Looking Through the Window

 Here it is the end of the year. Seems it went faster than other years, maybe due to all that has been going on in the world. My "art" year starts usually around September to August when our workshop begins so I am 4 months in. This year will be quite different than usual with various different instructors from Israeli art community. So far this has been quite stimulating as each mentor contributes his view. This week, because Reuven can't come, we will have an artist that specializes in figure work and we will have a model. Its been quite a while since I have drawn/sketched with a live model and I am really looking forward the chance. This coming year I hope to continue my journey into the abstract with both oils and cold wax and collage, and collage with gelli-prints in acrylic. I hope to improve my drawing skills as well.


I am finishing up the first 4 of the grey and yellow series.

Looking Through the Window

wrapped canvas 40 x 40 cm

Oils and Cold Wax

Collage

Looking at this on the computer screen I may tweak this abit.  But for the time being it is what it is.

Start

Added Collage

Which Road to Take

"Side roads" was the topic I chose for this month's art concept challenge.
What is a road?   A path,  a direction, a destination,? How do we choose which road to take? Where will it lead me, what will I find? Will it be easy or difficult? Will I succeed or fail?
Lots of questions and not too many answers? I recall on some of the road trips that I took in the US sitting on the bed and mapping out the next days trip. Most often we chose the scenic route.

My art journey is also like a road. Should I take the highway, faster and more secure, or take the challenge of the scenic route with all its surprises?

I choose the scenic route!

I Choose the Scenic Route

Transfer prints on paper

Crayons

Liquid Pen

19.5" x 13"

I started out with sketching with a new app on my tablet. Transferred these using gel medium on my substrate. Finished with crayons and liquid pen.

Quotes:

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander
Nursery Rhymes

So many roads. So many detours. So many choices. So many mistakes.
 Sarah Jessica Parker

Take the back roads instead of the highways
Minnie Pearl

One always wonders about roads not taken
Christopher

Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you about your destination
Drake

Have to Get Back to Work

Yesterday morning pedicure, afternoon coffee with some of my artist friends. No real work was done. When I say work I mean artwork, not lunch, dishes, laundry etc. I did manage to rub some transfer prints for my "side road" project. But that doesn't count.

Last class I really didn't actual painting. I did some drawing and pasting collage pieces. Call it painting with paper.

WIP

40 x 40 cm

oils and cold wax

collage

Before paper painting!

Going for the next layer! Going outside.. ... warm and sunny... 

We All Return Home

We all return home, where did I come up with that title for this particular work. When saving I noticed that was the name I had given so continued. Was it something unconcious working it's way through? Funny I still don't really feel at home with this. I did add an orange piece on the bottom right, probably just to satisfy my balance act. Got an OK on that!

We All Return Home

50 x 70 cm

Collage

Oils with Cold Wax

Previous version.

I Jumped off the Cliff

I really feel exhausted, gone through the wringer, but I am glad that I have made this giant step,,, for me. I decided to share my work with the world. After much looking around I decided on Artfinder for my platform. Not too big so that my artwork would be buried. The major issue was the shipping cost, and I gather most of the artists that do not ship here is because of the price. Taking this into consideration I will be only posting small works on paper and cut canvas. You can find me here. 

This week I have been busy publishing my artwork on Artfinder so the only painting was at my workshop. I am really enjoying these sessions because I feel that both instructors are really pushing me to a different level.

Remember Bad Recipe.... Where I was told to collapse, destroy! Well, this week I asked if that was really what he meant..... Yes.  My structure should be no structure. Up till now, the structure was always there in front, good composition. Now I have to break through that wall, and that is hard.

Here is how the image came to class.

WIP

50 x 70 cm

Collage

Oils with Cold Wax

Here how it stands now!

WIP

50 x 70 cm

Collage

Oils with Cold Wax

Added interest and broke the frame borders.  He was happy that I broke through but I don't know if I like it. I want to add more to the bottom right .... the balance wanting to show. Haven't touched it. 

He compared my work with Robert Rauschenberg and that I should look at his works. 

A few more on the burner!

WIP

40 x 40 cm

oils and cold wax

collage

WIP

40 x 40 cm

oils and cold wax

Going in Too Many Directions

Here I am with 2 days that I can spend on my creative work.

My WIP from workshop to the left. Plus another start.

Some finished Gelli-prints in front of me asking to be posted.

Cards to make

New stencils to try with my Gelli-prints and new colors as well

Hey, quantum physics... can't I split up and do all?

Also, a deep secret that I am bursting to tell.. and that I am stressed about the outcome!

Well, posting won out.

Zig-Zagging Around

8 x 8 inch

Gelli print - paint - collage

                                            Off the plate                               Added painting

London Bridges Falling Down

• Last Tuesday I started a new painting with oils cold wax and collage. I really wanted to work on the piece before going to class. But as usual real life got in the way and by the time I had some time it was too late. Didn't want to have a wet painting to move.This week we have our once a month substitute teacher Eitan Ben Moshe. He is an accomplished artist in both painting and sculpture.We are really blessed this year at our workshop. Each has their own way of teaching and they complement each other. More below.
• 
  
  
• WIP 
• 50 x 70 cm
• Oils Cold Wax Collage
• 
  
• The class started with Eitan going from one to another looking at the work and commenting.
• It wasn't a typical critique but rather asking questions as to what we want to do, where we want to go sort of thing. It was a very informative session mainly because we have a very diverse class from beginners and advanced, working in diverse styles and mediums. His suggestion  for me was mainly to sit down and write as if I was preparing for a show, what my intentions are. Or in other words my "artist statement" for the brochure!
• As a good student that is just what I did. When I finish the small series, 4 paintings. 

Where is the Rain

The sun is shiny and it will be another warm mid-November Day. Come on rain, where are you hiding.

