Throwback Thursday

This week's throwback is backlit. Last night I was driving into the sun and was nearly blinded. Right near Wicker Park the trees were nearly blackened out because they were backlit, and it reminded me of this piece.

backlit, acrylic, 5" x 5"

A quick reminder: there will be no in the studio post this Sunday, as I will be blissfully away from interwebs and off the grid for the better part of the holiday weekend. 

in the studio

This week I kept working on far from the stars, or the forest for the trees. And I didn't think about the title once, so I still don't know if that's what the finished piece will be called. And I forgot to take pictures on most days. But...

I did work on this.

This is a synthetic rubber block, approximately 4.5" x 2.75". Dick Blick* carries lots of sizes in their stores, and I picked up the smallest, because I wasn't sure if I would like it. I loved it. It was so easy to cut - I guess the E-Z-Cut name is here is appropriate. It cut like butter, and I will get more of them. It is thick enough to carve both sides but after looking at it again, I don't think I will, because I did cut a few spots really deeply.

The test print above has single printing in the bottom section and layered printing on the top, including some upside down. I wasn't very careful with this printing, in terms of registration, etc, because I just wanted to see how it looked repeated and if the carving was alright. This is block ink on printmaking paper. The blockiness wasn't really going to work in this painting, but I rolled from the center out and left the edges uninked. Note: the painting is printed with acrylic paint not ink.

And here is where I have ended the week. I have about 3 super thin layers of paint over the tree trunks on top of the printing. Still a wip. Hope to finish this up next week.

 Also this week, saw some shows and showed some support for other artists. Bad Business opened yesterday at Paul Henry's. On Friday I went to Brauer Museum of Art to see Tom Brand and Carole Stodder but really liked two of the other shows: Fred Frey and Jeanette Pasin Sloan.

Next week: There will not be an in the studio post. I will be off the grid for the Holiday weekend. I'll be taking a sketchbook and a camera, and hope to come back with lots of inspiration.



*Dick Blick did not pay me to say this. I really did like it. But if someone at Dick Blick wants to pay me to say this, or send me samples to "review" then I would totally be okay with that.

Throwback Thursday

It is dreary here, so today's throwback is something more springy. I chose this one, because it ties into the last painting I finished, of the same view.

pear, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7" (5.2.13)

in the studio

This week finished a painting and started a new one, went art supply shopping in Chicago, and went to a few openings.

future sweetness, acrylic, 16" x 24"

I had a potentially brilliant idea/solution which I will be trying out on this piece in the next week. This is a couple of layers in. I'm not sure how many, I wasn't very good about photographing it this week. oops. Still a wip and still untitled. Original title idea: far from the stars and possible new title idea: the forest for the trees. Could end up a combination of the two, or something entirely different.

untitled wip, acrylic, 16" x 24"

Up next: I bought some more stretchers so more painting and a surprise for the above piece.

Finally, it's Mother's Day today. So Happy Mother's Day to all of you who love and nurture others. I hope you were able to do something for yourself today. Remember that you can't take care of someone else if you aren't taking care of yourself. 


It's okay to be selfish.

Throwback Thursday (and surprise sale!)

This week's throwback is a two-fer. These two america paintings from 2012 are currently at Paul Henry's Art Gallery in Hammond. They will be there until Tuesday when I swap them out for some new work. The thing is, I don't really want to bring them home. So if you buy one (or both!) from Dave at Paul Henry's, they'll be half price. Really.

hope, acrylic, 30" x 40"

flow, acrylic, 36" x 48"

in the studio

This week: I now have 5 paintings up at Hammond Public Library. bad penny is upstairs and it looks like it was made to hang on that wall. The wall paint color is perfect. I don't have a great picture of that. Just trust me on that, or go see it if you are local to NWI! My work will be up through the end of June.

Also this week was the season opening at Beverly Shore Depot Gallery, where I am featured artist for May. My work will be up all summer, but there's a bit extra this month. It's a lovely space in the train station.

The studio cleaning has continued and I now have room to paint again. Yay! I've started a piece called future sweetness. And while I haven't set up the time lapse camera, I have made a point to photograph each layer. And I turned that into a quick movie so you can watch it evolve. I should have it wrapped up next week.

Throwback Thursday

This week's throwback is am #art365 from last year. We've had a late spring, so most of the magnolias have lost just a few petals. We aren't yet at the carpeted lawn stage.

magnolia petals, scattered, acrylic, 5" x 7"