Figuratively Speaking-Yellow and Purple

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8"x10" acrylic

Routines are really brilliant.  I have lived much of my life thriving on change and even some chaos. I am not sure if I was addicted to the energy of this, if it was truly my personality, or if I was just delusional, but now I like the discipline of routines.  I generally work out and/or recreate in the early morning, then I do some house things, and then head out to my studio.  I hang out with my husband and sometimes we go out in the evening.  It sounds boring when I put it like that, but it offers me time daily to exercise, socialize, keep up with responsibilities and to work.  My weekends are more varied. So this February I am participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge, although since it is February, it is 28 in 28.  I have decided to paint a little clay sculpture my son picked up in Mexico and gave me.  I am focusing my paintings this month on identifying values in the shapes and on color harmony.  This one is shown with the complementary colors yellow and purple.  Unfortunately the values are not showing as well in the photo as they are in the painting.  There is more variety.  I am interested in how flat shapes can suggest volume.  Yellow and purple when mixed create a beautiful brown.  So I am adding another layer of routine to life, which is good, because my grandkids are coming to visit for 2 weeks and I suspect my routines are going to help me maintain my sanity but may also dissolve into enjoyable chaos.  Go Figure!

Figuratively Speaking - Baby Steps

5"x6.5"  oil on Yupo

I was waited for AAA to come unlock my car after locking my keys in it when I ran into a coffee shop to pick up a sandwich for my lunch at a Mark Boedges workshop when I spotted these baby shoes among the antiques they were selling.  They were dated the year I was born and were priced 50% off so I thought, "I'll support them because they have been so nice to me and loaned me their phone to call AAA."  The gas station was less than a block away, yet it took and hour before they arrived.  While waiting, I decided to dedicate my 30 paintings in 30 days September exercise to getting to know these little gems.  This painting is #1 and I did it on Yupo...a really cool alternative to paper that is usually used for acid inks.  I used oil.  I think I will do all kinds of different media this month.  It will fun to try it out and doing little still life paintings are always a good way to practice. So, back at the coffee house (it was the day of the eclipse) I was  in totality with the exercise of calming meditation as I was suppose to be at Bobbin Mill Falls painting and my monkey brain really wanted me to get anxious.  The baby shoes gave me something to think about.  I hung them from my rear view mirror when they finally fished out my keys through the sunroof of my car which was propped open a few inches. The workshop was great, but I really came to love that coffee shop and my little baby shoes....Go Figure!

Figuratively Speaking - Windblown

I taught a painting session today at the lovely Harvest Moon Restaurant.  We painted a fun winter scene on beautiful slate.  Andrea, the proprietor, provided homemade potato and sweet potato chips and Focaccia pizza, while wine, beer and Argentinian pastries were available for purchase.  A good time was had by all.  After I have been teaching, or have lead a painting group, I always feel rather hyper and it takes me a while to settle down.  This sketch is a self portrait based on my Facebook profile photo.  I am windblown in the sun.  It is rather appropriate for how I am feeling.  This also marks day 30 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  I am going to continue with sketches for February as I took a 60 sketch challenge but I am also going to do a few paintings as I am ready for color.

Work To Do

I took a photo in a park forest in Portland, OR, of this person walking down a path with a determined stride.  The big hat and tight posture caught my eye.  I liked how the image is framed by two large Douglas Firs with the light filtering through the background forest.  This is Day 14.