Figuratively Speaking - Pink Ponies

8"x10" acrylic

Normally you would associate pink elephants with drunkenness, especially if you were from the Dumbo generation.  However, if you are a three year old, pink is the perfect color for horses.  I found two horse paintings in a pile of photos and momentos my mother gave me years ago.  One was a paint by number I did when I was young and the other one was a paint by number my daughter did when she was young.  Since my daughter's children were visiting me, I decided to give each of the boys one of the horse paintings and gave their sister the opportunity to pick the color for a third painting I would do.  They were in transition, moving from the west coast to the east coast, with most of their possessions in boxes while the family resides in a rental while looking for a house to purchase.  I thought this would give them each a painting to hang up in their rooms in the meantime.  I have encouraged each of my five grandchildren to appreciate art, make it and to start to collect it.  Of course it helps that my mother was an artist, I am, and my children are all creative as well.  My daughter has done an amazing job teaching her children about artists and how to handle art materials.  The three year old made a pirates' ship and carefully painted it with well thought out details and colors, keeping all the colors seperated, making no "mud."  It was quite impressive.  What an advantage to start at such an early age, with such a vivid imagination.  I wonder if a three year old consulted on the Dumbo movie.  Go Figure!

Figuratively Speaking - Meditation in Neutrals Day 7

My daughter's family, the Blundell family, is moving from the west coast to the east coast....stop me if I've previously mentioned this.  Don't you get tired of the the same old stories getting rehashed?  Well, I can't help it, because I am so excited to see them all and to see each individual one...mom, dad, each of the 3 little ones.  So we had a big snow storm to day.  I think they called it Liam.  I was happy as a clam because I was out in it snowshoeing.  Much of the country experienced it in some form or another.  Another one is hitting Chicago on Friday.  The thing about that is that the Blundells were scheduled to fly to Vermont via a Chicago layover.  Long story short, they were bumped backwards, and are coming tomorrow!!!!  When you are moving your family across country there are a million things to do the last day you are at your old location.  Well, they are scrambling to pull it all together.  Today was my son-in-laws last day at his job, so he wasn't even around to help my daughter out.  It will be a late night for them tonight.  It is all good, but even with the best laid plans, there is always an opportunity for grace in the line of fire.  At this end,  I am scrambling a bit too because I was counting on that extra day to get everything perfect for their arrival.  I have canceled the little party I was having for my art friends, and I am doing the sheets right now.  A dash to the grocery store tomorrow will probably wrap it all up.  Those skinny little kids eat an amazing amount of food! I have no idea if I will be able to paint while they are here.  I mean, I will paint, but it will be with the kids....maybe I will post their work.  Go Figure!

Figuratively Speaking - Meditation in Blue and Orange8"x10

8"x10" acrylic

Day 2 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge.  This is about value, color harmony (complements of blue and orange) and creating volume through brush work.  The star of the show is my little clay sculpture from Mexico of a young boy.  I am going to get to know this little guy really well by the end of the month.  Sometimes  the simplest things take a lot longer than expected.  For instance, my daughter's family is moving back to the east cost from the west coast.  I made a paper chain to count down the days.  They will be here in one week, seven days, but it is taking forever...f.o.r.e.v.e.r.  Go Figure!

Figuratively Speaking - Irish Walk

I learned some new words today.  I hope I can get to use them in a Scrabble game someday.  My sister-in-law is a world class Scrabble player.  There is no hope in beating her as she has memorized the entire Scrabble dictionary, but the game with her is always fun.  My friend Jean Paulsen is also an avid player and when I have the opportunity, my daughter, the genius and beautiful Ruthann, is fun to play games with.  We have been known to fall into uncontrollable giggles bordering on hysterics.  That doesn't happen often as she lives in the northwest and I in the northeast.  Her winters resemble the image above.  My winters are snowy and brrrrrrr.  So, my new words are fridgiculous and frigorific which is the weather we are experiencing now.  I am hoping this is the coldest blast of the winter, but it probably won't be. Go Figure!

A Method and "On Leave"

"On Leave"  7"x9" oil  this is for my nephew who is a Marine and great dad!

I thought I would talk about a method I have been experimenting with in painting.
These are the reasons I like it:
1.  It is a method, therefore, I know what to do first and can get started right off.
2.  By drawing out the image, I get to practice my drawing skills, and it helps me to get the drawing part accurate.

3. By adding in a very thin and very quick layer of local colors, I can paint over the drawing, and diminish it, so I am not so picky and finicky about painting the drawing.
4.  I  get to evaluate it after each step which makes me take a brain-refreshing break (and I hoola-hoop for a couple of minutes).
5.  I can see if the design and basic values work.
6.  By doing the local colors, I quickly cover the whole area making it all much less intimidating.
7.  Since I don't add any subtle highlights, smaller values, warm and cool colors and variations at this stage, I can think through those things before I actually do them.

8.  I like it because it slows me down, yet I can still paint fast.
9.  There is instant gratification, which I always crave.
10.  I still get to apply all those wonderful teaching tips I've learned from other artists.

What I don't like about it:
It takes longer....and I end up fussing anyway!

Dance Me, Daddy oil on panel 7"x7"

Dance me, Daddy. Dance me around.
Don’t let my feet ever touch down.
There’s nothing better than being your girl.
If I am your princess, then you are king of the world.” Cindy Morgan