CAUTION: WET PAINT

Yes, it's CRAZY FROG!

It's been a long, long time since I painted. Several years in fact so it's pretty exciting to have paint on my hands again. I don't know why I've had such a long dry spell, I just lost my flow. Doing this crazy frog, aka the annoying thing has been a lot of fun and hopefully it's going to help me climb out of my painting rut. I didn't draw the frog, this is a joint picture between my husband and I. He's the drawer and I am the painter. Works well for us! The frog will find his way to a friends house bus when he's finished so I won't go and get too attached! lol.

Below is the last successful painting I did...back in 2008. Just a slight change in subject matter :)

Tuscany, 2008

Altered Playing Cards and old Tuscany!!

Altered playing cards. Charms, recycled bird images, wool, recycled garlic bag netting, paint and a postage stamp.

Wow, this has been a looooong drought. Nearly 3 months to the day since I last posted actual collage and paint art. If your memory needs a little refreshing too you can see it here!

To begin with I didn't actually care that the urge to create had unexpectedly deserted me. I trusted it would come back again...although its taken a little longer to do so than I would have thought and I don't even know why! I enjoyed mucking about with these playing cards today....I hope it is the start of a new and wonderful journey, even if it is a journey of re-discovery.

I haven't touched the old Tuscany painting, (which became "quilt of the land" when it was re-incarnated) in even longer. To start off with my lack of motivation came from the cold. The paint didn't blend well and I stopped attempting to make it. Poor excuse I know but I kinda ran outta creative gas! This is where I left it (and I have only just photographed it!) It's basically finished. An afternoon or 2 spent touching it up and straightening the odd line and its all done. The words 'speak to your mountains' is about facing our challenges/addictions/psychological hang ups head on. For those of you who witnessed my struggle with the first Tuscany and subsequent roller coaster road you will know how apt these words are for me personally. I don't think I would sell this one even if I had an offer for it, I have quite a lot invested in this piece and its very much part of me!

Quilt of the land

Well, I've been on a bit of a emotional roller coaster lately with my painting.

At times I love painting...the actual act of painting when it's going right is addictive and empowering. Other times I just can't seem to get it right and I think I'm not really cut out for it after all. Yesterday I had the sudden desire to go out to the garage and paint something really, really well. I wanted to paint something that would, quite honestly, take my own breath away. I didn't go out as it was close to midnight and very cold in the garage- not conducive to good health or good painting! I woke up knowing I would paint today and couldn't wait to get out there and start and when I went out to add to the former Tuscany painting (Now Quilt of the Land) I looked at

my previous effort (directly above this line of text) I suddenly realised that my last effort wasn't as good as I had remembered! I had been quite happy to glide along almost aimlessly with this painting. I'd been very happy to just see how the paint flowed. I was happy with my colours blending into each other without much structure and no real discipline. I looked at the art of a pastelist yesterday and she was really, really good. She had complete control of her medium and she produced beautiful pictures. When I looked at my painting today I realised that in order to paint something well I had to take ownership of it and be the master of my paint. On reflection it does seem a little airy-fairy to have been willing to let lead me.
Instead of covering new ground I spent a lot of time correcting old lines, making colour changes and in general painting this 'quilt of the land' better than what I had done previously. I'm amazed at how much a little streak of paint the wrong colour in the wrong place can affect a painting and the same is true for well placed paint.

Today I went to an Art Exhibition and I was asked if I wanted to join the Tauranga Society of Artists. Now before you go and get all chuffed on my behalf I need to point out that this was purely on the basis of the fact that I am an artist and no one there has actually seen my work. I also need to point out that I politely said 'no thankyou.'

Why?? That would be a good question. Ultimately I think it's because I'm not where I want to be an artist. I haven't quite found my voice yet. To say I painted something really well, or to have others say it is fantastic. I still get satisfaction from seeing my final Tuscany, I painted it well if I may say so myself!! Lol and I still get great feedback on it, these comments feed me, they really do and I need them and because it helps me to know that the painting has made a connection with the viewer and that it has become more than decorative...it's become a piece of art. Funny how a lot of people have tried to tell me that it wasn't just decorative (when I say it's only decorative) yet I've only just realised it...It makes the painting seem less shallow and materialistic to me. Yet, it's not enough what I really want is to be able to express things with paint the way I can with collage and to address subjects that really matter to me...when I've done that I will be where it is I want and need to be. I don't know if I will be a society kind of girl though...

