Catching up

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My goodness...every time I come here I realize just how long I've been absent.
Time to catch up on things.
The last visit I was showing you my new addiction to making gel skins. Yep...I've made them and added some to my Torn Paper Paintings. A very cool addition to the mermaids which you can see in this pic.
I've also been working on a new collection of prayer flags.
A small art group I'm part of is doing this as a monthly challenge...to ourselves. I needed a brand new set...so I'm in!!
I've decided that every month I would make two...one for me and the other to send to Martha's Vineyard to my SIL Amy who I spoke of in an earlier post. She's the person I feel would find these the most meaningful.
Here is a pic of my Jan & Feb flags. For the March flags I'm required to learn "French knots"...so I haven't gotten started on that yet.
Here in New England...even though they've mentions "snow" for this week...I doubt it'll be much and we can feel spring right around the corner. There have been many days in the 50's and all the swans & geese are back in the pond behind my house.
Because I can feel the weather changing....I've started on some warm weather images in my Torn Paper Paintings....ice-cream.
They are just mini's right now....larger pieces will come later....as the weather gets warmer. YUM!

Tis The Season

Three Amigos

the "busy season" that is!!
Waiting for the summer to actually take hold has been a long and almost painful process!! The spring has been anything but lovely. One of those very unpredictable New England springs at best.
Now...finally....I'm feeling optimistic!!
The weather seems to officially be on the upswing and people are getting out and about.
I just received word yesterday (yes, Friday the 13th...love it) that the Three Amigos just sold!!! Yay....that's a good sign that Cape Cod and The Little Beach Gallery are getting into full swing.
This means I'll be creating at full speed....because I'm also due to be one of this summer's "guest artists" during a trunk show weekend in July at The Art Stable Gallery!! Sooo....I've got to have plenty of stock not only for these two places...but for the upcoming local shows!!!

Been working pretty much non-stop to stay ahead of all this.

Seems that 12"x24" canvases have been my size of choice lately. Did another "cabana" piece. The first one I'd done last summer sold on the first day of a week long show. Figured I'd better produce another one.

Also did another Whale Tail because I've actually sold two others and have had inquires about more.



And...as always.....Mermaids!! The latest one...just finished today in fact....is Avalon.
I'm really pleased with her. It's not always easy to get that vision you have in your head to show up on the canvas. She came pretty darn close!!

Yes...all of these are 12"x24".

Got my next subject planned and ready for an underpainting!!
No...not a "coastal" subject this time. Sometimes you just need
to change the pace a bit.
Soo...stay tuned.
The "season" has begun!!

A new year - another fresh start

Yes...don't we all think of the start of a new year as being a whole new fresh start again?
I know I do, soooo....cheers...lets look forward to a bright shiny new one!!!
One of my goals this year is to hopefully teach more Torn Paper Paintings workshops this year. I ran a couple last year in some new areas and they were a great success with the organizers wanting to do it again this year!!!
I'd love to find some available venues to hold these workshops in other parts of the country (and beyond) as well. I just love to travel...so adding art to that would be the very best mix.
Anyone who is out there and knows of a venue in their area where they'd like to see a workshop...pass my info along and let me know!!  Maybe we can make that happen.

Right now I'm busy running some new design ideas around in my head. The long very cold New England winter can be the perfect time for that. It helps to keep warm thoughts when planning more "coastal" images!!
One of the subjects that has done well are my mermaids. While working on my latest....Lilith during Dec...my Siren Sister sold at The Little Beach Gallery.
I see many more of them in my future!!
The second biggest seller it seems......seagulls!! Who would have thought...lol  I have a new one in the works right at the moment. The gallery is already in need once again.

Soo...as I sit by the fire with a sketch pad and thoughts of summer....I wish you all a shiny new start to a wonderful new year ahead!!

Siren Sisters

I created a mermaid piece a few months ago that I named Serena...I felt she had a real serenity about her. Very peaceful.
Recently I decided to create another mermaid, a "Siren Sister" using the same basic shape that I gave the first...but, since no two piece can ever be the same even if I tried...I decided to not even come close.
This time I chose to go a more vivid route with the colors. While I kept her with the flaming red hair...the tail took on a colorful fun loving feel.
While the first is more of an inward looking gal....I believe the second is the party girl.
Or...as we can all relate to...maybe they are two different sides of the same person. You decide.

Merina

Yes...that's her name.

Have you ever been working on a piece of art and it somehow names itself? Well...every once in a while that happens to me. The name goes through my head every time I work on it.

Hey...who am I to argue. If that's what she wants to be called....so be it. I think it actually suits her.

This is the latest Torn Paper Painting. All she needs now is the varnish layer.

Off to see who swims by next.

Watercolor vs Acrylic

I tried doing two similiar postcard sized painting in pretty much the same design but in different medium. (click to enlarge)

The one on the left is watercolor on watercolor paper and the circles done in ink. I love watercolor and the variations you can get with the wet in wet painting. There is a lovely glaze of twinkling H2O's all over her tail and wings as well...but the scan doesn't pick that up very well.

The one on the right is all done in acrylic on top of a book page adhered to bristol board. I decided to make the background paint layer cover the text and only have it show through on the body itself. With the more flat type of finish that comes from the acrylic, I think the text adds a nice variety and interest. The circles were done in acrylic as well this time.

I must say that I'm not really sure which one I like better now. They both have their fine points and things I like about each one. I just found this to be an interesting exercise and may do this more often. There is always something new to be learned each time.

Golden Mermaid

On the art site that I do my trading on we have another swap happening.
This one is for "altered mermaids". Well...I just love mermaids, so I had to find the time for this one too.
We are all working from the same body pattern which is approx. 8" long. I used old text pages and distress ink for the top half. For the tail, I first gave a coat of gold paint....this is for two reasons. One, it helps the adhesive for the gold leaf stick better (which was my next step). Second, if there were any spots that were to show through the leaf in the end, it would blend in beautifully.
I then added a verigated gold leaf to add more interest than a solid gold.
I used a beautiful collage face image and two buttons that I removed the shank from and used for the boobs. I made her a beaded necklace and made charms of waterlillies and scallop shells out of shrink plastic. On her head she has two large shell sequins and little pearl beads. I think it gives her almost a bit of a 20's flapper look.

Funky Mermaids

Well....in tryingto keep my hand in atc's....which started all this "mailart" for me, I made some funky mermaids. Seems that I've been doing everything but atc's (ACEO's) these days!

Certainly not that that's a bad thing....just an observation.