Abstract Postcards

We had a small group for the collage class 

this week at Linden Ponds

(due to the holiday).

We glued random papers of different sizes 

of one color family 

to  9 x 12 Bristol boards.

Once flattened and dried, we cut them into 

four 6 x 4 1/2 

"postcards".

The unexpected relationships

 of the abstract shapes are amazing.

These can be mailed,

or made in to cards. 

The girls really enjoyed it so

 we are going to do it again next week 

when we have a larger group. 

NOTE: 

The woman who did the last green one, told me she is legally blind,  

after she cut out all those dots with a hole puncher,

then glued them on herself.  

Incredible.  

Landscape Collages

For our third collage class

at Linden Ponds this week,  

we worked on landscapes. 

I brought in some postcards of landscape paintings 

for them to use as reference. 

This gal worked from an image on her cell phone! 

This is an amazing group of woman

who all come to the class excited and ready to create.  

I am honored to spend this time with them.    

Imagination

An image of this came to me out of the blue 

one night recently and I had no idea why. 

This has never happened to me before. 

"Lake House"

16 x 16 acrylic 

It was so vivid I got up and drew a quick sketch of it

so I wouldn't forget about it.  

As soon as I finished the painting, 

I realized it's the dream house 

my girlfriend who lives on the ocean talks about;   

A Lake House with all the toys

 but 

NO TIDES!  

(Let's get this winter over soon, please.)

Girl Interupted

I've felt like a "girl interrupted" since last week.

Due to the storm and related issues, 

I haven't been able to get in to the studio for days. 

Today, I finally got around to working on this full-spectrum painting

 for one of my on-line classes. 

We were to include every color in the rainbow. 

This was much more difficult than I thought it would be. 

ROYBGIV

16 x 16 acrylic 

I was getting frustrated coming up with a solution, 

so I finally just set up a still life in my studio 

using colorful items.

I wanted to do something with a skewed perspective

 so I took images from different angles for inspiration. 

A fun and very different approach for me.   

Taking a Painting Further

Lately I've been taking my paintings

beyond my initial idea or inspiration.

 I'm allowing myself to take risks and let the 

painting tell me what it needs.  

The fear of "ruining" a painting can prevent 

some wonderful discoveries and/or surprises from happening. 

"Gossip" 

8 x 8 oil 

This is the original "block in".

It felt awkward to me so I softened some of the edges,

made the background less detailed 

 and fixed some of the drawing. 

This is still a work in progress. 

I added the red circles to represent the 

words they are having between them.  

SOME NEW THOUGHTS: 

-Try NOT to have a pre-conceived notion

 of what the painting will look like. 

-Nothing is precious.

-Learn to live with chaos. Work through it! 

One Color Dominant Paintings

Last week we talked about 

One Color Dominant paintings

in the Mark Daniel Nelson on-line class

I'm taking.  

 This is my attempt at blue, purple dominant.

Untitled for now 

11 x 14 oil 

It's amazing how color affects our feelings. 

Now I think this girl belongs on a sunny beach;

not sure how she ended up in a dimly lit saloon. 

Why does she have a hat on? 

Collage Class

I began teaching a 6 week collage class at Linden Ponds

and I think we are in for some fun.

They dove right in

with wonderful results. 

NOTE: 

oops. I didn't mean to post this.

oh well.  I just got internet back so 

I'm all confused.

Prepping for a Storm

I knew I didn't have much time before the power 

was going to go out last Friday

so I did this quickly.  

"Supine" 5 x 20 oil 

The torso may be a little exaggerated,

but I'm OK with that. 

NOTE: 

Out town got slammed during the Nor' Easter 

and the power was out until late Sunday night.

(Still no internet) 

No damage though and everyone is safe

so we are grateful.   

Ready for the next one!