Cranswers, I Need Cranswers

Something to ponder as you struggle through the 2PM -4PM slump... Cranswers, I Need Cranswers~ what are we all made of, what are each of us made of? Your beliefs are who you are. Your reality is shaped by such beliefs.  A million different realities are all existing at once! This painting is contemplating faith and identity.  Faith is part of humanity and part of each individual. Is it as real as the brain in your head? The being that once occupied this skull ~ he lived in a community, and perhaps he loved and was loved.  The community took care of their sick and their elderly. They shred food and shelter and lessons of survival...They did not have the ability to speak as we do.

2nd Session

Here is the 2nd session of Imperfection.  I defined more color and started to detail some of the smaller objects.  Building the details is a process in patience. This kind of technical painting requires a layer building process that creates the depth and it cannot be rushed.  I also like to figure out proportions as I go because for me this gives a certain energy to the pieces and I never really feel that everything is in the right place until the painting is almost complete.  It is very important that cup is grounded and right now it still feels floating. I do not mind.  The building of layers will settle it down just as it will pull the snail shell forward.  So far I am pleased.

In the beginning

     So what's on the easel lately is a little different than the norm.  I live in an area where still lifes and landscapes are common and very much appreciated. For me, however, this is totally out in left field.  I thought it would be a good place to show some method.  This is the first day of this painting. To begin with,  I studied the light and color.  I drew in my lines and shapes in paint selecting my color based on whether the painting will be warm or cool in tone when I am finished.  I used a mix of cadmium yellow and cadmium red for the first layer of the cup, where I know in the end it will be light as this gives the brights and whites dimension and vitality. The grey shadows in it are based in a warm ultramarine blue.  The dark fabric in this painting has also been given an undertone of warm cadmium yellow to keep it lush.  I expect many more layers to come going back and forth between lights and darks.  I keep a separate brush each  for when I work with white and color, and when I work with color only.  Then I build in turns, or sessions, and leave a little drying time in between.  I feel this keeps my color crisp and not dull.  I jumped into the white on the cup as I know I want it as the focus and it actually has a lot of shadowing and reflection on it - busy not all flat white.  Also too, the painting is warm except for the light blue in the background. I kept that cool as another way to push the objects forward ~ especially the cup.    I am also going to refrain from using a straight edge on the chop sticks. It is a point of pride to get those lines straight ~ so far, not bad...
     I am in love with snail shells right now ~ so small and adorable with their infinite spiral and mobile home nature.  This painting is of items about home and identity.  The demitasse cup is from two generations ago with a chip and a crack in it. That and the flower detailing will be a good challenge, but more importantly, it belonged to my mother and though it was singular and damaged, it held some kind of importance, as she had possessed it since childhood.  The chop sticks were a gift from half way around the world.  They are a reminder of times in my own past ~ people and connections, dreams and generosity.  I will post updates as the painting progresses.  Any questions or comments are welcome. 

Nestled

I keep thinking lately "be safe".  The world is harsh; only we can be gentle.  This tiny painting of a repeating motif, is titled, "Nestled".  It has been so cold, which also has brought on comparing ideas of home and shelter. Winter colors, winter thoughts.  Painted from life, my husband had found this nest abandoned and brought it to me one day.  He is always bringing me these kinds of things as they are my favorite type of gift.  The snail shells I find and collect when I am out walking Jezebel.  But sometimes we see them occupied in the summer gliding quietly along the sidewalk, and then we just say hello...
This is a  good study of greys.  I believe this will be the year I finally find satisfaction in my grey tones. Also too, this new venue of still lifes is an excellent rediscovery in refined painting and close observations. I need to get my head out of the clouds sometimes...

By the way~ you can now find me on Twitter!! Follow me so a I can follow you, ~ as my young niece likes to say "sharing is caring"
http://www.twitter.com/Zanne13_Artist

be safe out there!

He Gave Me The Moon

And then one day, he gave me the Moon.
He called me from far away and said,
"Look at the sky. Look at the Moon. Can you see it?
It is all full and warm. We will be
looking together."

I went outside, but I could not find the Moon
all full and warm from a rare eclipse.
Then something in me surrendered. I gave in
to trust and to belief. I found we were
already together.