Serenity

Serenity
16x12
Oil on Stretched Canvas

I named my latest oil painting "Serenity".  Thinking of the warm, calm days of summer makes me feel serene after the long winter we've all had this year.  I find that I usually paint a place where I want to be, even if it's only in my mind's eye.

My paintings rarely turn out the way I initially visualize them.  Most of the time, they are a complete surprise.  Only after some time has passed do I come to appreciate my paintings.  Then I wonder "where did THAT come from"?

Deepening the Mystery

Sweet Evening

12x16

Oil on Canvas

What makes me want to paint?  There are days when I stand in front of the easel, lost in thought, as I scoop the paint up on my brush and onto the canvas.  I can do this for hours, not realizing just how much time is going by.  For me, it's a process of entering into the painting itself and seeing where it will go.  Most of the time, I'm surprised at the result.  The painting is rarely what I initially had in mind.

I imagine it is the same for other people, whatever the creative endeavor.  Writing, playing a musical instrument, working in textiles, cooking, building furniture, etc.   We all get lost in the creative process. If I go over a week without painting, I just don't feel "right".  It's what I do.  And I hope to still be painting when I'm 90 years old.

May you all be blessed with enjoying the creative process during 2013!

The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.

- Francis Bacon

What's Been On the Easel Lately

Evening Grace
Oil on Linen
30x40

 

It's the beginning of summer.  Even though it seems that it has been summer for quite a while, actually Summer Solstice took place just yesterday.  I do a lot of reading this time of year.  Sometimes I crave an  Agatha Christie novel or sometimes just a book of quotes.  I came across this one and it spoke to me.

All you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself.  All you have to do is be still and take time to seek for what is within, and you will surely find it.

-  Eileen Caddy

The above painting is a commission I was working on most recently.  It sat at my easel for quite a long time because it is larger than what I'm used to painting.  At the start of each painting, I have an idea of how I want it to look but it rarely comes out looking like what is in my mind's eye.  More often than not, it turns out to be a complete surprise to me.

Silent Evening

Silent Evening

Oil on Canvas

18x24

Silent Evening is a painting I did in early February.  There is so much to catch up with for me.  My house is still in a state of partial disarray due to the flood we had last December.  Since then we have had numerous workmen in the house, from jack hammers to painters.  Needless to say, there has been lots of dust too!

Our house is slowly getting back to normal.  As a matter of fact, it will probably be in a much better state when everything is finally done, since the basement will now be a lovely family room with new carpeting.  Until then, my art helps me feel "sane".  While I'm painting, all is right with the world.

Contemplation

Contemplation

Oil on Linen

10x8

This painting sold last week.  I'm happy that it's going to a new home, but I think I'll miss it.  As an oil painter, I always find it almost impossible to replicate a painting.  Even if I look at my own painting in front of me, it just never works out the same. 

It's almost as if every painting is "what happened that day".  Do you ever miss paintings that you've sold?

October Snippets

 Thought I'd share some of the goings on in my kitchen lately.  This is my daughter and her boyfriend.  He gave her a fantastic juicer for her birthday.  Here they are reading the instructions for the first test run.  They had just come back from the Farmer's Market with fresh produce.

 Here's Jess doing the prep work.  She loves to work in the kitchen.  Cooking is her passion.  Luckily her boyfriend likes doing dishes.  I think it's a match made in heaven.

 My latest smallish painting called "Beloved".  It's 12x16 done on cotton stretched canvas.

I entered "Chimes" at the Danada Nature Art and Photography show this year.  I'm happy the judge liked it.  I hope your October is a blessed one!

Kindred Spirits

The Magic Hour
Oil on Linen
24x30
Sold

My painting "The Magic Hour" sold last weekend.  I have several paintings in a new gallery in Forest Park, Illinois, not far from Chicago.  The owner told me that foot traffic had not been good this summer.  Maybe because of the economy, heat, or other factors.

Suddenly this painting was bought by someone who just had to have it.  Which leaves me wondering ... what is it about certain paintings that compel people to buy them?

I have certainly purchased my share of paintings over the years.  Usually there is something about it that I relate to very strongly.  I just have to have it.  I guess what I'm wondering is what that certain something is about my own paintings.  Are your collectors really kindred spirits?

Blessings

Blessings

16x20

Oil on Canvas

Seems I've been suffered from writer's block lately.  Sometimes I just can't find the words to express what I'm trying to say.  Maybe I should write in a daily journal.  Years ago I kept journals faithfully.  I would sit down in the late afternoon and record thoughts that would pop into my head.  When I was a young girl, I kept diaries too.  

As with painting, writing is something that requires practice. We need to air out our thoughts and feelings so that they more easily come to the surface.  When I don't paint for a while, I become blocked and kind of crabby.  When in the flow of painting, I feel happy and alive.  I think that holds true for any passionate activity.  Use it or lose it.

Have you ever experienced writer's block or any other block?  

Sonnet

Sonnet

18x24

Oil on Linen

In between painting, I enjoy reading in the summer months.  I've been avoiding long books at this time because if a good book grabs me, I can't put it down until I'm finished.  I'm not a chapter a day person.  So I read books that don't have a story sequence.  I'll save the epic novels for the cold weather months.

I came across this quote by Eric Maisel.  It made quite an impression since it has to do with why we create, whether it's baking, writing, woodworking, gardening or whatever drives one's passion to create.  

Love is the spirit that motivates the artist's journey.  The love may be sublime, raw, obsessive, passionate, awful, or thrilling, but whatever it's quality, it's a powerful motive in the artist's life.

Sometimes I'm in the obsessive catagory.  Other times I'm in the thrilling catagory.  But I've definitely experienced them all.