Studio Soliloquies

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

It is official. Today, the January 2012 issue of American Art Collector magazine hits the stands - complete with a special section on Collecting Still Life Art that includes my paintings!

I reworked my website for this... Here is a screen capture of my "new" home page:

The link to purchase has the pricing and gallery phone number for the three paintings included in the magazine as well as images/prices for similar works. John is standing by to take orders. I am super excited to be in this magazine and feel my work holds up nicely to others in the issue. Let's hope subscribing collectors and galleries think so too.

I paused work on the large pastel which I have dubbed, The Places We Have Been. I refuse to post images yet because I am considering reworking an area and cropping off the very bottom. It will have to happen later this week or even after Christmas because there is so much going on. It will be the last piece of art made by me in 2011.

That said, I look forward to January 2012 and all it holds. I have a number of projects to work on and plenty of fire to get to them after the year-end celebrations cease.

Enjoy your gatherings with family and friends. Until next year...
Laura

Time for the Holidays

2011-12-01T09:02:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe the year is almost over. I still have much to do which is why this will be brief.

I have HEAT in the studio! Of course, the weather turned warm again as soon as it was installed, but I look forward to the advantages of warmth and lower humidity in my workspace. Good-bye dehumidifier! Scarlett was happy to test it out.

Last month I also attended a workshop given by Diane Townsend in Rochester, NY. I found it very, very difficult and really learned from my struggles. I have yet to complete the final project, but plan to soon. For now, I have noticed I am more free in my current painting. I am actually having FUN working!

I am finally using my full page of UART paper. Wish I hadn't waited so long to try it. Here is where I am so far:

More news at the end of the month and hopefully images of the finished pastel as well as images of an oil I have brewing. Stay tuned...

Don't forget - artwork can make a great Christmas gift!

Back to the Easel

2011-10-24T12:21:00.000-04:00

It is the Monday after a jam-packed weekend and I am putting things back in order. We had 20 people show for the Studio Tour. A hearty, "THANK YOU!" to those 20. I got to spend some time with Anne Kenyon yesterday afternoon talking about working surfaces, organizing our studio spaces, different artists that inspire us and other art business talk. We traded art and I now possess one of her lovely winter scenes.

I am very excited about my studio for this winter as my husband and I finally selected a gas stove to heat the space! It will be installed before Thanksgiving and I am re-arranging things a tad down there. It will be nice not to have to bundle up or worry about space heaters going up in flames.

I realize I have not posted images of my last pastel or any of the current oil painting on the easel. The oil will hopefully be completed this week.

Ivy and Syrup, pastel, 12" x 18"

Work in progress:Memories of Maine, oil, 12" x 12"

Enjoy! - Laura

Fall Colors Studio Tour 2011

2011-10-17T10:12:00.000-04:00

This coming weekend I am participating in the Fall Colors Studio Tour along with pastel artist, Anne Kenyon at her home and studio at 121 Green Acres Lane in State College, PA.

Here is the ad:

Anne is gracious in allowing me into her home for this event. It works for both of us as she has a prior engagement for part of Saturday and my being there will allow her to participate. I have never felt comfortable with strangers coming into my home, so this opportunity is ideal. It is at times like this when I wish my studio was not in my home. At any rate, for this weekend I will be setting up in Anne's dining room. I will have a few 3' x 6' panels on which I will display my wares. I hope I can make it look nice and not too crammed.

I designed and ordered new brochures to promote myself and let people know I have done and love commission work. I have been selecting paintings to take, making price tags and packing everything in transportable bins. This has been a daunting task since I decided to pull out some older and smaller work that might be more affordable for some people. There are many really nice tiny oil paintings, but this makes me worry about my display looking crammed or too cluttered. I will not allow that to happen!

I am also trying not to be overwhelmed with minutiae - something I'm not very good at. For example, it crossed my mind when I went to the office supply store for printer ink that I might need a sales receipt book. After 10 minutes deciding on which one would serve me best, I decided to look at binders to keep the receipt book and perhaps other notes and such in which took another 10- 15 minutes. See how I can make mountains out of molehills?

Well, I still have much to do in addition to trying to get back to the painting I had going. I sure hope that the weather cooperates for the weekend and that people will come out and say hello!

Fall Thoughts

2011-10-05T14:27:00.001-04:00

I have been ill for two weeks. I'd thought I was over the worst of it and then a sore throat came along. My head and chest are packed and all energy sapped. My laptop also decided to stop running at about the same time, so it has been miserable to be sick with rainy weather and no computer to keep me entertained. I did read a book, but sleep has been the priority.

Today the sun has finally made an appearance and I managed to get this teeny notebook up and running. Dog has been walked and meds taken for the sinus headache. I'm hoping to have enough energy left after posting this to piddle in the studio. I have another small oil going and am in the planning of a large pastel.

