Making Marks

Abstract Lanscape

Late in 2008 I was using the Zentangle concept to start making some little piece of original art every day. After drawing for a month, I started putting small windows into the designs so they would have a distinct focal point. That turned into embossed pastels. I like these, and I wanted to try something similar with oil pastels.

One of my recurring inspirations is the landscape of my daily drive to work. I started making doodle designs for crops, trees, mountains, etc. and they became the foundation for the abstract landscape shown here. This one is oil pastel with gouache painted on top. The pastel resists the gouache and gives a flat background. I learned this from Ann Altman.

After I took this picture and posted it, I noticed that the two dark green marks in the lower left stand out. I'll go back and adjust. That's one benefit of taking photos of my work. Somehow I can see what needs help more clearly in a photo than I can in the original.

Personal Style

I've noticed that my personal style is often focused solely on my art ventures. The rest of my life can seem, well, drab in comparison. The walls in our house are the same beige as when we moved in, and I rarely spend time on home decorating activities. I've also been buying clothes that are a similar style for years. My "uniform" is a knit skirt (or, for variety, denim) and a t-shirt twin set. I have minor variations with jeans-style jackets or crew neck sweaters. My shoes are mostly Keens - comfortable and a little funky.

A few months ago I got bored. It will take a while to shift my wardrobe, but I'm doing it a little at a time. These boots are one magnificent addition to my shoe wardrobe. They make me happy just looking at them! To make them even better, Michael bought them for me as a Valentine present and they were 50% off! Now I need more red to wear with them.

Carved Rubber

Happy spring! The blooming trees inspired me and I decided to try a carving a flowering tree image. This is the next step in the book I've written about, Finding Your Own Visual Language book by Jane Dunnewold. She suggests carving stamps to use for future projects in the book.

I've been trying to let go of making images for specific purpose and just carve stamps for the fun of it. Most of the images I made are much more abstract. As I look at them again; however, they look somewhat like an aerial view of the Willamette Vally - fields and farm roads. My environment is definitely an influence on my work!

Three Wishes

Are we having fun, yet? Here's my fairy princess ready to grant three art-related wishes. What would they be?

One is a real art studio (sink included) with great storage. I avoid trying some new things out because my current work space is also my home office with beige carpet. (Ok, really it's beige with a few funky paint dots and some misc. coloring from when I've tried to do things I shouldn't have done in a room with beige carpet.)

Another is instant knowledge of Photoshop. I keep trying to decide if I need this program, and the answer is often "yes, but". The big but is how long it would take me to learn how to do the things I want to do.

My final wish is to live next door to a great art college. I do love where we live (in a small town that's at least an hour's drive from a good museum), and I'd like to be able to take classes in a convenient location. Right now the distance is an issue. I keep trying to remind myself that many great artists worked in semi-isolation with success.

What are your wishes?

Birds

Since the weather has been warming up this spring, I'm hearing and seeing more birds. I love them! They're so cheerful and interesting. We have several feeders on our back deck that attract everything from hummingbirds to flickers. When we are lucky, a robin nests in a small crook near a window so we can see her with little chicks in the spring.

I've decided to start drawing birds to see if I can make something I'd be proud to share or use in my art. So far I have made some progress. . . but not enough to post a drawing, yet.

We saw this African Crane at a hotel where we went to dinner in Hawaii (back in December). It reminds me that there's almost no way to draw a bird "wrong" as long as it has the basic bird features. (I found this same principle to hold true for fish, too.)

We also saw these bright cardinals along the beach. At first I thought I was imagining how bright their heads were, but then I got some pictures. They confirm that these little guys are as cheerful as I thought!

Spring Break

I love this gateway image. The Washington Long Beach Peninsula has several of these gateways to the beach along pathways. When I took the picture, I imagined using photo software (or regular old scissors) to cut out inside the gateway and put some funky image inside. So far it hasn't happened except in my imagination!

We will spend a couple of days on the Peninsula during spring break. I hope to draw a little bit in between other activities. The beach is a continual source of inspiration for me. From shell bits to sea birds to patterns in waves and sand, the beach is full of things that catch my attention.

As an aside, the Long Beach Peninsula has been accreting sand for several decades. The jetties built to protect the mouth of the Columbia River (boat passages) have redirected wave patterns so that sand has been accumulating on the peninsula, particularly the southern end. The place where this picture was taken probably was close to the high tide mark approximately 50 years ago. Since then dunes have been created, and in some places there are pine forests where there was ocean less than 60 years ago.

Embossed Metal Class

I recently took an embossed metal class from the renown Elaine Woodhouse in which she taught us how to use a variety of tools to shape 36 gauge sheet aluminum. Elaine is a delightful teacher who encourages student experimentation.

I decided to try the techinque using some images I've been sketching. The images are a combination of some Zentangle-type designs in a lanscape format. I do like parts of this piece, and I may try a few more examples. However, I think the designs might be better suited to a medium that incorporates more color. (I know the metal can be stained and colored with a variety of inks. . . I'm just not ready to buy MORE supplies right now.)

Scooter Update for March

Here's our little guy in the spring sunshine. He's getting better tolerating the camera, but I couldn't get him to stand with the sun shining on his face! (Sorry for the glare.) I wanted to show him with the sweet crocus in the picture, too.

I had him groomed last month and asked for a short cut. That was a bad idea! He looked almost like a Labrador retriever for several weeks. But he's back to his shaggier self now.

The news for him is that he loves a new squeaky toy that makes noise at the slightest touch. I'm glad to say he refrains from playing with it in the dead of night! While this new toy is a hit, his favorite remains the furry football, as seen here.

 

More Spring

These small daffodils are my favorite spring flower. The cheery, tiny blossoms seem to lift my mood wherever I see them - the store, the neighbor's yard, or at work.

Oregon's spring is unpredictable. Today it was sun-shining during a shower. The temperatures vary between highs in the upper 40's and the low 60's. But the little daffodils remind me that summer (and days filled with bright yellow sunshine) is around the corner.

Small Accomplishments

Most days I really like seeing the big picture: I like to strategize, make plans and figure out how to get where I want to go in different areas of my life.

Other times, however, I get by through seeing small accomplishments. Today is one of those days! If I get a few minutes to sketch at the end of a long day teaching, I'll be happy.

Counting the small accomplishments (and blessings) helps me see how they add up, too! That helps shift my perspective and I start feeling more positive about what's in front of me (such as a stack of papers to grade and the dog to walk and dinner to cook and . . .).

The next ARTitude will have an article I wrote about focusing on small accomplishments, what works for you and how to build on the positive. This is a strategy from the perspective of Appreciative Inquiry.