Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Metamorphosis

Strange name and strange painting. I can't count the many stages and layers did. It changed so many times.  I find myself really struggling with oils and cold wax..... and abstracts not related to any reference material.  Heleni feels that my best works have some basis in a reference even when I do them abstractly. She may be right, but I am not going to give up so quickly.

This was done on a gessoed cardboard.  Oils and cold wax scratching etc.  Really don't know if its finished so I am posting.  Welcome any suggestions or critique.

35 x 35 cm 
Oils and Cold Wax
Gessoed Cardboard.


Monday, February 15, 2016

My Postcards On Their Way

This January through the challenge I met some wonderful artists and work. On Shiela's blog, I learned about a postcard swap run by Kat Sloma and got hooked on the idea. Ok, my daughter works for a professional printer and decided to get an estimate.  I knew I would need to print more than just the 5 needed for the swap but wasn't quite ready to print 100. So I decided to print them myself at a photo printer and paste the backs with card stock.

Postcards Ready to Go


First printing didn't come out so well because of the different proportions here. I thought they could print my 11 x 15 cm files on the 13 x 18 cm size and I would trim them to size.  Didn't quite work out that way and they printed up to large without margins... Rechecked my files to see that they were indeed 11 x 15 and they were.  Back to another printer and the same thing happened, saw on the monitor without printing. They suggested that I try to paste my file on the larger file in photoshop.  In the end used the "canvas size" option to get the results.  Had them trimmed at the printers and was ready to make the backings since I couldn't order stick on backs and no printer prints both sides like my first estimate.  Looked over the tutorial and found the best way for me was 3 strips of double sided tape and UHU stick. Pasted on one edge and trimmed the other 3 sides. My daughter didn't like the backs because they were hand made.

Well, maybe next year I will print professionally... What will I do with 100 postcards?  The price was good about 40 cents a card. Any suggestions!!!!

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Rock Face Abstract

I am missing the dynamics of the January 30 x 30. Not jut the painting but also all the work in the background. Photography and post editing, posting the blog and linking up. Anyone else feeling this vacuum?

This has been on the burner for quite awhile, mainly for 2 reasons. The first Heleni thought that it worked in its current stage, and two I was busy with the January 30 x 30 challenge to really tackle it. I felt it was just the beginning and needed more definition.

I finally decided to use a dry media on this work. Oil pastels with medium and without in order to retain the free and spontaneous feel but with not too much overwork. I was pleased with the result and Heleni was as well!

Second Stage
Thinned oils  and Oil Pastel
on gessoed cardboard
35 x 35 Cm

Stage I
Thinned oils on gessoed cardboard
35 x 35 Cm