The Chalice

A few weeks ago I attended a one day workshop entitled "Artistic Breakthrough - taking your art to the next level." It seemed like a good idea, except that I had just completed the marine chart with the challenging small, acrylic paintings (see my last post) and felt like I needed a break from 'breakthrough/challenge.'

At that point, I was not quite sure what 'the next level' would be.

The workshop information invited us to use any medium. Hmmm, it would be good - and feel familiar - to reconnect with my watercolors or pastels. Since I regularly substitute in a watercolor class, I chose to spend this day with my somewhat neglected pastels.

We had lots of choices as to what we would paint that morning. It's been a long time since I used the pastels, so I decided to paint the still life set up as a warm-up exercise. The set up was a tarnished silver goblet... and a few other things. I am into simplifying, so I focused only on the goblet.

I had such a great time - the drawing just flowed! And then, I began to add the color. I love the pastels at this stage. Layers of color, changing and glowing...it was like magic for me.

I have tweaked it a bit since then - and continue to look at it from across the room. Recently, I stuck it in a gold frame and I love it. It's no longer just a goblet for me - it's a chalice.

"The Chalice"     9x12 pastel     $225  

Jimmy Buffett and Me

For years I have enjoyed listening to Jimmy Buffett - I love his music and his laid back style. It evokes wonderful memories of sailing trips in the Caribbean, warm breezes, a bit of rum...you get the idea.

So, when I was asked by Brad Fout, of LeHatchery Gallery in Easton to work with him on a special project involving Jimmy Buffett, I said "Yes!"

I went to talk to Brad to find out more about the project - LeHatchery is donating a framed marine chart that has Jimmy Buffett's signature on it to the Bryan Brothers Foundation for their annual auction. Brad told me that he has always loved my crabs (St Michaels Art League Banner Project - see examples in posts - Feb 1, 2016 & Feb 5, 2015) and asked if I would be willing to paint one on the chart. It sounded like a fun project.

We discussed other "Chesapeake Bay" things that might also be painted on the chart to enhance it. Now both of us are getting more excited about the possibilities.

Then I discovered that the chart paper was water resistant! Hmmm, I am a watercolor painter. Now, this is a challenge...I left with a strip of the paper from the bottom of the chart so that I could try out my watercolors.

Of course, they wouldn't work. After experimenting with acrylics, begging a friend to 'teach me to paint with oils,' and consulting other artists, I got down to work practicing...  I began with a gesso base (which I toned light blue) and then used acrylics - which seemed most like the watercolors I am used to.

I tried lots of different ideas and placed the figures around the chart in various places. Yesterday, I finally began painting on the actual chart and completed it!

Here are close ups of my paintings...

And of course, I know you want to see this...!

FYI - the auction is this coming Saturday, April 9th at the Oaks in Royal Oak. For more information about the event or to buy tickets, call 410-819-3780 or email info@shorekids.org.

Star Wars...

My children grew up with the original Star Wars movies. We had little plastic creatures all over the house. These imaginative toys gave my son, in particular, many hours of pleasure as he reenacted movie scenes.

One of the characters I remember fondly was the Jawa. Jawas were little brown hooded figures with beady eyes. I don't remember whether they were good guys or bad guys, just that they were really cute.

Recently, when we were on vacation, I was on the balcony of our condo and I looked over at the pool - there were two Jawas!

I added the eyes so you could see what my imagination saw...

Actually, they were new umbrellas that had not been opened to provide poolside shade yet that morning... It was such a fun surprise!

I love it when I see something like this - an actual 'thing' that takes on a suggested something else. It's a little like lying on your back and watching the clouds become different shapes. We know they are actually clouds, but we see other things there - usually for just a moment.

And, yeah, later in the day the umbrellas were opened...the magic disappeared.

The new kiddie pool - Part 2

I could probably keep sketching the fun at the new pool for a whole blog year...don't worry, that's not going to happen! But, here are a couple more sketches.

There is something wonderful about little kids in hats. They are just too cute and always make me smile.

Lucy walked around with her girlie bikini, hat, sunglasses and purse - a little lady. She loved the pool as much as her little brother, but acted more sophisticated, of course.

There were some large jets of water along the side that she liked to put play in.

