Monday, August 27, 2018

Rope series...

A few years ago I got excited about painting ropes - I can't remember why exactly, but I found myself fascinated with them. A week or so ago I was going through old sketches and found the beginning of another rope painting that was only the initial pencil sketch.

Why not? or rather Why knot?... It might be fun to just take a little time out and paint a rope.

I had recently painted a 'class assignment' using the wooden matchstick and ink technique. I had a fun time with it. So, I thought I would use that for this rope painting. Instead of using an ink pen, I broke the heads off several wooden matches and sharpened them into sort of a pen tip. I inserted the matchsticks into holders, got out my ink, and was ready to go.

The rope was a series of knots and loops. I scratched out the ink outline and quickly added some watercolor washes.


Eh? Kind of fun, but no punch. The rope needed a reason for being on the paper. Maybe it was hanging on a barn wall...I lightly sketched in some barn siding and a few pegs.


Another eh... I'll sleep on it...

The next day, I was to be gallery sitting for a few hours and decided to take the art with me. I threw the matchsticks and ink into the bag...along with an eraser!

Then it hit me - not barn siding, but a dock!


Pencil is still pretty light here, but the pegs are gone. I started inking in the dock boards. What fun!


Fun and obsessively busy!  The next step would be to use a watercolor wash on the dock boards...


The rope pops! I probably could have stopped there, but I was compulsively playing with the matchstick... I added more shadow/texture to the rope and then added more shadow on the dock.


I was all ready with artwork for the upcoming Labor Day Show and Sale this coming weekend. Now I am rethinking  - maybe I will add some rope paintings to my display!

Drop by the show: Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12:30-5!


Saturday, August 18, 2018

Fun with color

It was summer and so hot and humid...I really didn't feel like doing any painting. But, I knew I needed to stop staring at a blank sheet of paper. In class that morning a classmate and I just decided to start playing with color.

We did some wet on wet, dropped color, splashed paint...blowing paint around with a straw. Barbara, our teacher suggested that we try some small paintings. I don't think she was too excited about what we were up to. Camille and I were having fun and loosening up!

When I got home, I continued to 'play.' Everything looks better with a mat, so I matted some of these little experiments and found that I really liked them!

 It's fun for me to experiment with some abstract art. One problem I encountered, however, was that some of these could be viewed from different directions! So, where do I sign them?

I made up some screwy titles... and signed them in pencil. If someone wants them upside down, that's OK!


"That's the point"
"Reach out and touch someone"

"Starburst"
"Surprise package"

"Blue and Green Sparklers"
"Drips from 4 sides"

We have our annual Labor Day Show and Sale coming up in a couple of weeks. I'll have these and more for sale. Drop by St. Luke's Church in St. Michaels on Saturday, September 1 from 10-5 and Sunday, September 2 from 12:30-5.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Vermont Birches and more

Yikes - it's mid-August already...how did that happen? We have had a busy summer with family visits nearby and in Vermont - then back home with other grandchildren visiting... and now to catch up on everything that was not attended to...like this blog site!

So, today is just a short post with a small painting and a few simple sketches from our trip north. When we head to Vermont, I take a small 'kit' (it's actually a 6-pack soft cooler) with a few paint brushes, a sketchbook, a 4x6 block of watercolor paper and a travel watercolor set.

I love birch trees. There is just something special about their bark, the texture and color (not just white, but a myriad of color depending upon light and where they are). This is a quick painting that I did one morning.


For the past two years we have rented a small farmhouse  - built in the 1800s. The owners of the property have worked hard to keep as much of its original charm as possible. I am taken with the uneven floors, door hardware, wood-burning stove and the wonderful rock/stone walls surrounding the property.  Just gotta put a few things in the sketchbook...




It'a a comfortable, cozy spot!