Weather is giving us spectacular views. I have art to post, a couple of pieces. They need to be scanned though, so I thought I’d share these views I have hoarded. Roughly a week’s worth.
I mentioned before the Liberate Your Art postcard exchange has been cancelled this year. Kat Sloma does such a fabulous job of hosting the swap. Life has other wonderful plans for Kat, and the time intensive event had to be crossed of her to do list.
I plan to send out cards to those of you that swapped with me last year. I have about 25 on the list. There is no obligation for anyone to swap with me in return. If you think you would like to, contact me by email, or here in a comment.
I thought it would be fun to send a card to Kat as well, and decorate the envelope as we often do for her. Should be a nice surprise don’t you think.
Jacinta Moore posted on Instagram that she would like to swap this year, and a MINILYA has begun. Reach out to her if you would like to add your name. Someone asked if they could be handmade cards. I think that would be a fun change to include both handmade, and printed cards.
I am thinking of sending my cards out mid to late March. They will be printed. I send cards out to family and friends, and internet friends that don’t take part in LYA. Too many to make by hand at once.
Reminded me of a feather, or wings. Which do you see?
Moon Over Mingus. SMD
Brilliant sky on a cold winter night.
Snow falling. 12-28-18
I went to town to run errands the other day. Cold. Dark clouds in all directions.
Stopped at a light, I noticed a few tiny snowflakes falling. Hooray!
Snow Ahead.
Barely 20 minutes later, and blue skies dominated. Here and there, patches of snow falling. Looked more like smoke rising. First time I have seen that. Very cool.
Snow Clouds.
See the snow falling?
Art On 45
First layers.
Fellow artist, and good friend Christiane Drieling invited me to take part in her annual Art ON 45 event. From the group page: “ART ON 45” is a juried art project – artists are asked to paint/draw/collage on a 45rpm record and donate it for a silent auction to benefit a local organization. For the upcoming fourth edition, Christiane has chosen NCLAC (North Central Louisiana Art Council) to be the beneficiary because of their commitment to establish a valuable art program at the local Boys And Girls Club.
I left this to the last-minute. Partly because I was slightly intimidated by the substrate. Mostly though, due to my still lagging energy level. But what fun it was!
The submission guidelines suggested using primer on the vinyl record. Many articles I found on the subject showed a lengthy, involved priming process. I took a chance, and skipped all that. I cleaned the record. And started by using FolkArt Multi-Surface craft paint. Made for tin, plaster, terracotta, rigid plastic, paper mache, fabric, canvas, concrete, wood, glass & ceramics. It took 5 or 6 thin coats to cover the dark record. I painted both sides and made sure to seal the edge as well.
I was stumped on what to paint. A mandala? A pour? A musical subject? Finally I just went with… what I do. I pressed a textured paper towel into wet paint, to add texture to the table. Stenciled the pattern on the vase. Used “bits” of acrylic skins to add roughness to the wall. Here the raised areas show up as white spots.
My first try at the blooms leaned towards sunflowers. At the end I noticed I had neat little rows of buds. Never good. I tried again, and am happy with the results. I used Posca pen, first time, and there are a couple of bloopers. But I left them as is. Under the vase, the pen skipped. Gave me three neat little lines. Kinda cool that accident. And mimics the table pattern. Under my signature, another splatter. Resembles a twig tip.
One more accident. I melted the vinyl while drying the paint. For the record, vinyl melts fast! I used a heat gun to dry the flowers, at a safe distance. A few seconds too long, and I had a nice little, unplanned ripple. While waiting for the paint to dry completely, I decided I liked the defect. I took the heat gun to two more areas, and let the edge warp slightly.
Fits in with the slightly rustic feel of the piece. And makes sense, in my mind. If this was hanging on the adobe wall I painted, the heat of the desert would surely do the same. In time.
Turned out the satin sealer I used is really a high gloss finish. NOT happy with that. Had to get it in the mail, so gloss it is. It does however highlight the texture of the record.
The 2019 auction is in downtown Ruston at Rumo’s Barbershop on March 16th, 2019.
I’ll keep you posted 😉
Oops! Almost forgot. I asked Leslie Saeta about the 30. She said the next one will be in September. But there is a Doodlewash watercolor event in January if you are interested.
Just had fun with this. Tried the plastic wrap technique, but I think I laid the paint on too thick. None of the first layer, green, shows through. I rubbed in indigo, turquoise and clay afterwards. I scratched into the wet white, and green is visible. Just not in the scan.
I am happy with this. Trying to decide if it is too plain. If I need some sort of pattern. And do you think I need to add the stem to the bloom on the left? In my mind that stem is curved, and sitting behind the other flower. Oh I know, shadow on the vase?
Here is the texture from the plastic wrap. Sort of like finger prints.
Textured paint.
Giveaway
I tossed slips of paper, numbered 1 – 7 into a bowl. Day #4 was chosen, the 25th. And from day 25, the 7th comment was chosen. (Again, numbered slips of paper in a bowl.) I apologize for not thinking to take photos. Truth be told, painting a day ahead, and everything going on this month has me discombobulated. I did the drawings last-minute.
I am so grateful for your continued support and friendship. Leslie’s challenge is all about building the daily painting habit, having fun and experimentation. What brings me back year after year, is your friendship and fellowship. True blessings in my life!
So pleased to share my art with you daily, and with the weekly giveaway gifts.
Congratulations Carol Edan!
Let me know which of these you would like, and I will get it in the mail to you.
We started the day dark and wonderfully dreary.
Mingus stayed undercover.
Right outside my window, snowballs were at the ready.
Where’s Mingus?
Snowballs.
Winter Surprise.
By 2 pm, the sky had cleared.
Late in the afternoon I saw the changing colors, and took these photos.
All within 30 minutes or so. Mingus still has a hint of snow.
