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!

Two Scoops

Well....today the groundhog said that spring was coming early....I certainly hope he's right!!!
I guess with spring around the corner (fingers crossed) it's time to get on the fast track with some new summer images before I find the galleries in need of some fresh work.
One of the summer images that came to mind this year was....ice cream!!!
Sooo...why not a series....sooo many flavors to choose from. I know I have a hard time picking one in "real" life....so I started with the basic....Chocolate & Vanilla.

Let's face it....everybody likes either one or both of these two.
But...with that said....I do see a series!!! Strawberry...Blk Raspberry...Mint Choco Chip...etc.
Oh yes...keep watching. More to come :)

Back at it...

After having been out of sorts for a number of days with a bug, I finally managed to feel normal enough to get back into the art room. I had started the underpaintings for some smaller pieces with one chair after I had done the piece with the two chairs. I just knew a series was coming from that!

So...back on my feet I've gotten the first one finished.

On to the next!!

Two with a view!!

Another iconic image of summer.

As with the little bucket & shovels, some images are just pure visuals of summertime.
When I was out back the other day taking reference shots by the pond of the buckets....I looked over at my colorful chairs and thought...why not!!

I just love colorful summer chairs....so there's a very good chance these may become the next series!

No Shadows

I know...today is Groundhog Day and it's all about the groundhog. Seems he saw his shadow...again.

Well, I'm personally ready for spring to arrive....so, instead of a groundhog and his shadow....I've got a little turtle and his reflection!!!  To me, this says springtime and sunshine!!
I've never understood why a dark dreary day that hides his shadow means an early spring. Seriously....wouldn't a bright sunny day that creates shadows and reflections be a better sign??
One of those things that make you go hmmmm.....

Back at it....finally

After what seemed like forever that I was sick with a bug and unable to do much of anything....I'm back !!
I had sketched this piece out and done an underpainting ages ago...but was unable to get to it until now. As I felt better I would go to the art room each day and see how much time I could put in on my feet. Every day I made a bit more progress. Last night...I finished it!! Varnish and all.
Today I took a drive to The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis and brought some new work to freshen the wall for the upcoming season! Jen just actually purchased the building and it's looking really beautiful!
Since this little piece was ready to go...I took it along, as well as some of the new beach toy pail & shovel pieces and the cabanas. The walls are about to have "summer" written all over them!!
I'll post a few progress shots of the lighthouse on the Torn Paper Paintings FaceBook Fan Page soon, as I did with a few other pieces recently.

More toys

In an effort to be ready for the upcoming summer season, which I can't wait for after such a long winter, I've been busy with more of the "beach toy" series. Here are a couple more I can share with you. I've gotten great feedback on these and expect them to do quite well.

I may break from them soon for a few other pieces I have prepped and ready to go. Who knows...maybe yet another series coming??

 It's fun when you get on a roll with a series of pieces that you enjoy doing. Helps to keep focus for a while and takes some pressure off of trying to figure out what the next subject will be.

Beach Toys

Staying with the "coastal " theme....but taking a break from the beachscapes, I decided to play with toys! Beach toys. I just finished this 6"x6" canvas of a pail & shovel. I enjoyed this one so much that I'm thinking of making a series small beach toy pieces.

I did this one slightly different than I usually do. I created the background by putting down all the different images, text, music, etc...then going over the entire thing with a pale blue wash to unify it.
From there I continued the usual process of the torn paper paintings.