a peek into the sketchbook

Haven't had a lot of time this past couple of days. I was able to do some sketches and add a little to the larger painting. I think the trick is to start out with some smaller sized paintings. I would probably feel like I have accomplished more, cause right now, when I look at the large painting on the easel I feel guilty for not having more time to work on it.....note to self, pick up some smaller canvases!!

I have never been a landscape painter, (though I really enjoy looking at them) but lately, I wish I was. Outside has been absolutlely gorgeous. We had a large amount of snow fall and it left the trees and houses covered. When you look outside it's like looking at a black and white photograph. I just love it. One of the many blessings of living in the snowbelt.

little green apples

Here is a painting that started off as a demo for a class. I finished it this weekend in preparation for another larger painting. I always tell my students that painting and drawing are kind of like bicycle riding. If you haven't done it for a while you are a little wobbly, but in time, it all comes back to you.

The biggest problem I have is finding the equipment/tools that work best for me. I use to know it like the back of my hand, but since it had been a while I can't quite remember which number brush works best and which brand of paint was it that I liked the most.

Readjustment

OK, enough whining get to work!! Life has now returned to normal, or as normal as my life gets. I started prepping some canvases for painting when I realized that, even though my painting area looks so quaint in between the corner windows of the bedroom, the light was facing me and not the canvas. Turning the easel around was not a possibility, so I spent this morning rearranging the bedroom. Now the room doesn't look as quaint, but the painting area is very functional.

I need to go to my sons basketball game and then he is spending the rest of the day with a friend. The other children are off doing their own thing today and I find myself with some time to paint. I have all these ideas running around in my head. Of course, I am a little hesitant. I have not done a lot of painting for 3 years (feels like 30), so I am not as confident in my skills as I use to be. I have been doing many painting demonstrations for classes though and they all seem to turn out nicely. So we will see, I will post pics as soon as there is something decent to see.

Hoping this "getting back into the swing of thing" period passes quickly.

When it rains, it pours.

There is something about the new year that makes me feel as if it doesn't start out right then the rest of the year is a wash. I know that its not true, but it still lingers in my mind till about mid February. Anyway, we ended up having a snow day on Monday. What I thought was going to be the last day to relax before work starts up again, became a day of one problem after another.

First I woke up to no heat. So I bundled up and headed out onto the snow covered roads to get kerosene to heat with till my fuel delivery came (it was scheduled for Tuesday). It took 2 hours to get the fuel and after all that the furnace still didn't work. I tried every trick I know, which is not many, and then called the furnace repair man, cha-ching. That was not the end of it though, my new dryer started to blow cold air.

Now I was tired of dealing with everything breaking down and was hoping that once I dealt with the dryer that would be it, but no such luck. Wednesday the repairman came out, he said it wasn't the dryer it was the electrical outlet. But before we could get the outlet replaced the upstairs toilet was leaking and the water was dripping right near the dryer. So, we had to repair the leak before we could fix the outlet......I know this sounds crazy, but its my life.... to wrap this messy story up, I now have heat, a dryer and a working outlet...I no longer have a working downstairs bathroom.

So if this is what 2010 starts off like, I am a little scared to see what is coming ahead.

Perfect Day

Today is the perfect day to stay inside and paint. Its snowing like crazy out here in the snow belt. I love it, as long as I don't have to drive in it. So, I just sent my ex-husband (a long story, that I may get into later, but for now, he comes over a lot to see the kids)to the store to pick up groceries for the week. I am ready to go back to work tomorrow (that is if we don't have a snow day, which I am secretly hoping for). The house is in decent shape and I don't have to babysit my granddaughter. I am freeeeeee!

The pictures are of my front yard and back yard.

just have to get this out

Its been a year since I last posted and for some reason I feel the need to put my thoughts down on......well, the computer (paper sounds so much better). This past year has been a wild one. A year ago I was sitting in a house that had been under construction for 3 years and didn't look as if it would get done any time soon. Today I look around and my children are in their new bedrooms, the new bathroom is wonderful, the den is nice and cozy, I love my new entryway, but the best is my new kitchen!! All is good and I feel so very fortunate to have such great friends that helped me get everything finished. I am truly grateful for all that I have been given and still wake up and can't believe this is my house.

