Entries Tagged as: art
Day 10, Subway Stories: Eliot
November 10th, 2013, Comments (6)
Today, I finished this painting, Subway Stories: Eliot. I had done the collage background previously, but it had been in a pile of "to finish someday" for a long time. I'm so glad I finished it up! It's the lastest in a series of Subway Stories pieces I've done. You can see more here. The background is collaged with subway maps, train schedules and phone book numbers. Within the figures, I've written what each person is thinking about. The series was inspired by riding the subway (called the T here in Boston) and wondering about the stories of all the people riding with me and in the trains that passed me.
Annabelle is sick today, she's caught my cold, so no pictures of her today, but she did manage to paint in her little book for a bit while I worked on my art.
Day 9, Night Bird
November 9th, 2013, Comments (7)
Today, I did some experimenting with texture and layering. I like the way the blue pops on the black, some of the skirt, some of the texture in the sky. I feel like I could do more futzing around with this one, I'm not satisfied with it, but I also felt the need to step away, so for now it's done. I may or may not come back to it.
Annabelle and I finished up her fairy wand today. She loved adding glitter glue to make it sparkle. I added some ribbon and tulle for a bit of extra fun. She turned me into a pumpkin. 
Day 8: Shining a Light
November 8th, 2013, Comments (13)
Another piece of intuitive art today. Started with paint, let it dry and came back to see this leaning figure and light. Another symbol that I repeat a lot, the lantern, came up again. I kind of like the mystery, not knowing what will come up as I work.
Annabelle was in fine form today after visiting her dad at his office. She gave everyone in the office an earful and didn't want to leave. Little extrovert! I loved how excited she was to draw when we got home though. She suggested using the ipad app (Drawing Pad, which is fantastic btw.) You can see her concentrating above and showing off her "colorful rainbow" below.
Day 6, Traveling Muses in the Forest
November 6th, 2013, Comments (11)
Another intuitive piece today. I started painting freely, let the piece sit and then pulled out what I saw. Today, what I saw were a trio of familiar figures, the Traveling Muses, who I've painted before (you can see the original painting here.) How funny to have them return!
And here's Annabelle working on painting her fairy wand purple. We planned to decorate more with glitter and ribbons after her nap, but she's taking a super long nap (and anyone who knows Annabelle, knows how rare that is!), so I think we'll finish it up tomorrow.
Day 5, Dropping Stars
November 5th, 2013, Comments (11)
Today, I decided to do an intuitive piece. I started with wet watercolor paper and fluid acrylics, painting in bits here and there. Then I let it sit and waited to see what I would see. I saw a beautiful silver/white dress. I started pulling that out and this is what came out: Dropping Stars.
When Annabelle heard her friend Ella was sick she said, "Maybe a make a heart to make Ella feel better?" So I cut out the shape and she made an intense drawing on it. Lots of love there!
Day 4: Hope
November 4th, 2013, Comments (13)
This was another image that has been in my head for a bit, but I wasn't sure exactly how it was going to come together until I started. Most things I do are this way. I start with an inkling and follow the process where it leads. This image was also inspired by a quote from an unknown author:
When the World says, 'Give up,' Hope says, 'Try it one more time.'
I created this piece with acrylic and ink and watercolor paper.
Annabelle asked to play with a green telescope today (random, I know!) Since we don't have one of those, I suggested we make one! She was SO excited about this idea. Before her nap, we painted a paper towel tube I had in the recycling bin with green paint. I told her it would be dry after her nap and then we could decorate it with stars. First things she said when she woke up was, "My telescope is dry now! Let's put stars on it!" While she was sleeping I found some star stickers in my stash of stuff, like the kind your elementary school teacher might have put on your school work. We put a handful on the telescope to decorate it. The telescope was used to find treasure, look at things around the room, and then it became a tube slide for figurines to fly down.
Day 3: Bring Down the Sky
November 3rd, 2013, Comments (15)
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Today's piece was one I've had in my head for awhile. I love how AEDM brings work out of me! It's acrylic and ink on watercolor paper and is an expression of this quote:
There are some griefs so loud
They could bring down the sky,
And there are griefs so still
None knows how deep they lie.
— May Sarton
Annabelle asked to paint when she saw me painting, so we painted together. She worked on a page in her farm animals painting book. So sweet!
Day 1: The Search
November 1st, 2013, Comments (21)
Hooray! Art Every Day Month has begun! I hope everyone had a good experience today. If not, tomorrow is a new day. For today's art, I had to squeeze my painting into a short nap, then finish up in the evening. I let this one just happen and here's what came out. It's called "The Search." I like the constellations, which were a sudden inspiration that I enjoyed running with. The piece is 8"x8" with acrylic and ink on panel.
The cutest thing happened today. I was out running errands with my 2.5 year old daughter, Annabelle and told her for the first time about Art Every Day Month. Her response: "I want to do art every day too!" Haha! I thought we might do AEDM together someday, but wasn't quite expecting it so soon! We are definitely creative every day together, it's impossible not to be, but to consciously think about creating each day together might be an interesting challenge. I'm not sure we'll have time each day to do and document something, but we will as often as we can. Today we made a necklace. She picked the order of the beads and strung the round ones. She was quite pleased with her creation.
Color and Commissions
April 7th, 2013, Comments (4)
I am enjoying this color theme so far, how about you? I've been playing with color in paint, in nail polish (purple toes), in colorful salads, and some turquoise clothing.
I thought I'd share a couple commissions that I've been working on this month. One is a commission that isn't quite done yet. I had to stop because I wasn't sure whether I wanted the dresses to be white as originally planned or pink with a white stripe and ties (I'm still thinking it over.) I still have to paint the moon and stars in and a few other small details, but I love how it's coming along. It took a long time for this image to develop. I was playing with the arrangement for months and the final idea came to me while I was in the shower! I was using the steamed up glass shower door as a sketchpad and the idea formed. My favorite part is that there is a subte heart shape between the mother and daughter figures. (It's 8"x10" with acrylic on canvas)
This one was a commission for someone who recently experienced a loss and wanted an image with a dragonfly in it. I love when this happens, the image came to mind as she was talking and it came together very quickly. (It's 6"x6" with collage, acrylic, and ink on panel.)
In a way they are (unintentionally) similar pieces! I seem to be liking these trees curving towards the moon and of course, the moon and trees are always big in pieces of my art. But the pinks are a bit different for me! I think it's Annabelle's influence.
Let her Sleep
March 8th, 2013, Comments (6)
I saw this Napoleon quote in a variety of places in the last year, on wall decals and a variety of etsy art, including an embroidered piece, sign, and a print. Even though Annabelle has never been one I've had to "let sleep" (she is a super duper early riser and not the best sleeper. Oy!), the quote still made me think of her, my little fire ball, who I think will move mountains for sure.
I wanted to do my own version of the piece and since the theme is black and white this month, I opted to do it in ink. It makes me happy. I think I'd like to do it bigger with paint and grays and purples. We shall see. Time is limited these days!
