Sunrise

 

What I love about having a little extra time off is that I feel a bit more free to explore multiple projects at the studio. I can let my "creativity-ADD" loose, so to speak. So this weekend I was working on my poppy series while also applying gesso and background colors to different canvases.

This morning I set aside the poppies to begin some new work.

I decided to kick off by starting on a second series of Women/Four Seasons paintings. Actually I've had "Autumn" nearly done for quite some time...I've been waiting for the time and inspiration to continue...

I worked a little more on "Winter"...

I was ready to head home for a little lunch...but then I grabbed another canvas that had some paint on it and started throwing on paint....it took off in a totally different direction than I expected. I wish I had taken a "before" pic, but I just kept going till I was done. A little over an hour later, I was done. Sometimes it's nice to do something fast...and different. I'll take a better pic later, but ...

I'm calling it "Sunrise".
(18x24 / acrylic on canvas) 

A punch of poppies

Poppies, poppies, poppies--I've been painting lots of them. I've been painting a variety of them on small canvases--12x12, 8x8, 6x8, 6x6. They're small, but they pack a punch. The colors are vibrant. I've come up with a fun way to display them--that can show you how a grouping of small paintings can have a greater impact. These pictures aren't the best (it's a small space, so I couldn't take the pics head-on), but you can get the idea...I'm taking a large frame and grouping the small paintings within the frame. 

I will have these up for Lowertown First Friday...and then a whole lot more for the Spring Art Crawl. Come take a peek! 

 

My Foot is in the Door!

 

This morning I set off for the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to register/drop off my Red Poppies painting for the Foot in the Door Exhibit. The Institute is my favorite art museum in town. It is one of my favorite places to spend an afternoon. This special exhibit takes place every 10 years and is open to any Minnesota artist. The biggest restriction is that the piece must fit inside a 12x12 box. 

The last time this show took place some 1700 pieces of art were exhibited. I think it might be even larger this time--they are estimating upwards of 3000 works. I decided to paint a simple piece, but something bold in color. For all I know, my piece may be hung 6 feet over everyone's head! The canvas is 12x12--painted sides, no frame (so it would fit inside the box).

Hubby went with me to register the piece. We got there early, before the line got long. We had a lovely conversation with 2 other artists waiting in line. It all went very smoothly. I got a purple "artist" ribbon to wear at the opening reception to be held on February 18th. I can't wait!

The show runs till the middle of June. I think I will be stopping by the Institute alot in the coming months. I'll let you know how the big opening goes!  

(just found this pic from MIA on twitpic...of my painting being photographed! This is a behind-the-scene shot that I wasn't able to witness. How cool is that!)

Oh ya, I almost forgot...I will have my Jax Studio open Friday night from 6-9 p.m. for February's First Friday...information on the sidebar. Stop by and see what I've been working on!

Red Poppies

After a busy day Friday running around, I have not gone anywhere in the car all weekend. Unusual for me. Usually I'm running errands or taking my kids somewhere, but this weekend I was grounded. That was o.k. by me.

I got to spend time in the studio Saturday and Sunday. Again, I switched gears and worked on some new paintings. This time I had a very good reason.

In two weeks, the Mpls Institute of Arts is accepting submissions for their once-every-decade "Foot In the Door" exhibit. Any Minnesota artist may submit a piece of art, as long as it fits in a 12x12 box and you bring it to the museum during the specified days. I have gone to this exhibit one time, but never submitted. I remember seeing the exhibit 20 years ago when my kids were young. It's a very interesting exhibit--work is hung from the floor to ceiling!

Well, this year I am planning to submit a painting. I have known about the exhibit for months...it's been in the back of my mind...you would think I'd have a painting done by now, but...like a lot of artists, I work better under pressure...right?

Part of it is that I don't frequently paint 12x12...but for this opportunity I will. I've thought alot about what it is want to paint for this show...it's hard, because you want something to grab people's attention. And I thought it best not to paint something with lots of detail, because this painting could literally be hanging 12 feet over people's heads!

So finally this weekend I started working on these red poppies. I may still do something else, but I liked how this went this weekend.

 

 

Actually, I worked on two 12x12's (pictured above), along with these smaller ones (8x8's, 6x8's).

 

I didn't finish these, but made good progress. I think the red/orange flowers (with a pink undertone) look very vibrant against the charcoal background. These are painted on gallery canvases--with sides that measure 1 3/8". I continued the charcoal gray on the sides--so there is no need to frame. Even if I don't pick one of these 12x12's for the Foot in the Door show, I'm excited to see what they will look like when done. 

Some days it's just good to paint something you love...and I loved painting these!

Poppy series

6 x 6

5 x 5

6 x 6

8 x 8

6 x 8

Sometimes you just need to paint things that make you smile, that give your heart a little lift. I've been painting these poppies, loving the combo of the vivid orange and bright green. They are very small canvases...ranging from 5x5 to 8x8. (These are just quick pics that I took this evening...I will need to re-shoot for better quality)

I'm not quite sure if I'm done painting poppies yet. Maybe I'll do some larger ones...or keep doing these little treasures. Perhaps I'll list them on Etsy.

What brings a smile to your heart?

Painting and planting

Works In Progress

It's been a darn near perfect Sunday. Late in the morning I headed out to the studio, with a cruise through the Farmer's Market in mind...mostly to take some pics. On my way down, I saw a sign up in our elevator inviting Tilsner residents to meet in the back later in the day to do some gardening.

That's all the invitation I needed. As I strolled through the Farmer's Market, I couldn't resist buying a few flowers to plant.

After buying the flowers, I headed to the studio to continue working on the small paintings I started on Saturday. Summer, sunlight, flowers all around...definitely having an influence on the work I'm doing. I'm loving the brightness of orange, a light yellow green and magenta.

And then after painting flowers, I spent a few hours planting them. Actually more time was spent weeding than planting. Tilsner residents (along with folks at the Northern next door) tend to some green space behind our building. I am thrilled to have a place to do some gardening again.

Painting and planting...two of my passions (and great therapy as well).