Anatomy of a painting

I have been working on a new style of painting for a while now. My background is in precise illustration. Extra points for being able to draw 10 circles in a row that are the exact same size....

That "tight hand" has carried over into my painting. I would like my images to be free and loose and full of fantasy. It's been many many years since I drew like an illustrator.I don't think I will ever lose that element in my work.
But, boy, have I tried.

My friend, Bailey Jack/artist extraordinaire/ taught me her system: black ground and chalk outlines.It's just an awesome way to paint and has loosened my tight, cramped little hands enormously. I don't know where this path is leading. And that's fine.
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I love the new work and how it enables me to focus on shape and color instead of pencil lines.
The images are bolder and looser and BIGGER! I have struggled with making big paintings for so long.

I just finished "Paradisio".
It's 2.5' x 4' - gigantic for me.
So I took pictures of the process.
I thought it would be interesting to see how it took shape.
I have a lot of sketches of this tree in my books.
I try and sketch/doodle every night.Lately it's been birds and trees.

The original drawing was edited a couple of times. Balancing the color was a challenge.
I love the final painting.It's now at Galerie Matilda on Canton Street in Roswell, awaiting the grand opening. And, of course, I downloaded the jpegs in reverse order so you see the final painting first. Of course.

Sunnyside Up

Watching the Grammys.

Fascinated by Lady Gaga.

What drives a person that way?

Incredibly talented. She seems incapable of taking a breath. Or a vacation.
Having a regular day. A sweatpants kind of day. No meat dresses.

If I had that kind of drive/focus, would I sell more paintings?
Probably.

I'm not sure I would want that level of success.
I am sure I wouldn't want to pay the price for it.

We all make choices along the way.
I chose family, children and home a long time ago.
Painting and creating were a fortunate discovery that popped up in mid-life.

The ability to paint and draw has been a blessing and a salve in good times and bad.
Maybe that's the difference between me and Miss Gaga. ( As if there are any grounds for comparision...:) )

My creative blessings weren't my only focus.
I chose what was most important and grounding for me early on.
I needed the balance.

Art was the frosting on the cake.

I wouldn't change a thing.

Not even for an egg vehicle or a meat dress.

It's About Time!

I'm thinkin' that 5 months between posts is probably NOT the best way to build a blog following.

Just saying...

In my defense, the end of 2010 was really really busy. I bought a new house, moved, did shows, shipped orders and co-hosted 15 family members for Christmas. All of it was great, wonderful and positive. It left me with little energy for cheerleading my work on the internet. Most days I just wanted to move the furniture around and feather my cozy nest.
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The house is the best thing ever. Perfect upstairs for an empty nest family and breathtaking downstairs for an artist with just too much stuff. I cannot begin to verbalize how amazing my basement studio is. A medium size family could live there in comfort. Kathleen Taylor Studio et al ( Violet the Studio Cat, tons of junk i can't part with that will find it's way into my art and every orphaned piece of furniture that doesn't fit on the first floor ) has taken up residence.I am so happy every time I go down the stairs - feeling very blessed.

All the grandchildren will have their own mini studio next to mine.
Best of all, two of them are within walking distance.

Still deciding which shows to apply for in 2011. I am excited and a little bit nervous about my big project for this year. I'm illustrating a cookbook for an inspired author and my dream publishing house. The same publisher that does Mary Englebreit's work. A fantasy come true. I can't wait to get started.

FOLK FEST - AFTER THE FUN

Folk Fest was just the best. Great and interested buyers, wonderful inspiring art and great friendly artists. Can't say enough about it. Check out this blog post about us at www.paintmeplaid.com - very nice mention.

Folk Artists - Start your engines.

Four more days before I can set up for Folk Fest 2010. I am curiously peaceful/not stressed about it. Just excited. I am happy with the work I've created and look forward to the feedback about the new stuff. I always learn a lot.

Can't wait to see my art peeps. It's like Old Home Week at Folk Fest. Artists and galleries and friends. Strangers/collectors ready to become friends.

And then there's the inspiration that Folk Fest always provide. I have a paper mache chicken head hanging in my kitchen. I bought it at FF 4 years ago from a young man from Texas. His cousin Bubba, age 14, made the chicken heads. There were dozens of them in the booth, big and small. I wanted them all. Every time I look at my chicken head I think of that kid in Texas. Most likely he wasn't part of the cool crowd. Making chicken heads because he needed to make them. I can relate to Bubba. You've just gotta do it and you feel so good when you do.

Bless me, Father.

28 new paintings and counting. I can't quite figure out if that's one finished piece per day or what. Math was never ever my strong suit. However, I feel like I've made a big dent in my goal of 50 new and glorious images for Folk Fest. The best part is that I'm not in any way tired of painting. In fact, it's all I want to do.

I feel like Hansel and Gretel - well, more like Gretel - following the path of bread crumbs to a special place. One painting leads to another, to a series, to a new idea or technique. My own personal workshop. The paintings and process are the teacher.

I still hate the part where I have to measure/inventory/price/photograph each piece. Time consuming,boring and necessary. Painting all day feels luxuriously self indulgent. Fortunately, I get to sell the paintings which eliminates the self indulgence guilt. This is guilt that comes from a '50s Catholic childhood where anything that felt good required confession and penance.

"Bless me, Father, for I have painted..."

Folk Fest 2010

Despite the smothering/sweltering summer heat of Atlanta, I am painting every day. In a nice air conditioned space. Trying to build an inventory of paintings that I can be proud of.

When did the world get so hot? I grew up in a time without air conditioning and don't ever remember wanting to stay indoors to avoid the heat. Now I hesitate to open the front door unless absolutely necessary. A wall of 95+ degrees and hideous humidity slaps me in the face. Gardening is no fun and my deep shady front porch no longer invites me to sit and linger. So I get my run/walk/exercise in as early as possible and spend the rest of the day painting.

I am getting a body of work together for the famous Slotin Folk Fest in August.
That's August 20-22nd at the North Georgia Trade Center - you can check it out at www.slotinfolkart.com.

Folk Fest is a show I make sure to see every year. I leave in awe of the creativity on exhibit. I have a million ideas, inspiration and a sense of how lucky I am to be able to paint and draw.

Now that I'm an exhibitor, I have no idea how many paintings are too much, just enough or constitute an embarrassing shortage. I'll be sharing a booth with the wise and talented artist, Lou Sparks Smith. We both have dreamed of exhibiting at this show. The quality of the exhibitors and the buyers who come from all over the country make Folk Fest a must-see for serious folk artists/collectors. I am really looking forward to the opportunity. In the meantime, there is probably no pile of paintings big enough to give me a sense of security.

The new image at the top is entitled "Mother Hen". The look of concern on her face is most likely a reflection of my current state of mind.