post it tomorrow.  I really enjoy the process of having fabric as a starting off point for my paintings.  Love the freedom of painting whatever I want, as long as it matches the pillows.  And sometimes, it takes away the stress of picking colors when the artists' block sets in.  Today, I painted with a few friends and we painted from 9:30 till 3:00 p.m.  It was so fun to hear feedback on each other's paintings.  If you don't have a group to paint with, I strongly advise it.  We artists are alone too much of the time, and it feels so good to have friends to talk with, while I paint.  Granted, I wouldn't work well like this every day, but once or twice a month is so good for me!  By the way, my sister's fabric pieces are featured on http://www.etsy.com/  Her name is Nancy Klapmeier.  Her link is http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?q=Nancy%20Klapmeier&order=undefined&view_type=gallery&ship_to=&min=0&max=0&removeLocation=1