Extraordinary!!!

For those of you in the Cleveland, OH area, I highly recommend seeing the Artistic Luxury exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art. I have had the opportunity to see it 4 times and I must say, it gets more beautiful everytime I see it. Definately a Bling, Bling show. The show features pieces by Tiffany, Lalique and Faberge, and their work is outstanding. I have never been a jewelry person, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the craftsmanship of all the work. It is only up till January 18th, so if you have time, it is definately worth while.

spilling my guts

I don't think there is to many people out there that are reading my blog anymore, but I really don't care. I need to get this out of my system. I have been avoiding many things, including this blog, painting, friends..., like the plague. Why?? Well, here it is ....

Two years ago I started a project to add on to my house, I had mentioned it in this blog. What was a dream come true has turned into a true living nightmare. This nightmare has consumed me.

This nightmare has left me angry, resentful, mad, and vengeful.

These emotions do nothing but drain me. They make me doubt myself. They change my focus and goals. They make me less of a mother, less of a friend, less of an artist, less of a person, and I have allowed it.

I am tired now, I need to let go.

A Different Kind of Painting

I will be posting some more paintings soon. This week I have been really busy redecorating my daughters bedroom. She is 14, and so we are trying to tie the gap between a cute, fun room and a more sophisticated adult design. So far I think we are doing a pretty good job. She has chosen a cantaloupe color for her walls and a soft white for the woodwork and trim. The room has two corner windows that look out to the pond in the backyard and the neighbors pasture, so we didn't want to block the views. We chose to keep the windows simple with light sheers that can be joined in the middle with a beautiful tie. There is already hardwood floors, so we won't be changing them, but we are on a search for the perfect rug. So, off to Home Depot for more painters tape.

Ebay here I come!!!

Well I finally took the plunge, yes, I posted my first painting for sale on Ebay. If any one is interested in bidding on my painting, Sunday Morning (pictured below), CLICK HERE.

Breakthrough

Sunday Morning, Acrylic, 5x7

click here to bid

This is the first painting that I have done all summer that I am satisfied with. It was based of a photograph that I took last week. In fact, the day that I took the picture I said to myself, "why haven't I done this sooner". It was last Saturday morning, I woke up, grabbed a cup of coffee and drove around Geauga county taking pictures of all the spots that I have driven by saying, "that would make a great painting". I also ran across many garage sales, so I stopped by and found some great things to paint, hats, silver pitchers, a small guitar. I figured after I finished painting them I could bring them into school for my students to use.

Speaking of school, I stopped by yesterday and the floor was being laid for the new artroom. It is such a big room, with 7 windows, so I have plenty of light. It is really exciting.

White House

acrylic on board, 5x7

After having such a frustrating time painting I decided to change my subject matter. I have always been attracted to small, simple buildings. I have photographed many of them over the past couple years and thought that I would try painting from the photos. This is my first attempt. I can't say that I am thrilled with the entire painting, but there are elements that I really like. I have not done a landscape for quite some time now, so it's not bad. What I do know it what I need to work on, so, for that reason alone this has been a successful venture.

I found this image on the Internet and it expresses just how I am feeling. I have spent the entire morning painting and nothing, and I mean nothing, has came out right.

I started working on small 5x7 Masonite panels to work quickly and practice, learn, and grow in my painting. I just didn't know how frustrating it would be. I have a couple newer paintings, that I have not posted, they turned out OK, but to tell you the truth, I am not thrilled with any recent paintings that I have done, they are all just OK.

Well, today I decided to try painting some flowers, something that has always been pretty successful for me. First, I could not, for the life of me, mix the right colors. I even resorted to scouring through my box of old paints to see if I had anything close to what I needed. Then it just compiled from there. I couldn't get the values down right. I then decided to change the color, bad idea. After about an hour I knew it was a loss, but for some reason I just kept on trying to revive the work, to no avail.

I have been looking at many blogs by "daily painters" and one thing that I have noticed is that the work has gotten consistently better and better. When you go back and look in the archives at the work that the artists made compared to what they are producing now, it is quite amazing. I guess this is what I am hoping to achieve for myself, as sense of improvement. So, I will keep poking along. Tomorrow the kids are going with their fathers for a family picnic, so I will try again.