Forever Home

"Best in Show" is a fundraiser for Roanoke Valley's SPCA.  An animal themed art exhibit was graciously shown in the atrium of the Taubman Museum for one night only, on February 21, 6:30 to 9:30PM.  My submission, "Forever Home", was purchased.  I was so excited!! 50% of that sale will go to helping animals in need.  And by the way, there are still more cuties to select from at:

http://www.etsy.com/search?q=rvspca&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US

Throwback Wednesday

From twenty or more years ago, these pieces were made as a young woman, at the end of my college years.  Unable to express or dispense a constant, restless energy any other way, I channeled it always through my artwork.  La Luna is an oil pastel (24in x 18in newsprint) in blues on your left, and an untitled charcoal drawing (12in x 9in sketch paper) is on your right.  Despite the immaturity, there is something still a little unsettling in these images from so long ago; things I still think about.  Savage and civility; weakness and strength.  I still get lost in the playgrounds of my mind wondering at life and at purpose.

Today's Mix...

It's President's Day. What else would I be painting? (only two sessions here, not near finished)
Actually.... I am enjoying this adorable chocolate lab commission~ getting close to complete!

 I tend to paint several paintings at one time in order to get my studio hours in and be able to paint all day.  Putting in the time is very important, for focusing and gaining that momentum that lets you free up and really paint.  I explain my method a lot of times that it is much like a cyclist or marathon runner.  The race is one day, but they bike/run every day.

And this last piece is the left over paint painting. This is also an important component.  Here is the canvas that teaches with no limits, no inhibitions, no worries.  This is a terrible painting but the energy is quite exciting and I hope to paint this figure once I understand him a bit better. I love this idea of back lighting and am trying to understand where it would fall.
Overall, a rather productive day. Finally!!

In Dreams

In Dreams
he speaks a thousand words.
Deep sure tones stream in
from his lips to her soul,
spoken aloud.
He knows they are spoken aloud.
In Dreams
he speaks every time every word;
tossed sounds of stone striking stone.
He awakes silently.
Her eyes open slowly.
There is a bird's nest left on the pillow.

The Moon in Her Eye

~A little different, a little experimental. I enjoyed painting this and worked slowly, which is different for me. I would love some feedback.  I usually have a lot going on in my mind when I paint and so here is a bit of what the painting is about.  Come check her out in person, but don’t wait that long to visit us!  Contact TECAC for any sales inquiries.

     The Narrative… While reading about evolution and cave paintings, I saw images of animals both haunting and amazingly realistic. Then there was one photo of a rounded shape filled in with color except where a hand had been placed ~ the theory being this was the artist’s “signature”.  I placed my hand in that echo and it matched exactly. Exactly! It gave me chills.  I thought about how someone created those animal images and figured it probably had a lot to do with memorizing from when they actually saw them.  For me, that was a huge connection as this is extremely similar to my own way of painting.  I decided to paint my black lab, Jezebel, with these thoughts in mind.  She is very much my muse and a kind of totem. I have painted and drawn her many times.  She is ten years old now and that seemed to affect this painting a lot.  Age and wisdom and time itself.  The moon in her eye is full and soon will wane.  The sun is glowing red and soon will set.  She has watched over me since she was too little to even know she was doing it.  She does so even now, though she is starting to age past being able to do much about it.  I was looking for that something which is a little somber, something unspoken and unknown that to me, is much like the beauty of the cave paintings.
     The Technical Mumbo Jumbo… I painted this figure in oils on 40" x 30" canvas, loosely and from memory. I used the thickness of the paint to create a physical sense of depth. I like to play with and challenge movement and composition, and so I feel the flat red and large textured figure balance very well by the absolutely miniscule house with its glowing window and all that surrounding negative space.  The drips are part of texturing and creating the mood I was after. Much of the white is actual canvas, much like a watercolor, and I did in fact, outline my own hand aiming it somewhere over Jezebel’s heart.

Portrait Completed

So happy with the way this turned out and with how satisfied Rod is with it as well.  I painted quickly, in the moment, with no preliminary drawings or sketches. Direct from his face to the canvas, I am interested in the energy and the light.  I could have kept going but it would have become something completely different. It would have calmed down as we were getting comfortable and I did not want that.  I am very satisfied with this portrait and will be accepting commissions through the gallery.  Please contact me with any inquiries. Looking forward to my next model.  Watch for her in future posts...

On another happy note, if you are in the Roanoke, VA area, I will be one of two artists featured in the month of February at 2nd Helpings.  I have mentioned this gallery before~ it has a café and thrift store attached as well and is a nice place for a Saturday afternoon.  Please join Perri Mason and I on Saturday, February 8th, 1PM to 3PM for the Opening Reception.  (540)491-9405 (call for directions)