Monday, December 30, 2019

Persevere

I have been reading a lot about picking a word for the year, that will help you through the year on any journey life seems to take you. However, picking this word has much to do with my art practice, not my art but the practice. There is a big difference.

How did I get to my word? It was pretty difficult at first, my mind seemed to be blank. I am never really clever with words. The first word that came to mind was PUSH. I really think I have to push myself more. Not curl up in a cacoon, play solitaire, or feel sorry for myself. After listening to a TED talk about struggle more words seemed to pop into my consciousness.

STRUGGLE
PERSEVERANCE
THRIVE
PROCESS
PERSEVERE

I decided on PERSEVERE. It sort of combines perseverance and struggle, and the outcome will be that in that process I will thrive! All comes together in that one word.

You all may know, or not, that I am sort of obsessed with tutorials and online classes. This past year I took part in PHYSAS 2019. What I found was that this is not really for me. There were some really great classes and great teachers and lots of new techniques but I felt sort of overwhelmed and that many times it was too much and instead of moving forward I was sometimes at a standstill. I have to decide where I want to move forward.

So I decided to make a big jump. Since I realize that in the perceivable future I can't take any  1 to1 workshops the next best thing is an online workshop, not a class, but a real workshop. I decided to take Joan Fullerton's online workshop. I have always admired her work and process. She combines abstract, landscapes, some realism, and design. She calls it a class but for ME it will be a year-long workshop. As I said a BIG JUMP! 

Also, since I work in oils and cold wax I signed up for Jeanne Oliver's new course called Underneath
I just couldn't resist! Now the blinders are on! These will keep me very busy!

I have been busy with some pieces but feel they are still in WIP form. Each seems to need something. I have been experimenting in using Topaz Studio 2 and photoshop to tweak and find some solutions. Really great fun.

WIP I
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks
cut canvas

WIP II
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks
cut canvas
Tweaked in photoshop  

WIP I
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks
cut canvas
WIP II
19.5 x 19.5 "
Oil Cold wax  Oils sticks
cut canvas
Tweaked in photoshop 

Haven't done the actual tweaks, appreciate any suggestions and feedback!














Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Portrait of Amir

Last November.2018, we celebrated my grandson Noam's Bar-Mitzva. As usual, took lots of photos, wish I had taken more. One imparticular of my grandson Amir just kept saying "paint me" He was sitting with his mobile phone and looked up as I shot the image.

I have no idea why this post was left.... time to post.
I enjoyed doing this painting but looking back I find things that could be fixed. He looks like he,s seated in the air! My constant critic!
Every painting a learning experience. Although no features are painted it is definitely Amir

Now for a painting of him drumming

Amir
Oils on gessoed cardboard
50 x 70 cm


Saturday, December 7, 2019

You Are In for a Big Surprise

Giving lots of thoughts to Jen's post on extra-ordinary! We all get into the day to day living pattern without much thought, just ordinary stuff. Feed the cats, and Bella the chicken. Make porridge, do the laundry... all done without much thought. Mundane, boring... but the ordinary can be extra.

Friday

An early trip to the bakery for Shabbat Chala, pitots and borakas!
No traffic, lots of parking space, and the smell of fresh baked goods  EXTRA!

Feeding the cats and Bella... Lady begging for some hugs and petting... EXTRA!
The cool air  EXTRA! Even the smell of freshly laundered clothes  EXTRA!

Coming home from Natanya after a condolence visit,(shiva) Waze took us home on a road near the sea.  Glimpses of the sea between the buildings EXTRA.

I am certainly going to try to look for the EXTRA more!

Tuesday  workshop always EXTRA

This painting was done over another rather unsuccessful painting below.  I had added another blue layer which made it worse. At first, I just wanted to sort veil it with light gray tones but it sort of had a will of its own and all sort figures began appearing.


When You Go Into the Forest
Oils and Cold Wax
Cut Canvas
24" x 19"