I will finish this painting, it expresses my love for this earth and it's teaching me important lessons about myself. This love affair with pain,t as I am realising, truly is for better or for worse.

PS: My apologies for the cruddy photos, the light was poor and my camera's had it's day.

New painting/old painting

No you're not having an episode of dae-ja-vue, this is the Tuscany painting that I did and hated and refused to finish painting. Hate is a strong word, maybe a bit strong but I took a knock in confidence with this painting. I didn't paint for quite a while after this one, I even considered throwing in the towell, opps I mean- brushes! I came very close.

But as you have seen I couldn't quite do it. I'm not sure where I am going with this painting yet. I need to better define the hills but where I paint is cold, the paint dosn't like it much and neither do I. I am strangely good with that though. Not having a deadline means I don't have to paint if I don't want to. Not having any idea where I am going means I don't know if I have made a mistake. It's liberating and I love it. I'm thinking trees...maybe some leaves, maybe a flax bush. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. There's joy not fear in not knowing or caring what comes next or when 'next' is. I will be as suprised as anyone to see the end result of my mysterious painting...and very pleased to see the end of Tuscany!!

Updates- At last!

Hi All. It feels like forever since I last posted so I hope you havn't all gone and given up on me!
I've been floating between projects lately, not really getting my teeth into any of them but enjoying all of them in short burst. This canvas isn't finished. I seem to have hit a wall with it even though I started out with a plan- which I usually don't! It's a recycled canvas. It was originally a painting I did inspired by a unit I did on Jackson Pollock for my course. I liked the painting but one day when I needed a canvas to paint on and didn't have the money to buy one I decided to paint over it- which was a flop! I painted over a free spirited painting with no agenda to attempt a coffee themed painting which was purely commercial. I never finished the painting. That was over a year ago and a week or 2 ago I decided to pull it out again and give it a 3rd life...obviously nest inspired. I covered the canvas in tissue paper to add more texture as by now it has a lot of texture given to it by the previous layers of paint! I didn't have a lot of choice but to go with it! lol. I love the effect of the tissue paper (also recycled) and it's lovely to paint onto. The mesh is formally a bright pink hessian type material gleaned from a bunch of professionaly arranged flowers that my daughter got in hospital. It was quickly transformed to the browny-gold stuff you see here making it much more me! I thought I was going to do a weaving with wool and other fibres straight into the canvas (sewn into) that would be more of a 'flat nest' than a nest but still inspired by my love of nests. I went through a whole 'flat nest' stage before I made my way to pilings and my weaved nests. I am not sure what I am going to do with the rest now but as there's no rush I am just going to wait and see where my muse takes me!

I have also been teaching myself to paint birds. These 4 are my first 'new' attempts and while not brilliant the are much better than my previous efforts! I tried to paint birds at the start of the year and I got so annoyed and frustrated with them I gave up and told myself I would come back to them when I was ready, I had no idea that would be 6 months later! I was in the 2nd hand shop recently doing my regular hunt for art supplies and books when I came across a fantastic book called "The country diary of an Edwardian lady" which was written in 1906 and is full of wonderful water colour paintings of the birds and plants that it's Author, Edith Holden saw in her own garden in Warwickshire and on her travels through England and Scotland. She includes lots of poetry and quotes by Shakespere. This book is ofcourse a reproduction and the cover note tells me that someone named Tom gave it to his " Beautiful Wife in memory of our trip to England in 1981" (followed by 4 kisses!) My amature attempts do little to showcase her wonderful work, these birds are almost childish and cute but I do feel encouraged by the progress from my last attempts!

The last photo is a quick painting I did for my course where I had to make the words the painting...I worked quickly and it was a good energy release. It wasn't until later that the white spatters looked like...somthing else a bird does! lol lol.

The first Tuscany is going under a 'renovation' of sorts..I have covered part of it and started again in the canvas. I will post pics soon.