In just a few weeks the Art Alliance's Fall Studio Tour will take place. I need to prepare! My brochure design was lost with the laptop, so I'm hoping to come up with a replacement in time. I picked up some of the small work I had framed and am quite pleased with how nicely they "cleaned up" by adding quality frames. Thank you John and Jeffrey at the State College Framing Company & Gallery!

Here is one of the paintings without its frame... Yes, a landscape.

Stoney Point Hill, pastel, 11.5" x 9"

I hope in another week (or sooner!) to be back to my old self and keeping you updated. Until then enjoy the sun
L

Worth It

2011-09-18T10:14:00.000-04:00

Well, once I got off my butt and got to business, I managed to complete the little oil without too much difficulty. I am quite pleased! Here it is:

Green, oil on canvas, 12" x 12"

There is no clever title. "Green" sums it up just fine. It will take some time to digest some of the things going on here - the lighting, the space, the juxtaposition of the objects... It is exactly how it is supposed to be, but I need to figure out the "why this way?" part.

Now for momentum. I have several ideas bouncing about for some large-scale pastels. Funny, but the ideas for oils are all small! We'll have to see where the ideas take me, but I'll need to start right away before I forget where my head was taking me while painting this. Glad for the cool, clear days. They seem to help.

As far as the postings and communications: I am torn at the best way to do so. So far, posting these blog links to Facebook has not resulted in as much feedback as I thought they might. I really LOVE getting feedback. If I post the images of work directly to Facebook, I get a few comments from people. If any of you have suggestions on how to connect the two and generate more feedback, it would be greatly appreciated.

All for now,
Laura

A Sneak Peek

2011-09-15T19:40:00.000-04:00

Well, I've been plugging away at a small oil painting. Struggling is a more appropriate word. It's been months since I've painted in oil and it feels foreign - not a good thing at all! Of course, I chose a pitcher and a vase. Ellipsis. You'd think I'd have them down by now, right? Nope. Why do I torture myself?! I suppose it is worth it.

I won't say too much more about it other than it shouldn't be much longer and here is a sneak peek:

Enjoy,
Laura

The Prince And The Pea

2011-09-05T10:50:00.000-04:00

The Prince And The Pea, pastel, 19 ½" x 27 ½"

Some of you may remember this painting from earlier this year. It is one of my personal favorites. Last week I was in a funk that it had been turned down for a national show and delivered it to The State College Framing Company & Gallery at the suggestion of owner, John McQueary. I am happy to report that The Prince And The Pea sold to a couple from Texas in less than 24 hours!

Thank you John and Jeff! I am very grateful for your representation, help and especially your encouragement.

Happy Labor Day everyone!

August Already Almost Accomplished

2011-08-31T09:18:00.000-04:00

I just had to do that - sorry.

A friend and colleague contacted me the other day wanting to know my thoughts about using blogs vs. websites vs. Facebook to promote my art. It was then that I realized I actually have all three and hadn't posted here since January!

There has been a lot I should have posted here, but I'm not sure a catch-you-up post is entirely worth it. In that case, how about the highlights?

I have been focusing mainly on pastels and was fortunate to have gotten both of my entries accepted by a prestigious juror - Wende Caporale, PSA - for the 7th Annual Northeast National Pastel Exhibition at The Arts Center, Old Forge, NY this summer. The entries were Sycopated Pink Lady and Missing U.

Another pastel, Lemon Meringue was selected as part of Images 2011 a Mid-Altantic Regional Juried Exhibition too!

I had a very nice visit with dear friends over the winter months and managed to complete one oil painting as a result.

Perfect Gift, oil on canvas, 24" x 24"

Most of my summer was spent in Lake George, NY with side trips to Syracuse and Vermont to visit with family. I did manage to do a few pastels along the way. Here is one:

Threads, pastel, 18" x 12"

Lastly, a confession: I have done a few landscapes. Yep, you read it here. No idea why, but they have provided a change I seem to need just now. No pictures...YET. You'll have to stay tuned!

Happy New Year

2011-01-05T14:33:00.007-05:00

I am certain that I am not keeping this up to date enough since I keep having to reset my password to access this! Happy 2011 at any rate. Here is the pastel I promised in my last post:

Missing U, pastel, 18" x 24"

The Zola exhibit is down and I am hunting for storage and/or wall space. I sold a second pastel - Apples & Oranges - during the last week of the show and am thrilled. What's next?

Well, not the gallery in New Hope. Just after sending my work samples, they posted a notice that they were looking for "modern and contemporary" works from artists in the Philly and Baltimore areas. Also, it now states they will only contact you if they are interested in your work and not to call. Great! How do I know they ever got my submission? I suppose I should just try again in another month with new work and ASK for a notice of receipt.

I've updated my website as best as I can and actually created a professional page for Facebook. Hope that wasn't a mistake. I do feel like I need to separate my personal and professional selves. Who knows? Perhaps this is a good move!

