excitement from the studio

I am really, really excited about this guy. I painted the canvas with one layer of latex, and three layers of primer (thoroughly sanding between each, of course) before I left on Friday. I didn't go to the studio on Monday, because I had a handful of things to do around town, ending with work at 6:30. So I came in swinging on Tuesday. I feel like caring about the prep of the surface changed my normal attitude towards the early stages of the painting. The other thing that got me really excited about doing this is the mini art swap I just finished with the painters. I learned a lot from them. I will post pictures of them as soon as I know all the painters have received them (so I don't ruin any surprises). I understand now that I really need to plan out the structure of my abstraction before the color fields develop. I think my new large brushes are helping too. I really love layering and dragging the brush. I feel that the way I went about making decisions for this painting was much more mature than my past recent works. I did however, give into the oil. I shouldn't have used oil on it. I regret it. But for some reason, I have this weird idea in my head that I need to add oil to it. Even though I really, really, really didn't need to. I loved what the surface was doing. I loved how fast it was trying and the way I was able to work more and more paint into it so quickly. But I added oil. I like the oil stick. I'll use that again. The next two canvases I have prepped, as of right now, will not get any oil. Any way, enjoy. (I'm pumped.)

Pink and red latex base.

Before I left for my self-awarded 3-day.

I'm sorry this is the first picture I took...there were a lot of steps before it got here.

I love the subtle color changes.

oil stick, oil paint, acrylic

I added oil paint, and I regret it (upper brown blob).

prepping for more paintings tomorrow.

The biggest, most expensive [art] brush I've ever bought.

Food adventures of September...

my first tomatoes...picked in october.

ring, for scale

perfectly cooked steak (this picture makes it look more cooked than it is).

my first [perfect] time :)

fresh dill!!!

quinoa salad, olives, cucumber, parsley, topped with goat cheese

salmon, waiting for the broiler

perfectly cooked :)

stuffed, pre-cooked

beet salad candied walnuts, mom's special sauce and goat cheese...so delicious!

Yes, I have a new love of goat cheese.

I BOUGHT a new camera cord...

oil, acrylic and pen on 4 gessoed watercolor paper, sewn together

oil on canvas

8" x 8"

oil on mylar

2" x 2"

oil and acrylic on canvas (aka a mess)

big

mylar stretched on stretcher bars, oil, sewing machine, fabric installation

oil on canvas

6" x 6"

detail

change

idea revisited

latex, queen anne's lace, test tube, yarn, prepared canvas

detail

oil on canvas

6" x 6"

oil on canvas, yarn

4" x 6"

oil on water color paper

4" x 6"

The 70s wasn't all disco balls and bellbottoms...

so...for those of you who are actually wondering where I am, I am here. I have, yet again, lost my cable that gets my pictures from my camera to my computer. I once again have pages of art history to read, interpret and present. But I also have new work.

Last week was really rough... I had two or three bad days in the studio. And for those of you who don't know what a bad studio day entails, i would equate it to writers block, with a lot of self-loathing, and maybe a nap. Sometimes it's a day where I come in, take one look at the paintings I did the day before and either question what I thought I was doing and turn them toward the wall, or hastily destroy them.

Tonight, however I am up to eyeballs in art from the 70s; art movements, social climate, artists, the denial of the notion of institutionalize and consumerized art (i.e. galleries) and therefore the triumph over failure (which is elusive, I assure you). (takes a deep breath)....blaaaah. All this fun stuff on top of waitressing and pilate instructing...phew.

Let me leave you with this happy little tid bit:

I poured myself a nice glass of cheap sangria, and brought it to my bedroom with me, promising myself I could have it when I was done with my work for the night...I still haven't had a sip, and I've been sitting here for 2 and half hours. I am so sick of reading about feminist art.

One last happy little note: I haven't even skimmed the section entitled "The Personal and the Political". Apparently feminist art believes the personal is political. I don't even know what that meansssss

Chinese Cup Therapy

Hey kiddies! hope everyone is well....school is winding up and up. I feel like I have more and more to do and see and say every week.

Now, about my picture. I have received my first cupping session. creepy isn't it? just google chinese cup therapy if you're looking to know more, I really wouldn't do the explanation justice. It helped me feel a lot better on a hang-over morning.

PAFA week 3....maybe? I don't know, I've lost track of time.

progress with the new patch-worked piece.

sorry this is so out of focus. It's acrylic on wet canvas; just experimenting

phase 1

phase 2

yard and canvas

oil, oil stick, acrylic, pencil, charcoal on canvas

acrylic, charcoal, water soluble crayon, pen on paper

New Paintings

I am sharing everything I make. For the most part.

copying

(sorry about the bad lighting)

didn't know what to do, so I painted bottles.

new as of 9/2/10