Round and round

Being crazy about circles the Girdwood Center for Visual Arts multi-media show "Going in Circles" was right up my alley. I decided to take the circle into more fantasy concept with a very representational bee. I like the juxtaposition of them. The Dr. Seuss feel of the flowers with the everyday bumblebee flying through gives it a interesting vibe.

I took the 'multi-media' label to a further degree and have a painting with both acrylic and oil. I am not as adept at acrylic which really works to my advantage. I tend to be a little OCD about sharp crisp edges. I have a had time achieving that with acrylic. It forces me to make things more loose, for example, the flowers. Then I can use the oil on the bee and get a cool contrast.

The background is also a great way to use acrylic. I use a brush technique to lay down two different colors, allowing the first color to slightly show through. It gives it more movement.

Come down and join me for the show. The artist's reception is 6-8 p.m. Saturday, February 5. At the Girdwood Center for Visual Arts at Olympic Mountain Loop. You would BEE crazy to miss it.

Round and Round

The Girdwood Center for Visual Arts is having their annual multi-media show Saturday, February 5. This years theme: Going in Circles. All submitted art must have a circular form included. I LOVE circles. I live in a round house (true story) and I have what I hope is a subtle theme of circles through-out the rooms. Now my dilemma, what do I create with circles? There are really so many choices. The above painting is called "Red Swim". I enjoy doing underwater themes. One reason, I get to paint bubbles.

Then, of course, we have the moon/sun aspect I can always go with. I find myself wanting to include a big, colorful sun or moon if the subject lends itself to it. This sold piece called,"Serengeti Moon" makes me think about doing a peaceful, night scene with a big moon.

Or we could go a completely different way. This Signore Greve sold painting aptly titled, "Going in Circles", takes circles into an unusual, whimsical place. What if leaves were really round? Hmmm, so maybe taking something with hard edges and creating them with circles could be fun. Not so obvious of a take on the theme.

Well, I have my work cut out for me. The deadline is the end of the month so I need to get busy. This show is open to everyone. Did you create a masterpiece with circles you would love to share? Are you creative but don't have an outlet? This is your chance! It's just $5 to enter. You can sip wine at the reception and share your circle art. Maybe I'll see you there.

Now what?

I created this art several years ago. I painted it for me. I had left my job as an assistant gallery director and was venturing out on my own, full time as an artist. How exciting. How terrifying.

How paralyzing.

It has been a great journey. The first year was a bit rough but we knew it would be. I had money saved for the lean months, there were plenty, and pretty soon I had a steady, sufficient income.

Now I feel a bit in the chair again. True, my book is doing well. I have a list of commissioned paintings waiting for my attention and I have money in my checking account. However, I have no shows planned. No great ideas and statements to make with art. When my clients ask me, "What's next?" I don't really have an answer. It's that pesky question mark tapping on me!

So I decided there doesn't have to be a 'what's next'. I gave the question mark a few months off. Imagine if I booked myself so solid that I missed some spectacularly fun opportunity. What if I kept myself so scheduled that my creativity took a huge plunge? I think a little breathing room will feel nice.

What's that you asked? What's next? I'll let you know.

Online School

I am taking my very first online workshop. I saw the ad in my Artist's Magazine offering a free online class on art journals. I have seen some VERY impressive journal/sketchbooks in my day but none of them have ever been mine. My sketches look like a kid got a hold of the pages. I always understand the idea even looking at it years later but it's a bit embarrassing!

The lesson you see above was my first class. The idea was to print out some images of your own art and recreate the work through different compositions adding magazine clippings. At the time we were having one of Alaska's HORRIBLE wind storms ( think 75-85 mph winds). My brain seemed to naturally choose the peaceful, soothing images of flowers and birds. The phrase, "He looked at her and said, 'Just think of flowers and bird songs' popped into my mind. Again, I am sure a thought inspired by my current circumstances.

Truth be told this was my second attempt. On the first page I used the suggested collage glue which made the painting cutouts bleed. The instructor warned about this but stated you could creatively blend it in. Nope. Black (from the bird and brown flower) do not 'blend' into yellow. I tried to just leave it but I couldn't stand it. I started over and used a UHU glue stick which I liked working with much better.

I am already excited about next weeks class and hope to create another journal page tomorrow. It was interesting to me how a very structured project still couldn't help but reflect what I was dealing with at the time, crashing limbs and howling wind. Of course, that is the whole idea. It becomes a diary of sorts with art. Keep your eyes peeled to the blog for next weeks lesson.