Feeling on the edge of a cold with scratchy throat and exhaustion or I'd be working on one of the two paintings I began instead of typing here. Here's what's on the easels:

(Bleeding Heart), oil on canvas, 24' x 30"

and

(One Basket), pastel, 20" x 16"

Yes, having the second easel available is a good thing. Productivity should increase as a result. Just not today. Really, I am excited to get these pieces going and done, but working today is not going to end with good results. It is time instead for more tea and a nap after changing the laundry.

Almost The End

2010-11-30T12:44:00.003-05:00

Well... I'm way behind with this again. What are the odds? Tomorrow is December and I have NO paintings actually started. I have two still lifes ready to go, but am procrastinating. In 20 minutes there is an online pastel demo I am registered to watch, so I haven't got long here.

Zola show reception had 33 people come out on a windy and rainy night. Pretty good I'd say. I sold (have a pastel on hold) The Apron String unexpectedly, so that was nice! I do hope someone buys something before January 2 as a Christmas gift, but will be happy either way.

I have my application letter for Mr. Cooperman ready to go and will update the work samples last minute in case I sell one. I may send it before too long since I know he probably will be too busy through the holidays to review my work. Fingers already crossed here.

I realize there is a pastel painting for in between. It's 18" x 24" of a sugar shaker from Lake George. I will have to post the image of it later. Very dramatic lighting and detail without too much detail. I like it.

Got a request to jury a show in Johnstown in January. Will find out if I have to within the next few weeks. This will be a first for the amateur/professional sort of show. Exciting and an honor to say the least.

Off to Webinar!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-29T10:46:00.007-04:00

I have really let this go. It's not that I haven't been working, but... As quick as I can, here's what I didn't write about!

In September, I organized and participated in the Central PA Pastel Society's Paint Out at Way Fruit Farm and produced two pieces - one will be exhibited soon. Picture is of me at work...

I was also accepted as a Juried Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America.

October was the Big Twentieth Anniversary Trip to Gwydir Castle and Coedfa Bach in Wales, UK for a week. The beauty of the countryside there made me contemplate switching to landscape, but that went away as soon as we got back home. It just is not the same here. The day before we left the country, I got word that Syncopated Pink Lady received the "Great American Pastels Award" at the CPS's Renaissance In Pastel show! The prize is a set of 78 Masterclass pastels. It is a first and quite an honor to be recognized at a national show.

November begins on Monday with the first day of my New Works Exhibit at Zola. I have selected 15 pieces with a few extras just-in-case that we will hang on Halloween Day. Annie did a bang-up job on the reception invite postcards and I have a large supply of business cards at the ready. I sent nearly 100 invitations with personal notes added and hope to have a large turn out as well as some purchases. Here is an image of the card.

I should also note my decision to re-price most of the work to a lower price point. I was torn in doing this, but recognize my vast storage space is quickly being depleted and I need to SELL. Hard to do in such a rural area and I am not very good at sales, so I hope the pieces and prices will speak for themselves.

Currently on the easel is a large (18" x 24") pastel of the jadeite sugar dispenser and one of Great-Grandma's wooden spoons I borrowed from the Cottage. The lighting is very dramatic and really makes the objects sing. I stepped away for a week because I was becoming nit-picky and will get back on it this weekend. It is a nice combination of my typical objects in a much more dynamic setting. Could lead to some interesting stuff - at least that's my hope. Oil painting is on hold as I gather items. Black and white patterned fabric, a hand-blown ruby glass vase and... Still waiting on the something else. Avoiding apples. Thinking something yellow, but haven't found the right thing just yet. No rush as long as I keep plugging at the pastel works.

Off to pick up the last piece for the show from the framer and wire up all the oil paintings.

A Happy Halloween it will be!

Almost Fall

2010-08-26T10:20:00.010-04:00

Hard to believe it is almost September. Many deadlines looming! Show coming up and much work to frame...

The Greg Biolchini workshop was awesome and intense. Here is the still-life painting I did - so worth the struggle. I intend to include it in my Zola "New Works" show!

Apples and Oranges
Pastel, 18" x 12"

The oil painting is more or less complete. I keep worrying about the bright blue in the shadow of the plate on the left. Some days it's fine, but others it looks too intense. Need to paint the edges of the canvas, so I may fudge with it more. Have decided to use this as the post card image for "New Works".

Three Graces
Oil on Canvas, 24" x 48"

I was fortunate to return to Lake George and find my still-life arrangement remained in tact. I really didn't want to work from photos to finish it and was overjoyed to continue where I'd left off a month ago! This too will be in the show.

The Apron String
Pastel, 12" x 18"

Last, but not least, I returned from vacation and got right to work on my donation piece for the WPSU Wine Celebration fund-raiser. I'd had an idea before and was able to make it a reality. I just love it and hope someone else will agree.

