Art-itude IX Castles in the Sky

 " Studio Ghosts: When you're in the studio painting, there are a lot of people in there with you. Your teachers, friends, paintings from history, critics...and one by one, if you're really painting, they walk out. and if you're really painting, you walk out." Audrey Flack Art and Soul

Re-posting this quote. Yesterday we discussed in feedback something on that line. I said that sometimes I don't know who is doing the painting, and he replied that's a great state to be.

Great day at my workshop yesterday. Finished a piece, at least till I decide to fuss some more. Separated diptychs, Reuven agreed that divided and with a small mat they are best and made a new start. So grateful to be able to have this workshop. Meeting my artist friends and working together.  We may continue in July!

I Want to Fly to the Castles in the Sky

Mixed Media

Acrylics Oils Oil Pastels Graphite Pencil

20" x 20"

Light cardboard

Don't know what came over me the other day! I was in the middle of an art-itude and was cleaning my palette of some dark grey with water and decided to pour it over like a milky wash. I didn't like the drips so with my roller went over the whole mess. Desaster! It was like something took over kept going with oil pastels, smudged with oil, and graphite pencil. Finally, put it aside.

Took it to workshop and discussed it with Reuven, who usually doesn't like to make suggestions referred me to an Israeli Painter by the name of Moshe Kupferman who uses flat painted areas to contrast busy sections

One plus Eight

More Corona Isolation Paintings

Taped 

Free

After cutting my large sheet of paper into a square format the remainder I cut into smaller pieces around 8" x  10". I taped them to heavy cardboard and painted them as one piece. After separating them I trimmed them to the same size so I could play with their orientation.  These were then digitally framed with a neat program called Fotosketcher.

 

At the same time painted on a quarter sheet.

WIP

13,75" x 19.75"

Acrylics on 240 gm Cartridge Paper(Bristol)

Click on images to enlarge.

PS Have made an online shop on Blogger. Thoughts and suggestions, please!

Art-itude VI 2

Finished the prompts plus... sometimes I can't stop fiddling! Blame Cookie! Where do these figures come from? Reuven says don't go with them but I sort of like them! The yellow is not so ochre, it's more of a dirty greenish yellow. I will try to capture a better shot with my better camera.

WIP

Oils on cut canvas 

19.5" x 27"

Reminder

Got rid of that hair!

Art-itude V oils 2

Finished all the prompts, not in the same order because of the oils. Have to make compromises. Looking back I can hardly recognize that this is the same painting. Happens!

WIP

Oils on heavy brown board

20" x 20"

Reminder

Art-itude V Oils

"The object isn't to make art. It's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable." Robert Henri

How wonderful it was to go back to my weekly workshop.  Brought 2 substrates to work on, one heavy brown paper board and cut canvas wrapped around cardboard. Not all the prompts are compatible with oils so I had to compromise but getting back to oils, the creamy consistency and smells were delightful. Loved working on the paper, less on the canvas. Both are still in their first stages, only did half the prompts, so hopefully, on Tuesday I will continue.

WIP

Oils on heavy brown board

20" x 20"

First Marks Graphite Pencil

Oils on heavy brown board

20" x 20"

For the first marks, about 69, one for each day in isolation, I was inspired by the simple drawings of Paul Klee.  Done with graphite on the paper and oil pastel on the canvas. I like the minimalistic feel about this painting. Probably won't do much, but at the same time I don't want to get attached. Hard sometimes to distinguish between attachment and work done!

Studies on Dark Background

Studies on Dark Background

Started a series on formats that I painted with burnt sienna on gessoed paper.  Most of these papers I retrieved when a neighbor emptied out a studio from the house he bought. The house was the home of an artist, painter and sculptor Archie TalronThe paper was already pretty old before it was chucked out on the street. Retrieved as much as I could, sketch pads, heavy paper, charcoal paper etc. Repaired several edges with masking tape.

Brought this to my workshop to add more color with oils. Reuven stated the painting has already made its statement and any more work was not necessary.

Sometimes We Have to Liston 

13.5 x 19.5"

Charcoal Pencil Neocolor I Crayons Medium

Figure on Paper

Another figure study

Lost in a Daydream

13'5 x 19.5 "

Oils on Heavy Gessoed Paper

Pencil and Charcoal Sketch

13.5 x 19.5 "

Gessoed Paper

Help Me Find the Stairwell Day 18

Day 18  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

Have to Find the Stairwell

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  collage Inktense Pencils

I Fell Down the Rabbit Hole Day 17

Day 17  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

Sometimes our mental "jails" can be pleasant, although lonely! I am having fun with these small doodles. They seem to take on a life of there own and I am just the tool!

Seems I Fell Down the Rabbit Hole

7 x 9"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  collage Inktense Pencils

WIP

Sometimes I like to photograph my work. Seems I can observe it better and see what it wants or needs,

Figure on the Wall Day 16

Day 16  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

This started out as a figure sketch on an acrylic background. Didn't like it so veiled her and did more brayer work. She was determined to appear, so I let her stay. Added collage pieces, but still a bit on the kitsch side. Our workshop mentor, Reuven,  says there is a place for kitsch in art so can't argue with that!