And she also spent some time sitting on the side. I didn't see any tea parties, but it wouldn't have surprised me to see her pouring and serving tea with proper teacups and saucers.

I can still hear all the giggles and laughter. What treasured moments!

The new kiddie pool...

For the past several years we have been escaping the snow and cold temperatures in January and February by going to Puerto Rico. It's guaranteed to be sunny with temps in the 80s...ahhh, and so relaxing.

What a lovely surprise this year to find that the place where we stay has reconstructed the children's swimming pool! The very unremarkable rectangle of shallow water has been replaced by an imaginative walk-in pool with a 'mushroom' fountain in the 'deep end' (maybe 2-3 feet deep) and water jets all around the pool.

It has been such fun watching the little kids discover all it has to offer and to listen to their squeals of delight. One of highlights for me was watching this little one year old boy. He was fascinated by the water jets.

Then he discovered that if he put his foot on them, they disappeared!

When he moved his foot again, they came back! He had so much fun laughing at the water and then stepping on it and making it go away.

It's my Valentine treat for us all... enjoy!

And a message for those of you who follow this blog - for some reason, Google is requiring people to sign in again to receive notification when I have posted something new. I do not understand the technical part of this, but apparently some internal changes were made and the email addresses were erased! So, please use the tab to your right and sign in again - you certainly don't want to miss any future postings!  THANK YOU for following along!

What's 'Mikey' Doing this year?

Yikes! How can it be February already? It's time to think about banners ...

For the past six years, the St Michaels Art League has been sponsoring the banner program. All our members are encouraged to create a banner which will hang on the poles along Talbot Street. It's a fun project, it gives SMAL good visibility and it's great fun to see my artwork displayed on our main street from April through November each year.

The general theme of this program is "Celebrate St Michaels" - so anything goes, as long as it is locally related. For several of the years I have painted a cartoon-like crab figure who has done a variety of things: waved various flags, raised a mug of beer and encouraged people to eat oysters, hung lanterns in the trees (celebrating St Michaels 200th birthday - a local myth), and steered a boat.

An artist friend had named the crab "Mikey" - I guess because he's from St Michaels. Each year she asks me, "What is Mikey going to do this year?"

Well, if you have ever walked the streets of our small village in the summer, one of the things you will see is tourists (and locals) eating ice cream. There are now several shops to stop for such a treat. It's fun to see how happy people seem to be when they are licking a cone. How can you not smile?

So, here's 2016 Mikey...

Look for Mikey hanging on a pole in April! Watch out for dripping ice cream...

Painting a White Flower

Recently I was looking through my picture files to see if I could find some small paintings (for the 'Small Paintings Exhibit' at the News Center in Easton - which will continue through January - notice how easily I can fit that plug in there?).

I re-discovered some paintings that I had done a couple years ago. I had taken a class called "Painting a White Flower" which was taught by a friend who is an amazing botanical artist. She is a great teacher  - I thought it would be a fun class...and that I would learn something!

Class day arrived and there were a dozen or so in the class. We introduced ourselves and it was apparent that there were several students in the class who were botanical artists (BAs). There were also some of us who were watercolor painters who had not done this kind of work before. Lee explained what we were going to be doing and got us started.

We each picked out a fresh flower and began to draw. After I had completed my drawing I began to paint. By lunch time, I had completed 3 paintings of the white lily. I looked around and there were a few others who had done one or two paintings...but the BAs were still working on drawing their first leaf!

Hmmm, this was to be a two day workshop...I still had a day and a half to go! I finished up the first afternoon dabbling in a few more drawing/paintings...

Day Two - Some of the BAs were finishing up their drawings and about to start painting... Don't get me wrong - they were beautiful drawings. So much care and precision in every mark. I am in awe...

Well, Lee was very aware of the different painting styles and had brought a whole variety of other ways to try the white flower! I had a wonderful day of trying new things - adding various opaque mediums to the watercolor paints. I experimented/played for the remaining time with new ideas.

I do not remember exactly what we added to the paint, but this calla lily seems to glow on the black paper.

Here is a lily from my sketchbook...

Yes, I did learn a lot in those two days... I learned to experiment with new materials. I learned that I do NOT have to paint like the BAs - I have my own style. I was affirmed by my friend Lee and her teaching style...and I re-learned that the challenge can be a lot of fun!