Indecision
Pastel, 18" x 12"

Off to the framer and back to work! Enjoy

News From The Front

2010-07-28T08:20:00.003-04:00

Been too busy to sit down here. Quickly - I started a pastel in Lake George and hope to finish it on my return in a few weeks as well as another. Current oil is underway. It has a working title of Three Graces and is a 24" x 48" canvas. Image is just five days in. I love it and am being conscious to keep using much larger brushes and work all over the canvas. I've also decided to leave areas I'm happy with alone - even if the bare canvas shows through! So far, I think it's the right decision.

In other news, I had an older pastel accepted into a local juried exhibit and managed to take third prize! I'm thrilled because the piece had yet to get into any competitions, much less win a prize. Summer Seasons is the piece.

I also have had a pastel accepted to the Connecticut Pastel Society's 2010 Renaissance In Pastels national competition! I still am waiting to find out which of my three entries got in, but was notified because American Art Collector magazine will be doing a feature article about the show in October and accepted artists are being offered discounted advertising rates. I have sent a check to reserve a block in a 12-person full page ad. I hope it leads to some sales... I suppose this means I need to devote some time to updating my website. Yes, that is next on the list.

Next up after that is the week-long Greg Biolchini pastel workshop. I'm hoping to glean more new knowledge to take on vacation. Must remember too take videos and notes. Pastel seems to be taking over, doesn't it? Perhaps.

Off to work.

Alons-y!

2010-07-03T11:04:00.006-04:00

I have completed two fun pastels while trying to create the next apple set-up for another oil painting. One is a silly hen in a planter and the other is a set of Russian doll dogs surrounding a bone. They were both quick and helpful to get away from all the detail of the oil painting.

After looking at the completed Gala, I was at a loss of what direction to head next and depression hit hard. Time and the pastel works helped and I decided to go with the 'less is more' theory and focus on fabric with apples. The fabric I've selected is one I'd fell in love with that was intended as window treatments in my dining room, but were negated by my husband. The woven pattern is bold, complex and quite graphic while the colors are copper/terra cotta and cream - much brighter than the fabrics in the last paintings and more appropriate for this season of sun. I decided that the color of Granny Smith apples would work best with the fabric, but all the warm hues needed balance somehow. Something blue was the obvious choice. All I had were vertical cobalt items that were just wrong and far too much blue. Friends Erica and Keith to the rescue! They had a hand-blown glass dish I've borrowed that holds three large apples perfectly. Now the lighting must be arranged to emphasize textures and create interesting shadow areas too keep the composition from being too flat.

I have chosen another horizontal format, but am still not sure of the vertical scale. I have noticed that the painted apples are almost exactly the same size from one work to the next and am now conscious of it. I suspect my attempts to increase their size will feel wrong, but plan to give it a shot.

For now, I will hold off beginning until after a short trip out of town. I plan to do another apple oriented pastel while I'm gone, but may be lured into just visiting with loved ones.

For now, here are the pastels to ponder!

The Gala Is Over

2010-06-29T09:35:00.004-04:00

Gala, Oil on Canvas, 36" x 48"

I hauled the canvas to our top floor to look at it in natural light and in a non-studio setting yesterday. There were some obvious, but teensy adjustments to be made and that was it. I have signed off on the painting. It is complete. I have eaten the remaining chocolates!

So... why do I feel so down? It is rather typical of me to feel this way after doing such involved pieces. I suspect that there is more to the subject than meets the eye and that can scare me. More likely, it's because I recognize the time I allotted escaped me and that I have an awful lot of work to do to catch up. (There is a tentative show scheduled of the new work for October/November!) There are currently four oil paintings and a mere 2 pastels. I need almost triple those numbers to fill the space. I can do it, but I must avoid rushing things and sacrificing quality. I suppose the non-apple pieces (there are 3 or 4) could make it in, but I was really hoping for all apples.

Travel plans are in the works and focusing will get harder - especially when the weather is so perfect outside! There is a silly, non-apple set-up awaiting in the studio. Will try to make that quick and contemplate the next oil.

Mantra for the month of July: "I think I can. I think I can..."

Enjoy.

The End Is Still Near

2010-06-22T09:08:00.004-04:00

I began work on the orchid flowers and then took some time away for visits. I'm hoping to get into the studio today and finish them up, but have an appointment right, smack-dab in the middle of the day, so that is an unlikely event. I will try to sneak into the studio before I have to leave. It would be nice to finish up today since it's my father's birthday.

It is very difficult for me to keep the flowers simple. A few have sharpness and detail, but that will work as long as they don't all get that way. I changed one fold in the fabric that is still bothering me. The curve is just wrong and needs adjustment. Now that I've written it here, I will remember to make those changes! Looking at the image, I feel the darkness has been lost in the righthand section. I am hoping it is just glare from the wet paint. We will have to wait and see...

Enjoy.