Ok, fingers crossed this will all post for me now. I will attempt to visit y'all now too..can someone please leave me Sweet Irene's new blog address as I can't find it! Thankyou:)

Tuscany 2

Tuscany 'take' 2 I should say! (Unfinished)
I like this one too by the way! Really like it. I took if from the stage shown in the photo below (other projects) to this today. That yellow sky was so wrong and as soon as I added "raging bull" as Resene calls this particular shade of red I knew I was on the right track. I actually bought it by mistake but seeing as though I can't remember what colour it was I had intended to get I will conisder it a happy mistake!It is soooo good to be painting something I like again. The first Tuscany really threw me, both confidence wise and engery wise. That's a long story though and to cut it short I got it back after my last effort and I have spent 6 weeks or so procrastinating over it. I just couldn't finish it. I was flogging a dead horse!
So I finally told the person who comissioned it I'd give their money back or start again if I could paint in my way. I don't know why I ever took it on now. Obviously she was happy for me start again, although I am providing the canvas in good will. She actually said "do what ever you like" and I have taken inspiration for this off a coaster and placemat set she owns so atleast I know she likes them! I wouldn't actually mind keeping this one...lol

PS: This measures 24"x36" (Not metric John!) and the collages were all A4 size.

Other projects...

You didn't really think I had gotten over my altered book buzz did you?
These 2 pages were made for displaying the Hearts Suit set of Altered playing cards. The images are random, chosen for their colour as much as anything else!






A page from my altered book that I am making as a way of displaying mail art and other swapped art. The pocket here is for 2 postcard's I recieved in a TLC swap (the Art school I am learning through) The face is of the man the book was origianlly about.


Another Tuscany, it's a loooooong story! I have the ground work done (so to speak) for the grape vines, the hills have had their first coat and the villa needs some trees. This is result of around 9 hours work already although it didn't feel like it!

Dare I say it again??
I'm finished...I think!
The owner is dropping by tonight to give it a final once over before I seal it.
I must admit that I had to really con myself into getting back into this painting! AB's have stolen my artistic heart.
I have tagged all the tuscany postings so they are nice and easy to find should anyone be interested in reading about the trials and triumphs I experienced with this painting!

The top painting with the blue sky is the first version, the bottom is the current (and I hope final!) version. I really like the person who I did this for and I hope she will be happy this time! I will probably never love this painting but I will give myself a pat on the back for having stuck at it! lol.
It does atleast feel good to have one less thing on my "to do" list and to have made someone else happy (I hope!)

Bev does it still remind you of your Tuscan holiday?

Tuscany Update

You may have read a month or so ago about my dilemma with this commissioned Tuscany painting! You may have also read that I got it back to make alterations..as you can see I have now painted out the sky that was formerly above these villas. A quick scroll down the page will show you the first version of Tuscany :)
I didn't really like it to be honest because it's not ME. However I did learn a lot from it in terms if skill and about who I am. I did vow never to accept another commission that wasn't for my true style and I also reminded myself how personally draining I find making art for no reason other than money! I never did bond with this painting. All that being said I am determined to finish this painting! I will end up with a happy customer and I will take from this what ever I can in terms of personal growth. Actually, 'grounded' was the collage I did to work through some of my frustrations with this painting so all is far from lost!
The painting looks a little bizarre and in-coherent at the moment but I think I may even like it a bit (just a little) better now the blue is gone. It takes away some of the cottagey look that it had. I heard Bobbie in my head saying "just paint those hills...really paint them" so I did and I enjoyed painting them! Thanks Bobbie:)
On the hills I am putting a big villa and grape vines. The 'owners' of the villa also own the grapevines and a winery hence their status and financial prosperity. They are too overlook the town that was born from the industry relies on the jobs provided by the winery. Well that's the story given to me (and much more descriptive than my first brief!) and that's what I'll paint! I'll keep you posted!

Grounded

I started this in a bad mood. A great big cloud over hanging me.
The day started bad.
I slept in an hour so hit the ground running and coffee-less.
Then in the chaos the tradesman turns up.
I'd forgotten he was coming.
I'm un-showered and the house is a mess .
Then I get more bad feedback about Tuscany. Soon there will be Tuscany 2 because despite the hours I spent on it trying to get it right I didn't. I'm gutted.

And wiser.

My photography was off because my emotions were.
An unexpected bill for $150.
At christmas.
It's all bad, I'm frustrated and tied in a not.
My solution?
PAINT IT BLACK!
I have to say by the time I worked out my frustration with the paint and stuck staples and needles through my paper I felt much better.
And no I don't practise Voodoo!
I didn't have a plan except to get rid of the dark cloud.
Making prints with the leaves grounded me.
Back to nature, bare hands connecting with bare leaf.
It's hard to explain unless you've been there.
That place of dark clouds and knots slowly evaporating
at the touch of a leaf.


