Friday, January 29, 2010

Question

What shall I paint?

"Paint what you are, paint what you believe, paint what you feel."
Ben Shahn

Monday, January 25, 2010

Inspiration


Inspiration ! That magic word that every artist hopes for as we face the blank canvas. But artists are observant people. Seeing pattern, shape, form, texture in all kinds of things as we walk our daily path. And then right between the eyes we are hit by inspiration!

The inspiration for the pattern on this rug came while I was at the Denver Art Museum. I had gone to see a Pierre Bonnard exhibit with my friend Liz. I expected to come away inspired by Bonnard's composition (I love his composition) or his colors or his application of paint. But as I sat resting in the gallery I noticed the pattern in the carpet for the first time, and I immediately started to work out how I could translate that into a design in the rugs that I was making. Now when I look at this rug I am wondering how I could expand this design to make a new pattern. And so inspiration breeds inspiration!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Joan Brown

I first came upon the art of Joan Brown in the early 90's. I had been taking painting seriously for a few years, and I was always on the lookout for artists who would inspire me. Joan's work startled me! How so, you may ask? It was the directness of her work. Her images showed up on her canvases with the same boldness that I saw in my images in my head. But I was still afraid to let mine out. My learned perception of art didn't find that kind of boldness acceptable. Her canvases were large, which thrilled me. I wanted to paint BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST, and I still have that desire. Like Frida Kahlo, Joan painted many self portraits. I wonder what she was trying to tell the world about herself?
JOAN BROWN (1938-1990)

Monday, January 18, 2010

Friends


How wonderful it is to have art bring you together with great and creative people. Peggy (right) & Kate (middle) and I met in 2004 when Kate had opened her studio for the OVAC studio tour. Kate began opening her studio monthly for artists "Play Date" with the help of sidekick Peggy, and play we did. Something fun every month: monoprint, silkscreen, image transfer, vegetable & fish printing, dying & bleaching & rusting fabric and more, more, more. I loved the freedom to play and experiment around people who were encouraging instead of judgemental. And Peggy's attitude of "what might happen if we try this?" was contagious to all participants and we were anxious to try new materials & techniques. "Play Date" may be over, but friends and art go on.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Tidewater

I have been setting up the gallery, cleaning the studio, and painting the background for a mural. That's where the "tidewater" comes from. Have you ever wondered how names are picked for colors? Like what does "tidewater" look like. What would be your guess? Unfortunately I can't show you; I don't have a way to scan the color in to the computer. I used it for the sky; starting at the horizon I made it as light as I possibly could and deepened it as I went higher on the wall and ceiling. What should I add to my landscape? Any suggestions?

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Dumas, TX

Dumas, TX a place in the Texas Panhandle where art is thriving. Located on the main drag through Dumas in a wonderful building where there is plenty of room for exhibits and workshops; there is almost always an exhibit up, so stop in if you're in the area. Last fall I took a Jerry Varnell workshop there; the class had a talented crowd of enthusiastic artists concentrating of Jerry's every instruction. It was a great few days. Another plus of the center is the lending library. Books on all media and written by the best in their field are available for members to use. A lot of hard work has gone into this center which is a definite asset to the community.

Friday, January 1, 2010

New Year


Painting: the best activity on the first day of a new year. A new goal: paint everyday of the year. Maybe a fantasy more than a goal. Just put paint to paper or wood or canvas. Squeeze out the paint and slide it across the surface. How luscious is that? Colors singing, pulsating, shimmering, turning into shape and form. Dedication & discipline is what it would take to make it happen, but, O the joy!