The End Is Near

2010-06-08T09:46:00.004-04:00

Well, that's how it feels. I worked up all the apples, re-worked the compote a tad and "finished" the candy wrapper. I can't decide if I love or hate the wavy edge of the compote. Almost liked the previous version better. Will look at it again today. The orchids are calling me.

Why do I feel crappy about it though? All of the sudden, I'm in a panic about the overall quality. Is it overworked? Have I gotten too detailed? Is it just like all the other paintings I've ever done? Is there a way to think about painting the orchids differently than I am thinking now? I'm very worried that OCD Girl is at work here. Should I walk away and do a pastel before I tackle them? Is my reaction here because I received my 5th straight rejection in a row for a juried show?

Gardening on such a lovely day may be the solution.

At any rate, here it is...

What A Difference A Day Makes

2010-06-01T20:43:00.007-04:00

Well, it was not my intention to work on apples at all just yet. While at the grocery store the other day, I picked up a few "replacement" Gala apples because the one off by itself was rotting. The stack in the bowl are doing just fine, but will start to fade soon if the temperatures stay warm. Being in the basement space with the dehumidifier has helped, but I know I'm pushing my luck in taking so long to paint them.

When I went down this morning, I just couldn't look at the putrid brown thing anymore. I picked the one replacement apple that had the same overall shape and put it in. That led to wanting to paint it - of course!

The color in these apples is rather difficult to recreate, but I feel I'm on the right track. I'm using Cadmium Red Light, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Light, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White and even some Viridian to get these things right! I am quite satisfied and pleased with how I captured the solo apple. Now to get the others up to par.

Here it is as of today. Yum.

Memorial Day Update

2010-05-31T10:18:00.003-04:00

I survived my public speaking adventures in Virginia and really had fun sharing my new work with the students. I am always surprised how interested they are to hear what I have to say. The more philosophical questions still kill me, but I'm getting better with those. They got to see ten progression images of Gala and had no idea of the scale I was working on until later. It was fun to hear the gasps of amazement. They claimed to have imagined something about 1/4 the scale!

Since my return, I've been working only on the oil painting and almost exclusively on the teal green damask. I just love painting it. I can mix all the colors and then get lost in the work. Because the pattern is disrupted by all the folds and it becomes all about painting the values. When I step away I say, "Wow! What do you know? It's damask!"

Voila. Enjoy.

So Far Behind

2010-05-12T10:09:00.004-04:00

I may be neglecting this blog, but I have been getting work done. Entry forms are pouring in for all sorts of competitions. As usual, many overlap their dates and I will have to choose which to enter. Hard decisions when I'd like to try to get in all of them. Must keep the work going and get better on the work flow - the part that involves making hi-res images, pricing and cataloging new works. I have a large amount of figure pieces that need this. I have put them to the side almost completely to dive into the still-life work.

Anyway, last week's painting sessions went very well and I feel like I accomplished more than I set out to. "Now to keep the momentum," she thinks as she types on her laptop...

I promised an image of the brick pastel, so here it is:

A title is coming. I am quite pleased with the results and am excited to start more pastel work soon.

In the mean time, here is the current status of Gala:

Back to the studio!

Substitute Pastel and Progress

2010-04-28T09:28:00.012-04:00

I never posted about the work on the painting last week (see image at bottom) or about the substitute pastel... Well, I went to the Art Alliance ready to rescue and complete the damaged pastel only to discover that my model was at home! I was determined to do work there and not go home in a huff, so I rooted around and found part of a brick outside the building and some wilted tulips and bleeding hearts in the trash from a weekend art reception. After cutting the stems, I put them in a narrow glass vase and placed all my objects under a strong spotlight. I decided it was a decent subject and would merely treat it as a memory exercise. The key was to remember Ron Monsma's instructions on recreating the gritty texture of the brick in pastel. I have to admit it was more fun than I'd had in a while since I was not committed to making any finished Art. I was quite pleased at the end of the session to discover my memory is in tact and that I had the beginnings of a lovely painting. I intend to complete it next week and will post images then.

As far as Gala goes, I've avoided it. After getting the canvas mostly covered I was thinking it's going to be work from here on out - a big ugly struggle. Not something I wanted. Yesterday, I began slowly on the teacup and saucers since I knew the ellipses were all wrong and I needed to fix them. I made a pot of coffee and got down to work. After an hour I was very frustrated and wondering if I should just do something else entirely before I became too exasperated. I took a 20-minute break and remembered how I felt working on the brick and eventually decided to just do it. That did the trick! I not only resolved the ellipse problems, but improved the values in addition to keeping everything nice and loose! I even began to work on the Ferrero Rocher candies because I had the appropriate colors out. Now my attitude is MUCH better and I don't dread going down there today to work. I am sometimes amazed at the emotional roller coaster ride I can take when making paintings. Enjoy the ride - I will.