My Offering for the Wall

7 x 9"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  collage

Who Is In the Orchard Day 15

Day 15  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

My Sketchbook

Gift from my artist friend Traudi

Bought at Ikea!

Watercolor paper middle sheet light pink plain paper

Found Myself Trapped in the Orchard

Soil-inspired expertise

9 x 7"

Sketchpad PinkPaper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  collage

Animal Guides Day 14

Day 14  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

Nothing beats the understanding of animals. They sort of crept in when I wasn't looking to act as my guide and keep me company.

Animals Will be My Salvation

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics  Crayons  Stencil  Ink Intense Watercolor Pencils

Faces Behind the Wall Day 13

Day 13  30 in 30

Mixed media on watercolor paper. Continuation of the main theme of "jail" from a previous post.

The Face Behind the Wall

9 x 7"

Sketchpad Watercolor Paper

Acrylics Crayons Pencil Stencil  

Gift Buddha New Start

What a surprise was waiting for me on my table at workshop. One a big 7 x 11.5" handmade sketchbook from heavy watercolor paper, filled with owls and owls and more owls. The background for this was that last week I made a small one-page sketchbook that I learned from Kiala Givehand as part of the Sketchbook revival that I took part in. Sadly they have taken it down already. She also has a great number of youtube videos, but couldn't find the specific one she had on the revival session. I did find one similar but she doesn't show the hidden pages. Anywho I showed Traudi how to make it and she taught her granddaughter while making me the OWL book. Traudi also gave me another sketchbook like the one she previously gave me, she decided she wasn't going to use it and since mine is almost filled, it should be mine! Thank YOU Traudi, I so wish I could share some of her work but alas she hasn't a blog or Instagram etc. Maybe someday! And now you ask, why OWLS.
Well, we were discussing our project and I mentioned that I took an online quiz and OWL is my soul animal.

Cover

 1-2

3-4

5-6

Hidden Pages

lifting pages 1 -2

Full Spread

Back Cover

We all have some down days where our mind takes over with thoughts and we can't seem to get rid of them. With me, I take a nap which is like an escape sleep. After a shower decided to get it out on paper. In the sketchbook revival, I learned that scribbling and writing on the page has great power.

It really helped and this Buddha was the result! I also remembered the HUGE Buddha at the RISD Museum that I often visited. It was so calming and peaceful!

15 x 13"

Pencil HB on Light Sketchbook Page

 Well, hope you've come this far. This week at Workshop we had our guest mentor Ariel Asseo.

Since his specialty is in realistic figure painting I decided to do two figures. Not happy at all with this WIP. But in the spirit that I show what going on on my easel.  Have to fix the drawing mistakes particularly the left arm and decide on a color palette. It was the end of the session so I used oil sticks instead of getting out my paints. 

WIP

Charcoal  Oil Sticks 

Colored Matte Board

21.5 x 27.5

Day 24 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 24  September 30 x 30 2017


Start 6 cut 4 Bottom Right

Start 6

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Ink Intense Pencils

Water

Some pieces come easily and some take their time. This was one of those. Every time I had to cover up something or add another collage piece. But, in the end, I like it the best of the series!

Hidden from View

4.5" x 6.5"

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D"ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Gelli Print Collage

Day 23 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 23  September 30 x 30 2017


Start 6 cut 3 Bottom Left

Start 6

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Ink Intense Pencils

Water

With this cut, I used the addition of collage pieces made from some Gelli prints. I have to learn to be braver with my covering up and veiling. 

Thunder on the Mountain

4.5" x 6.5"

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D"ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Collage

Day 22 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 22  September 30 x 30 2017

Start 6 cut 2 top right

Start 6

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Ink Intense Pencils

Water

Fall is the most enchanting of seasons. It's the season I miss the most so this cut invited me back the splendors of color. 

Walking Through Heaven's Door

4.5" x 6.5"

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D"ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Day 21 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 21  September 30 x 30 2017

A Healthy and Creative New Year to All

Start 6 cut 1 top left

Start 6

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Ink Intense Pencils

Water

This start, after cutting it up, wasn't talking to me. Nothing really came to mind and they remained sitting on my board for more than a week. As the date to publish was getting closer, and the Holidays at my doorstep decided it was now or never.If he wasn't talking I would talk to him. It's all in the process! As soon as I started coloring in the negative space in the top left this fellow appeared. I let him come out to see what he may want. Maybe he just want's to wish me a Good and Creative Year!

I Will Teach You About Looking

4.5" x 6.5"

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D"ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Day 20 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 20  September 30 x 30 2017

Start 5 cut 3 Bottom Right

Start #5

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

I'm Back to Square One

4.5" x 6.5"

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Collage

Day 19 September 30 x 30 2017

Day 19  September 30 x 30 2017

Start 5 cut 3 Bottom Left

Start #5

23 x 33 cm 240grm

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

I'm Flying High

4.5" x 6.5"

Ink Intense Pencils

Watercolor Crayons

Water

Caran D'ache Neocolor I

wax crayons

Collage