Blue Shadows

I am always amazed by all the colors I see especially in New Mexico. The air is so crisp it is just breath taking!

Fall is coming and the Aspen Trees I have in my yard are starting to change a little. Nature is signaling that the weather will be cooler soon. The birds are in the pinon trees feeding off the pinon seeds. They sing to me while I am painting in my studio. This is living!

" Awaken"

I am in the process of working on this new painting " Awakening" There is something about yellow trees that I adore. They give me a warm feeling and the color in itself makes me happy as if all is good with the world.

When I first started this painting I added layers of texture paste on my canvas, then put an undercoating of gray. With a large painters brush in hand, I open my heart and put layers of paint on this canvas. Allowing this piece to tell me what is needed, we are in constant communication.

I am excited to see what this piece will tell me to do next!

romancing my paintings

" Reflections" is a painting I did a year ago and have reworked. It was not speaking to me. I wanted this piece to say how I felt when looking out my window in the late summer afternoon. The sun ready to set, the trees glowing with color and of course the reflection in the still water. I embrace this work in my studio while looking out my window for inspiration, letting layers of color spread and blend letting the painting tell me what is needed. Then I heard those words in my mind " I am finished"

I find myself so wrapped up with each painting but I have to say some speak more to me than others. It is like a dance, some want to dance fast and wild and some want a slow and romantic journey. I love each one for the joy it brings to me.

" Here We Go" is a commission piece I did for a couple in Costa Rico. They had a photograph of little turtles being birthed out of an opening in the sand.

The painting is on a 24" x 24" 3" depth canvas. I put many layers of paint in the background along with texture and sand. I layered the turtles on top and put texture on them as well. It is somewhat difficult see see all the texture on a photograph.

I am very proud of the finished product. It was a joy to do this painting for these clients. They were thrilled with their new painting which makes me very happy!

To Be Judged or not to be Judged

That is the question. There are so many juried art shows that circulate through the United States and we artist are all willing to pay our good money and send in our entry form to see if "Our Prize" was accepted or not. Why do we do this? Is it the money? Is it the fame? Is it vanity? Maybe it is all of the above but maybe it is to stretch what we know and push harder to dare ourselves to be more.

I find myself when I am not accepted into one of those juried shows by the way I could wallpaper my house with the rejections, that I work harder, try new techniques. It is so easy to do the same thing painting after painting but what do we learn from that? With a juried show you have to expand yourself to be more, it keeps you not so comfortable with what you are doing now, so you will learn more. Of course there are times I lay in my bed and think " Why am I doing this? Who cares what that judge thinks." Then I get up and brush myself off and go to my studio and paint with a vengeance! I pour everything I have within me out on that canvas or paper. Now that is painting!

Now the sweet is when you are accepted and you win! For me it is not the money nor the 5 minutes of fame but to know I put myself out there to be judged and I learned.

Painting within

When I start on a painting I ask myself these questions. Do I want to just paint something lovely or do I want to get to the heart of the matter? Do I want to push or dare myself to take this painting further? Don't get me wrong I love to paint lovely scenes but I want more and hunger for that, to unleash myself and paint within. That is what I strive for and love to be in that zone.

At times when I am painting a subject I find myself painting it several times differently, tighter,looser more abstract etc... Constantly wanting to learn more with each painting to discover something new for me. The only way I have found to be better at my craft is to do it everyday. To live it and breathe it for that painting to become a part of me. Is this what they call passion? I believe so, it takes a hold of you and puts you on a delirious drunken ride. Or maybe instead of passion this is being obsessive compulsive about your work. My husband and children maybe could testify to that! They lose me at times when I am involved with my paintings. I will assure you I do surface from my studio for dinner and to spend time with the children and grandchildren but if I am working on something interesting it is there in my mind constantly reworking it or questioning it.

I believe painting within is being true to yourself to be honest with your paintings to let go and paint as if no one will ever see this painting, paint it for YOUR SELF. Not all those paintings will be brilliant but they will have that passion that is lit inside you and that will show on your canvas. It will push you to be more than you thought you could be and in contrast it will humble you to show how much more there is to learn and to let go of.

painting in New Mexico

I was spending time in my home at Santa Fe NM. A place to to get away from the usual routine in NC.

I find myself in my studio/garage working on a commission piece for a client of mine back in North Carolina. It is 20 something degrees outside and I have my little portable heater going full blast! The scene she wanted was a wonderful mountain landscape late summer early fall. What warmth it brought me considering there was lots of snow outside presently!

It is so amazing how working on a painting it totally transport me into a different world. I am totally engrossed when I am painting, not acknowledging time,hunger or any discomfort. It is such a inward experience and honestly a lonely one. IT is good working alone ,well for me it is. I am not bothered with conversation or constantly looking over to see what someone else is working on. I can talk to my painting and listen when they talk to me, telling me to add another layer of paint in an area that is sparse. As I work and listen to my work I can totally give myself to that painting. Working loosely , plus giving it many layers I give my work life. I cannot image doing anything else in life but this.

I have finished 2 samples for my client to view and to okay the one she likes the best before starting on the larger one she wants to go over her mantel. I hope this painting will bring her as much joy for her as it has brought to me creating it.

We the artist are always looking for someone to appreciate and fall in love with our creations, and the buyers of art are as well looking for that artist they can fall in love with their work.