Let The Gala Begin!

2010-04-14T09:25:00.004-04:00

The last couple of weeks I've finished up a collage experiment, framed three pastels and worked a still-life pastel over an old figure drawing. The last was ruined because I forgot to tie up my cloth supply bag in the car and took a corner too quickly. Two days of work down the tubes. It is salvageable, but I still get entirely too angry to work on it.

I am scheduled to speak in May about my figurative work and how it relates to my still-life painting for the Art Alliance of Central PA and to teach 4 classes of Theory of Knowledge (the Art Unit) for my friend Karen down in Fairfax, VA a few weeks later. Feeling like I need to re-evaluate what I bring to the events and where my head is. Given I have a break in commitments now, I decided to get moving on Gala in hopes to have something in progress to share with the VA students!

I rearranged the light to give it more drama and a bit of lurking darkness - something in my life now that I hope will come through in the end - and got started with the under painting. Here is is so far:

I've decided to try harder to keep it loose and will try to stick to my guns with only getting crazy details nearer the end. I'm hoping the large size of the canvas will help! (It's 48" x 60") In looking at my latest art mags, I wonder about the surface more. That and using more medium. Wait and play it by ear.

Time to get to work.

Phil's Wright

2010-04-01T09:55:00.003-04:00

Here it is as promised. Friend Phil's mug is a collectible mid-century Russel Wright design made by Steubenville Pottery on lovely woven paisley I picked up in New Hope, PA. I'm thrilled to already have a frame, so all I need are spacers and some glass!

Enjoy.

Updates

2010-03-30T17:41:00.004-04:00

Over the last several days I have made an effort to get my website up to date with nine new works. There are oodles more than that and I only managed six, but it always takes longer than expected. In all it was pretty painless since I was stuck waiting for my car inspections. I even sent out an e-newsletter to announce the updates. I have some missing prices to add, an image to locate, and figurative works to get added too. Never truly up-to-date, but closer than it's been in months. If only those juried show notices would come, I could have real news to share! (I'm so very impatient.)

I began subscribing (again) to Robert Genn's bi-weekly letters "The Painter's Keys". Already, I wonder if I should even get these. The link will take you to my fist "letter" and describes exactly what I tend to post in this blog. I suppose I get negative, but the purpose of the blog was to share a bit about what goes into getting to my "babies". If you don't want to know about my process, just visit my website to look at all my happy children. There, I feel better getting that off my chest.

Off of soap box and hoping to post another pastel by Thursday.

Until then...

Nut Grinder Image

2010-03-25T09:46:00.004-04:00

The Same Old Grind, 16" x 12"

Spring Fever

2010-03-24T21:22:00.002-04:00

No, I haven't started Gala yet. I set up a mess of stuff for it and the apples are in the compote in the upstairs refrigerator, but I haven't gotten it right yet. I took out the large pink and turquoise urn. I suppose I need to bring the apples back down to see if that did the trick. Sticking to my guns about a horizontal composition this time.

Meanwhile, I've been riding the roller coaster of Spring Fever and sporadically cleaning in the studio. Slow but steady wins the race. Took out a large bag of old mats for recycling which felt good. I also rescued a pastel board from the crappy figure drawing stuff and did a fun pastel of the classic red nut chopper like Aunt Bell used to have in her pink and gray kitchen! I miss that house...sigh. I got inventive with the ground color-wise and love how it made the thing sing. Will post image eventually.

Ordered the frame for Syncopated Pink Lady today complete with Museum Glass. OUCH. Using that stuff makes framing VERY costly, but I see why a piece might win an award with it versus without it and these last two are certainly award worthy if I do say so myself. The nut chopper - not so much - didn't get the gla$$. Still got a nice frame. We're up to $275 in frame orders, so I must stop! I may have to go back to standard size cheapos for a bit. Hate that.

Tomorrow should be nice, so I'll plug away downstairs again... and try to post that picture!

The Pink Lady

2010-03-08T16:22:00.004-05:00

Well, she's finished! I thought I was done before we went away for the weekend, but when showing the photos I snapped to my sister, I discovered that the ellipse of the large glass was just wrong. When we got home that was all I could see! I spent just a bit of time this afternoon adjusting it and now am quite happy with the results.

Now for the title... I really want to use "syncopate" somehow to emphasize the retro objects and pattern. Syncopated Pink Lady or Pink Lady Syncopation? Hmmm... Just The Pink Lady is an option too! Got a wee bit of time to decide, so I'll ask Tom which he likes. He's really good at titles.

Visited New Hope, PA with my sister and stopped in at the Bucks County Art Gallery. The people were incredibly friendly and welcoming. I was impressed at how much information they provided without prompting and also that they let us look without interruption. I was concerned about the amount of work crammed into the large older house being used as the gallery, but realize that may be a benefit given the larger sizes of my work. Jennie actually recognized a friend of hers in a painting there and contacted him to say so. Turns out he knows the owner of the gallery and said he'd "smooth an introduction" for me! I'm hoping he gets in touch so I can make plans to go out again with some work samples. Of course, this means I need to get my website, resume and business cards all up-to-date not to mention get more of my apple series going. Work! Work! Work!

