in the studio

This week I really dove back into painting. I'm working a lot smaller, so it's going quite a bit faster. I finished three paintings and started another...

softly below, acrylic, 11" x 14"

into, acrylic, 8" x 8"

still, acrylic, 8" x 8"

untitled wip, acrylic, 8" x 8"

Out of the studio, I managed to see several shows Melissa Washburn at the Towle Theatre and Lou Shields at Paul Henry's on Friday and They Pass Unseen in the World at SideCar on Saturday, which featured collaborative woodblock prints.

Throwback Thursday

We've having an early fall here in the Midwest, which followed an unseasonably cool summer. This painting is from mid September last year. Leaves were starting to very small spots, but it was not this cool. Fall shows up faster in the weeds on the side of the road and in the evolution of the prairie grasses. fall is coming is currently at Paul Henry's Art Gallery.

fall is coming, acrylic, 4" x 6"

postcard swap #3: the art

For this swap, we had 13 artists representing eight states and the UK. A giant thank you to all the artists who joined and sent out artwork. I hope you are all enjoying the new piece of artwork you received. Click on each artist's name for a link to their website, blog, or other internet contact.

Lori Hutton

Kerri Mommer

Suzanne Levine

James Kalin

Dawn Diamantopoulos

Cathal Lindsay

update: The second blog post of art can be seen here.

postcard swap #3: the art (part 2)

I'm happy to present another six pieces of artwork from this summer's postcard swap. In each swap, artists sign up and are randomly given another artist's address to send a postcard sized piece of artwork. In return they get a piece of artwork from another artist, thereby connecting them with two (usually) new artists. Click on an artist's name to connect to them directly. Links are available for everyone who provided one.

Jennifer Billig

Mary Schons

Leslie Lambert

Jerry Shawback

Julia Spencer

Frank Rigg

This wraps up the 3rd postcard swap! You can see the first batch of art here. The postcard swap will return after the holidays.

in the studio

This week, I've been working through softly below. It is still working and I am happy with where it is heading, although it is not where I thought it would be. I am impressed that the green is still there. It is a painting based on moss, so it should be green, but I didn't expect the green to stay, because it often doesn't. I should have it finished in the next day or two. 

softly below, wip, acrylic, 11" x 14"

I've also started a commission piece, which is a little outside of my usual range. I am generally reluctant to do these things, although I always surprise myself. I was asked last week, Is there nothing you can't do? And it was a compliment. But I don't really think of myself as that unstoppable. Maybe I should.

Out of the studio, I had a full week. I saw a printmaking/assemblage demo and artist talk through Illiana Artists by Corey Hagelberg. I really enjoy seeing other artists work. You can always learn something, even if the work is not in your style or media. And there was printmaking, so I really couldn't not be there. While there I was invited to be in a show next month, in a gallery where I haven't previously shown. This was a great way to end the evening/start the week. I have work in two shows which opened this week. I have five paintings in this year's Oliver Brown Show at CornerStone. This is an annual members exhibit for 119th Street Artists. My work was well received and two different people expressed interest in one of the paintings. Today was the opening of the Salon Show at South Shore Arts. This was my third time entering the exhibit, but the first I was accepted. It is the most prestigious show in this area. Several friends were also accepted into the show and it was nice to see some other friendly faces there. Rumor has it I almost won an award. But you know, almost and horseshoes or something like that. But... I was invited to be in another show for November in another gallery where I've never shown while I was there. So two openings and two invitations for shows. It was a good week.

And if you missed the #postcardswap post, check out the art here.

Throwback Thursday

A quick throwback post while I work on the postcardswap posts. Be on the lookout for that tomorrow. I am gallery sitting and this piece is in the current show at Studio 659.

worst enemy, acrylic and ink, 16" x 20"

blog hop! (meet the artists)

Anjuli Johnson of The Far Pavilion asked me to be a part of a blog hop. I know Anjuli from a mixed media art group over on google+. She uses a lot of quilling in her work, which is super cool, but you will never see me do it, because I lack the patience to try it.

I worked my way back through a bunch of blog links and this blog hop has featured artists all over the world. We each answer the same questions and then introduce you to two new artists.

How does my creative process work?

I try to make art everyday, whether I feel like it or not. I do something. Last year, when I challenged myself to make #art365, I completed 216 works. That doesn't count the little sketches, and that counts printmaking editions as a single work. 216! I got a lot accomplished. This year I'm a little easier on myself. I'm still working on art every day, but if I spend the day matting and framing for a show, I don't give myself a guilt trip until I make some new art. Anyone who is truly working, and not just dabbling, knows there is a lot of behind the scenes work, admin work, prep work, which isn't actually creating. And yet it is necessary. This is pretty much a mantra for me: One day I will have a studio assistant. (or two!) 

What's on the easel right now. I'm writing this post while layers dry.
I know it doesn't look like much yet.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Genre is a little tricky for me. I had two really divergent bodies of work, and I made on conscious effort to bring them together. And then I started the #art365 challenge, which made a lot of small abstract landscapes which weren't really related to the rest of my work and then printmaking happened... I try to follow my inspiration. That being said, I do think in terms of creating cohesive bodies of work. My work is emotionally driven and color has always played an important role in my work. And, I think (at least I hope) that when you see them all, you do see a thread connecting them, even though all the work is not the same. 

willow, gouache, 4" x 6" #art365

What am I working on now?

I'm working on a series now which I call #art365:heartland. The small abstract landscapes I was working on became more complex this winter. This had a lot to do with a change in media - from acrylic to gouache. Two different artists, one of whom is Cathal who you will 'meet' shortly, commented on the depth of the pieces. (One of his comments was something along the lines of: I bet she knows all the good places to hide bodies.) I then started making these landscape pieces bigger, and on canvas, and that became the heartland series. There's a lot of layering, which yields really rich darks and lights which glow. These are real places. Nature is wild and messy. It grows where it can. 

waiting on a change, acrylic, 16" x 16" #art365: heartland

Why do I do what I do?

Making art keeps me almost sane.


And onto the introductions...

I got to know both of these artists through google+, and I have to say it's pretty amazing that I never would have met them any other way, and now we are following each other all over the internets.

Julia Spencer describes her work as Beauty out of Chaos. I first got to know Julia's work in the same mixed media group where I met Anjuli. She seemed to be looking for her voice, and has since found it. Her work is full of gratitude, hope, endurance, and love. She draws and paints (usually together) and is quite a good photographer. Find her on google +, facebook, twitter, instagram.

Coming Undone, Julia Spencer

Cathal Lindsay is a non-representational painter, and I don't know quite how I connected with him, other than it was on g+. He pretty firmly had my attention when working on a series inspired by Piranesi. His current series are procedural works, where he lists a set of rules and paints according to the roll of a die. He posts a lot of in progress photos, so you can watch how a particular piece evolves. Find him on google+, facebook, twitter, and his website.

Procedural Painting V1.0.1, Cathal Lindsay

Throwback Thursday

We go everywhere together!

BFFs, 2011, walnut ink, 12.5" x 12.5"