A new twist on the day..just after posting this I scored another commission.

Shakspere in paint.

My style.

Not some-one elses.

All is good again.

Tuscany -Completed!

OK, here it is! I apologise for the delay! I have made a few changes since my last post, most noticeably the new flower field. They flowers are light purple with deep purple centres and deep purple with white centres. They are imagination flowers like the yellow ones. I better defined the yellow and deep red Tulips in the middle field as well as the other rows of flowers. The very top flower fields was repainted for a 3rd x (but I am happy now lol)
So my personal verdict...I wouldn't hang it on my own wall because it is not my personal flavour but I think that given the challenges it's not a bad result. The lady who it is for is due home in less than 2 hours, she has NO IDEA what is waiting for her, she hasn't seen it and her brief was "I want Tuscany with flowers and villas. Small Villas and lots of flowers." Then she added "God will show you what I want."
Gee, I sure hope I was listening!! Lol

I am really glad to have been able to share the Tuscan journey with you all!

Oh-No

This is one of those close your eyes and don't look moments! After many hours of work the painting is not so delicately hung by my well intentioned friend! I did tell him I would have to inflict all sorts of ancient forms torture on him if he dropped it! lol. As you can see from the photo below all is well:)

Wahoo! Tuscany is finished!

Yes I am finished! I am having to be patient and take photo's tomorrow under better light but I AM FINISHED!
That's not a thank God it's over finished but a real sense of achievement 'finished.' All things considered I am Happy. No spello on the captial H there either. I just had to celebrate with a wee update here and tomorrow I will post pics of it in it's new home.

Bev and Diane...I hope you like 'your' field of flowers:)

I am begining to form an attachment to this painting! Lol. I am getting so close to being finished that it is getting exciting. Not sure what to put in the 2nd flower field yet or if I should do a 3rd one on the left. Smaller of course! And not poppies :) Would you believe that these poppies are 2 shades of red, orange, yellow and black? Plus 2 shade of green for the foliage. There's a close up below of them. Let me know what you think!

Poppies and poppies and poppies and more poppies!

Progress! I don't dare count how many poppies I have already done, the first row still needs work and I think there's another 3-4 rows to go. I chose to do poppies instead of a field of sunflowers for 2 reasons. 1) I thought the sunflowers with all their petals risked being to 'busy' and cluttering te corner and 2) The lady who I am doing this for has a grandchild named Poppy! She didn't ask me to do this but I think she will like the touch.
Prior to sick kids I was hoping to have this done by tomorrow...I have been given a reprieve though! She's away till Tuesday! Wheew. I hope to get the keys off her daughter and hang it as a suprise for when she gets home. It will be the first time she will see it so I hope she likes it!

My husband took this pic of me painting "Tuscany." Believe it or not it is easier to paint the detailed parts like this than it is to stand and hunch!

This painting was done on commission last Christmas. I still love it. It is ME. I was lucky to be able to have the freedom to paint in my own way for this painting, the colour choices were mine as was the layout. I only had to incorporate the cross and the wording. It was a great experience being able to paint this and I am definately going to do more..I think it was nessecary for me to stray in order to learn where 'home' really is.
Moral of the story? GRAB all the opportunities you get with BOTH hands but don't forget where your FEET are!

Tuscany update

It's getting there!
Since I last posted I have had an enforced painting break with sick kids being home and as much as I like painting it's not about to come first!
It dosn't look like it but there's been 2 late nights go into this since my last post. Repainting.
I have redone the villas and the top field of flowers, thinned flower bushes, dulled some reds and added some green! The fields are now ready for planting:)
I wasn't happy with it and it was kindly pointed out (thanks DH) to me that it wasn't my best work!
After initial justifications that it was 'just a different style' I realise that he was right and armed with that knowledge I knew I could improve it. So I have. Well I think it's an improvement! Lol. It's a real challenge painting something that is out of my comfort zone...but with challenges there's potential for real growth and with growth, achievement so I guess I owe it to myself to move out of my comfort zone now and then!

For a comparison I have posted a photo (above) of my usual style.

Both paintings are 1oocm x 80cm. (Definately too big for the scanner!)