Auntie (anti) Muse

Today I stamped my feet, got mad and told auntie-muse to leave me alone.
I will ride with the muse sisters.
As an artist our hearts, passions and vision are guided and encouraged by the muses. I have been struggling these past few months with direction and focus. I felt like I have lost the passion. I had let rejection, comments get to me. This morning I realized auntie muse had wrapped me in her arms, soothed me and whispered false niceties in to my ear. I liken it to falling off a bike. Instead of being forced to get back on  and ride even stronger I was wrapped in a soothing blanket and told I wasn't ever going to ride a bike and to come inside and play with dolls. I would be content to play with dolls and riding a bike should be left to others. But I CAN ride a bike and it was only a wobble. Sit up straight, eyes where I am going, build strength and be confident.
I will ride. Push hard on the uphills and  laugh with glee as I feel the thrill of the ride. I know auntie muse is always there but when she sees how well I ride maybe she will go inside and play with dolls.

Daisy Trio

 

 

 

 

 

Daisy Trio

12x12

Oil on Canvas

$275 

 

 

Last summer I purchased a new camera. That evening, as I played with the features of the camera, I took many photos. Daisy Trio came from one of these photos. My garden was a mass of self seeding daisies which grew among the other plants. My garden has now undergone a radical makeover and the daisies are no longer there. It was fun to paint these daisies using transparent oil colours and glazes. 

 

 

 

 

 



 

'32 Goddess of Speed Nearing the Finish Line

I like obsession and having a large project. I have been able to get into the studio a lot this week. Sometimes only for 30-45 minutes, sometimes for much longer. I love painting in the early morning.
A different approach with this painting is I am having to work flat so the glazes don't run. They really don't run but the do move a teeny bit which I don't like at all.
I have learned a lot doing this painting. Doing another in this style requires a very fine surface. A higher grade of canvas and more gesso that has been sanded smooth. Hmmm maybe oil paper.
'32 Goddess of Speed is nearing the Finish Line. I want to let it dry and touch up some line work. And I need to stare at it to check values and whether it reads true. So far I have added no opaque paint. I may add a touch or two if I need to pull anything forward. While it dries On to my next project. I have a smooth board.......

30 in 30 Check

As people know I thought I would do 30 paintings in 30 days and unwisely chose non-representational paintings. So NOT me. So I nixed that plan.
But I wanted to say that although I am not producing a painting a day, I have been in my studio painting everyday. My challenge is to complete this painting in glazes using transparent oils. For a detail lover lile myself it is great. It also forces me to slow down and focus on small changes in colour and colour temperature.
Still a long way to go. Deeping values. And the car only has the first glaze.
Cheers
Let us all be happy and content with our own challenges and artist journeys.

Building Form

I am starting the 3rd glaze layer. The goddess of speed is slowly taking form. When you glaze in watercolour you can time the moisture of the wash and drop in new colours or intensities of colour. With glazing in oils this is limited. I like the luminosity I am getting from this technique.

Okay this may work.

Second glaze layer started. This may be okay after all.

Battling speed and perfection

Here is the first layer of glaze. Trying to keep the whites. Hmmm. I am using a drop or two of Walnut Alkyd medium. Over gessoed canvas it doesn't flow like a watercolour glaze. This I found frustrating. I worked with the canvas flat and tydied up the whites with oms and one of my old small scumble brushes. I am going to do some research on glazing mediums and different support finishes, and practice on some 6x6 practice boards. I won't mix mediums on this painting. Been there done that.
While doing this inititial glaze, I was asking myself why was I trying a different technique and had to talk myself into staying the course.  Learning and trying new things are at first hard and our natural inclination is to stay on the easy path. We never get anywhere new that way. Now for patience and let it dry.
Happy painting.