Procrastination

2010-03-04T11:49:00.005-05:00

So, I finished Rome and managed to put off starting Gala until after a bit of family travel, but that's OK since the trip gave me some new ideas to incorporate.

The canvas will be a 36" x 48" and will take more time. I need to be sure of the arrangement before I even think about starting! I set something up which I like, but there's something not right about it. Not sure if it's missing something or if it's too much. I keep hearing my brain say, "Remember, less is more." Tom dislikes it all together - says it's not interesting to him and that I need to get away from fruit and flowers. I need to put his comments aside. Especially since he's said that in the past and ended up liking what I did with a painting and telling me he didn't expect the end result.

I will let it sit and rework the arrangement after another weekend trip.

In the mean time, I finally began a pastel of my friend Phil's glassware, custom linen napkin (by friend/ artist Annie Swincinski), and a Pink Lady apple. Yes, this is part of the apple series as is The Scarlet Letter from last fall.

I decided to do the under-painting in a complementary color to make the whites and greens more interesting with the underneath color peeping through here and there. I am working on an Ampersand Pastel Board. It is a very simple arrangement and works well in emphasizing the various forms - organic vs. angular. Here's the underpainting...

This is where I left it yesterday...

Better get it done!

Rome, Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36"

2010-02-16T08:59:00.004-05:00

Rome is complete. The image is taken with my point-n-shoot, so it isn't as good as it could be. Better images may make it here eventually.

I ended up putting many more pattern elements in both the light and shadow areas of the fabric. It reads nicely now. I also oiled more sunk-in areas. I'll have to watch it to see if I need to add more oil or if I'll have to varnish the thing. I do hate varnishes though... Only thing remaining is to paint the edges of the canvas which I will do today before tackling my Pink Lady/ Mutso pastel.

Lessons learned:
- Don't settle on color. Take the time to get it right the first time so you don't make more work for yourself.
- Don't rush the detail. Work over the entire surface more before settling into 2 square inches of uber-detail.
- Put away the #2 brushes except when absolutely necessary.
- Don't make contrasts so difficult to read. (Blue next to black = dark.)
- Don't keep all the exciting bits on one side of the composition.
- Keep moving forward!

Next oil will be the large Gala canvas. Big color and big activity. Should be fun, but I need a bit of time to work out the composition. Having 5 artists here tomorrow to give me ideas on how to better use my space might be useful before I get down to it. I'm planning on a 2-month time allotment, especially since Rome was really only 14 days over 2 months. Amazing how I can procrastinate, however, I am doing better than I used to!

Time to work.

The Lights at the End of the Tunnel

2010-02-10T09:59:00.007-05:00

I was very frustrated with the painting last week when I discovered I'd worked in more detail in areas that I didn't mean to. No, I never put away the tiny brushes! The idea of obliterating what I did seemed wrong. I avoided working on it at all for several days. I eventually came to the conclusion that the painting still works, just not how I'd originally intended it to. This is a lesson learned for future.

The fabric color I thought I'd figured out just didn't work in daylight at all. Yesterday, I buckled down and remixed fairly large quantities of a variety of new blue values with ultramarine, burnt umber, yellow ochre and alizarin. No phthalo this time. I repainted all of the fabric and replaced my shadow areas. The tiny brushes got put aside and I added very loose patterns by drawing into the new blue. The wine holder was adjusted yet again and poppy oil seemed to help with the sunk in areas.

I'm happy with where the painting is now, but see that the pattern's lights (reds/ochres) need to appear behind the bottom of the wine bottle somehow and on the top areas of the fabric fold or edge that's not in shadow. Hopefully, those will be the only adjustments before I sign off on this painting!

Another Day In Rome

2010-02-04T09:19:00.006-05:00

I've been working away at the more detailed sections of the painting and have begun to delve into the other areas of the painting. The glazing worked well for the apple and the grapes - I just adore the apple. The sugar cubes just happened. I did move the one on the lower right, but may have to move it back a tad. It is just not reading correctly to me. I like that they are not super focused and hope to get the vase to work similarly. I think I may need to put away my teeny brushes to keep from taking it over-board.

Ah, the fabric! So far, it's coming along and the color is getting better since I switched to a phthalo blue in addition to the ultramarine. I will have to push the lights and darks dramatically for it to work the way I want it too. The left side of the painting is getting way too dark. The sinking-in of the dark area is not helping either. The pattern across the front will work, but I may create the patterns in the darker rear areas to help it all. Having more light just between the bottle and the lower part of the wine holder will be helpful too.