“Prayers go up and blessings come down.” – Yiddish Proverb

Been trying to finish some of the starts, really made to many,so some will be made into cards. More on cards at the bottom of post. Prints go fast, the painting and the collage steps take more time.
Collage step from Be Comfortable with Uncomfortable

Screening In Screening Out

10" x 8"

Gelli-print Paint Collage

                                               Off the Gelli-plate                    Added paint

In Love with patterns

10" x 8"

Gelli-print Paint Collage

                                      Off the Gelli-plate                     Added paint

Sticks and Stones

10" x 8"

Gelli-print Paint Collage

                                  Off the Gelli-plate                         Added paint

Been giving a lot of thought as to how to get to the next step, selling. Up till now it hadn't really entered my conscious mind, it was probably hidden deep in my unconscious. Since I have been making cards for family at birthdays etc. decided this may be the place to start. These are not prints but my original work. I bought a package of colored card stock quite a while ago. Have decided to call my cards "frame me" because they are a card and a gift at the same time. Taken this one step forward have ordered 100 transparent stickers for my card-stock cards, and 100 cards single folded cards with the logo printed on the back with envelopes. Since it was a small order I chose a lovely buttermilk color.

I have questions about mounting. Glue or double tape? This card was made before I got my paper cutter.  Thoughts and advice most welcome.

Back

My Avatar is a section of my grandfather's 

business card. Almost a hundred yrs old

Front

Bad Recipe

First real workday at the workshop with our new mentor Reuven Tishrey.  Back to oils, YAY, love their texture, smell, how they mix and spread. I will continue acrylic with my Gelli-printing at home, and oils in the workshop.  I am also going to work larger, at least larger for me.

WIP I

19.5" x  27/5"

Oils on cut canvas

Cold Wax  Collage

Critique: The composition is too formulated. He wants me to try to make it seem to be on the edge of collapsing. 

How do you make a painting seem to collapse I ask myself?  Getting uncomfortable! 

I think I know the exact time I should have stopped painting. I was getting thoughts that I was going all around the place. Decided, guess my left brain took over and started to make marks to the more negative spaces, and echo colors. Also, the layout of the collage pieces were too balanced. One of the good things about oils and cold wax is that I can take off the pieces and move them around and change their shape/size.

WIP II

19.5" x  27/5"

Oils on cut canvas

Cold Wax  Collage

Changed orientation, moved some pieces around added a new piece. I removed the black piece above the script on the bottom. This image is not exact, it's a simulation done using PS. Thinking of putting in a shocking color to upset the apple cart! Shocking pink or turquoise? Welcome any thoughts and suggestions., The two parallel stripes on the left top are too similar. I have a week to view and live with it.

It was so great to be back with all my artist friends!

Be Comfortable with Uncomfortable

Lesson 6

"this lesson is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable." Jane Davies

There is a bit of blindness when working with Gelli printing. How the layers of colors react. Where to mask or stencil.  In this lesson, we take a substrate and print one part, then another and so forth using one composition format. Sometimes with a stencil and sometimes a mask and then just color in one area. I was not comfortable with this uncomfortable situation. Did one series of six.  What am I going to do with a mud pile os start?  Not knowing what will come out. With painting, at least with oils, you put down a mark, not what you want, wipe it off. This printing is a whole new ball game.

Tried again the next day after doing some homework painting colors over one another. Did another 12 starts. Don't worry I will be sharing slowly as I bring a few to the next painting stage. 

Don’t try to finish each piece in the
process. Let each thing you do just be
the next step. Stay with it, and don’t
get ahead of yourself. 

Feel free to cover up beautiful printed
patterns and textures. 

Let some of the pieces be open-ended,
or not finished.

Have fun.  Jane Davies

Wip 01-pt

8" x 13"

Gelli-print + Paint

Acrylic

Gelli-print 01

3 layers

Wip 05 pt

8" x 10"

Gelli-print + Paint

Acrylic

Gelli-print 05

4 layers

After printing the last layer it covered too much so rubbed it off quickly with a wet rag! This one will be a real challenge.

Wip 14 Pt

8" x 8"

Gelli-print + Paint

Acrylic

Gelli-print 05

3 layers

More Surprises

Print
Collage
Mask Print
Paint

Number 4  

Left 3 layers of Print 

Added Collage

                         

Cycle of Circles

Masks and Print

Paint

7" x 5"

240 gm paper

Find me on Artfinder

$35

Number 5

Left 3 layers of Print 

Added Collage

Let Down Your Golden Hair

Masks and Print

Paint

5" x 7"

240 gm paper

Find me on Artfinder

$35

Sold

Number 6 

Three Print Layers

Added Collage

Stand by Me

5" x 7"

Masks and Print

Paint

5" x 7"

240 gm paper

Find me on Artfinder

$35

Playing for Change

                     

                                                    

 

Surprise Surprise I

Back to my Gelli printing course. I am still amazed at all the surprises that show up in the printing process. I did the second part of lesson 5 which dealt with first collage and then prints, These exercises start with printing, 3 layers, collage, printing with masks, and finishing with painting. No wonder a number of surprises in these steps. I worked in a series of 6 pieces, used a limited palette.

            

 Stage 1 three printings each with a different color, use of string and paper masks. I changed the order of the colors

           

Stage 2 The addition of collage pieces

Peanut Butter

5" x 7"

240gm paper

Gelli print\

Collage

Gelli print + painting

Find me on Artfinder

$35

\

One Two get Ready to Play

5" x 7"

240gm paper

Gelli print\

Collage

Gelli print + painting 

Find me on Artfinder

$35

Follow my Star

5" x 7"

240gm paper

Gelli print\

Collage

Gelli print + painting

Find me on Artfinder

$35