So, how does this relate to my art???? OK, when the construction first started (3 years ago) I had to pack up my studio space to make room for my sons bedroom and the new den. I had every intention of working. I was going to sketch, paint in a smaller format....etc. Well, you know where the best of intention lead. But looking back on the past few years, I don't feel all that bad. I painted 4 bedrooms, painted the den, entry way, stairwell and upstairs hall, the new bathroom and just finished my living room. I started painting my bedroom and the kitchen and will have those done.....soon. And I also tiled my kitchen back splash myself, combining different tiles, ceramic and glass, to make my own unique design. So, no I have not been making paintings, but yes I have been painting and creating.

Now, for the future, I have just spent the past couple days arranging my bedroom to make room for a painting area. I know that it is not the ideal situation, but it will have to do for the next couple of years. I will only be working in acrylic so I won't have to worry about fumes, and since my room has two large closets, one will be filled with art supplies and the other clothes. For the first time in years I feel like working. It's amazing how your environment effects you mental state. For so long I have felt creatively blocked, dull, dead inside...now, I have sooo many ideas, I can't wait to get going on some new work.

pphheeewwww! now that felt good to get off my chest. Now to get back to work.

I just read the title of my blog, hehehe, lots of chaos, now for the art.

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.

The Boys of Summer

We are huge baseball fans!! Tonight Cliff Lee will be the starting pitcher for the American League in the 2008 All Star Game. We are soooo excited. My son and daughter play ball all summer long. There is nothing more enjoyable then a hot summer day, watching my kids play their hearts out. We also follow the Cleveland Indians religiously. We try and get to a couple of games a year. But, tonight it will be a lot of fun watching Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore play with the kids by my side.

Here is another kitchen painting.

Went to the art supply store and got 9 more Ampersand panels. My hope to be able to fill the blank supports soon.

Summertime

Things have been busy around here. I am trying to finish the final designs for the stained glass windows and also refurbish the station of the cross that are currently hanging in the church. The new church is looking wonderful. The dedication is September 14th, so everyone is working quickly to get finished.

On top of all of this, I just found out that one of the grants that I applied for last school year has come through. So, in addition to having a brand new art room in September, I will also have a shiny, new ceramic kiln with all the supplies. It is really going to be an incredible school year. But for now, I am enjoying the summer with the kids and granddaughter, lots of baseball/softball, gardening and painting!!!

I started working on small, masonite panels, painting for about 1-2 hours a day. I can say that the "daily painting" practice has hit me, but to tell you the truth its more like a "every other day or so painting" practice. But, it feels great to paint after being away from it for a while.

Why I Do What I Do

Here are some of my students working on a still life painting. They have been working so hard and their paintings have turned out to be true works of art. I am so proud of them.

Tonight I had the privilege of seeing some of my students work hanging at the Regina Art Show. The greatest moment came when they announced the awards. One of my students,Brian, a shy, young man, had won first place in painting (he is pictured working at the table). I could not have been prouder of him. He was at the show to receive his reward. I will never forget the look on his face. It is moments like these that I know that I have one of the greatest jobs in the world.

New Developments

What a night, around 5pm we found out that Cal Ripkin Jr. was going to be at the local Joseph Beth Bookstore to give a short talk and sign his new book. Well having two baseball enthusiasts in the family I knew that we just had to go. I must say that "Cal" was incredible. He not only signed autographs but took the time to pose for pictures.

As far as the art goes, I have really changed directions. My pastor asked me if I would be interested in helping design the new stained glass windows for our new church. What an honor!!!I have been working with two people that I have known for quite some time and love and admire. It has been pure joy. Below is a small mock up of a paper banner that I designed to hang over the large, plain windows (were the stained glass will eventually go) during the advent season. We have so many ideas for banners that will be used until the money could be raised for the stained glass to be installed. Working in this manner has really opened my eyes to creating liturgical art. Life is really funny, had you told me 3 years ago that I would be working on stained glass design I wouldn't have believed you, but now it truly feels like a pathway to a new direction in my work.

Way To Go Tribe!!!!!