I will say that I have a love/hate relationship with the wine holder itself. I repainted the metal portion and still feel it needs more definition. If it's dry enough, I will put in more of the bright lights to emphasize the shine. The curve has been adjusted repeatedly. I don't want the curve to be a distraction at all - from being just plain wrong or from being too much in detail. This brings me to wonder if I should have left it all out! Now it will be my duty to make the damned thing work.

Off to the studio chanting, "I think I can. I think I can."

Mardi Gras Mary

2010-01-28T17:12:00.003-05:00

At last she is finished! I tried to re-create the still life in my studio, but just couldn't get it right. I also found my photographs to be less than helpful. Most were too dark or light and almost all from the wrong angle. Since I'd laid in some of the rhythms of the lower beads during the paint-in, I ran with what was there and consulted the actual set-up for color references. I'd say that worked out just fine, wouldn't you? This pastel is 18" x 12" on Wallis paper - my last sheet. I do hope to order more soon as it is my favorite so far. I will try to post her to the website soon. I did decide to go with Mary rather than Madonna. I guess "Mary" sounds like she'd be more fun at Mardi Gras and I did not want anyone to even think of the musician. That's about it. Enjoy.

The oil is coming along. I did complete the grape leaves, though I may mess with them more later. I laid some rich darks into the grapes. I will glaze a nice Alizarin over that layer once it is dry. Tomorrow will be an all day paint day. First, I have to survive figure drawing tonight and then (hopefully) get a good night's rest.

On The Grape Vine

2010-01-26T12:52:00.003-05:00

Went to a Pastel Society "paint-in" last Saturday and got my Mardi Gras Mary mostly completed! It was an idea for a composition that came up while I was setting up for Rome. Very happy with Mary thus far, but will have to refer to photographs for the accurate placement and my re-created arrangement for the color. Hate to do that, but I just ran out of time. It is very loose compared to my last pastel and a relief to be coming along as well as it is. There will be no pictures until it's done.

Plugging away at the grape leaves of Rome today. Have kind of decided on a loopy diagonal path of "in focus" subjects within the composition. Feel like I've lost some momentum, but I have all day today, Thursday and Friday to get that back.

Feel that nip of competition with my painter colleagues again. It nags at me and I don't like it. Makes me feel petty. I still want to be as successful as them, but not in the way they are. That doesn't make sense to people that don't know me. Won't dive off that bridge here - sorry!

Lunch is over, so I'll walk the dog and get back to work.

Next!

2010-01-22T09:43:00.002-05:00

Laurel leaves are in, but not the berries. Perhaps today? Worked my butt off yesterday and am pleased. Ran out of time for the grape leaves, but they are different greens anyway. Must figure out how to reposition canvas to reach that area without screwing up the lighting. Good thing it's a nice dismal day! Yes, it actually helps my lighting. Who'd have thunk a tiny window could create so many problems on a sunny day down there?

Progress with this canvas is definitely slower than the other two paintings. Faster than before, but I can't slow down to a snail again. It's been 5 days so far and there is still a lot of work ahead of me. Looking at the thing I see that the wine holder will have to be crystal clear detail too. Fortunately that won't take too long. Will have to figure out how to deal with the patterns on the fabric without getting knit-picky too.

Suppose I'd better get into the studio now if I really want to finish sooner rather than later.

Resting On My Laurels

2010-01-21T09:29:00.010-05:00

OK, so I painted for a measly one hour yesterday. What a shame because I could have gotten so much done rather than sit in meetings. I took a step back to more detailed work in painting the artificial Laurel bush leaves and berries, but will try to keep areas less detailed to balance things. I just LOVE doing it! It really defines the space too.

Today's goal will be to "finish" the leaves and possibly the grape leaves. First, I need to remix all my green colors again. Wish I'd mixed more in the first place, but I was throwing out a lot of color when it got too tacky and stopped mixing so much. You'd think I'd have better judgment on quantities after all these years.

Here's a shot of the work in progress and a detail of the leaves so far:

Now I gotsta get to work!

It Begins Here...

2010-01-18T17:25:00.002-05:00

My friend Erica was recently listening on the phone to me go on and on about what I'm currently working on in the studio. When I finally let her get a word in she said, "Laura, you should write a blog about this stuff." As long as I remember that the purpose of this blog is to focus on my artistic work and not the other parts of my life, I believe all will be right in the world. I will try to put into writing the ideas and concepts I deal with when in my studio. (Try being the key word.)

Currently, I am working on a series based on the varieties of apples sold at an apple farm just up the road. The Way Fruit Farm. So far, I've painted Golden Delicious and Apollo's Empire. The working title of the third oil painting is Rome. Many thanks to the gentleman at Way who went to the cold storage to provide me with an actual Rome apple!

I am actually supposed to be preparing dinner, so I'll have to continue to expound in words and pictures just what I'm up to in my studio another time. Stay tuned!