Lost and Found

Well we've managed to move with what seems everthing intact - including our minds, or at least most of our minds, thanks to my inventory list!

I did my first painting in the new house today! A little 6"x8" of a bowl cup with oranges. Sadly I've misplaced my camera after taking pics of my boys with their new very short hair cuts.

On the happy side (as if I could be happier than getting to paint and finish a painting), we have started our garden and we've got 7 newly hatched chicks since moving into our little farm. We don't have a phone line yet which makes internet connection very challenging. Out phone company can't find our phone poles. (???)

So...I might not be back soon but I will...

BE BACK!!

BOXING MATCH

I've been working on the larger painting and have put it aside due to feeling overwhelmed. Then I started a 25cm square piece... and that also had it's drama so I put that aside. Then I tried a 6x8in with a tried and true still life and it came out so...Carol Marine. It came out so CM that I'm not going to post it! I'm not teasing you!!! I just don't want anyone to think I'm trying to pass off her stuff as mine! I'm not going there she's to inspiring and amazing and real.

So then...I started (again maybe too big and bold and eager) a larger painting (I have no idea the size...maybe 8x10in??) with a green on green idea...oh it's too funny. I was basically painting in the dark and getting very cross eyed before I gave up and remembered why I don't paint in the evenings. I don't yet have good lighting.

Now...you are asking about the boxing match...well. Good News...we finally found our farm for rent. We are sooo very excited. I've already got about 18-20boxes packed, inventoried and labled. Now I have about 130 more to go. Plus all the other stuff. So you might not see many paintings here till ...September/October?? I might try again a little 6x8 baby just cause I'm so inspired by other moving artists who've managed to keep painting during the process. Perhaps I'm crazy? Packing myself with my four small kids/homeschooling, keeping up the kids classes, no babysitter, and still manage to paint....gosh...I think I might be crazy.

Hardly Finished

I am working on a larger painting...it's about 43cmx41cm. It's taking a bit of time as I departed from my original still life colours. So...while you wait I thought it would be funny to share with you a peek into my "studio space". Yes those are packing boxes. My space is in the room I store all our boxes in. We moved into the house with short term plans but we have been here for about 18months now! I continue to keep things in boxes with the expectation that we will be moving soon. It's a long story...not worth telling.

Enjoy the rest of your day!!

Out of this World!

"Round Pegs and Square Holes" (25cm square? I'll double check! Tomorrow. It's very late.)

What do you think of that for a title? Any other suggestions? Maybe... Bombs away? I really loved this painting. It was my own composition and I had to work out fabric folds as well. Then came the challenge of making the counter top look "real" and then there was a huge challenge because I needed the real surface and yet I wanted the "painterly" feel... Ah...what a great time I had working it all out. I'm sad to say the reason I haven't posted till now was due to a battle I've been having with light. I must have taken ten pictures of these two paintings in a myriad of light/settings etc etc. And still I have that spray of glare. Alas alack these were the best and I thought you might be tired of waiting.

....Titles??? Suggestions? I'm listening???

This is a picture of a favorite summer swimming spot on the Palmiet River. The sun and the water and all was so wonderful that day. I took loads of pics. This is a small study (6x12in) I am hoping to make it in a 12X24in ...soonish. Ah... OH... NEWS FLASH.... I am taking these two paintings plus my 6X8in apples to a gallery tomorrow. They seemed very keen at the informal first venture. AND I've sold three paintings as well! No they aren't posted on the site...I will get them here. I will attempt to make it tomorrw as it is my dedicated Painting Day. Things are hectic at the moment and my hubby is away...only returning late tomorrow. I will do my very best.

Please don't be shy now! I love to know what you are thinking.

Update:

I am still here. Often the family needs are the greatest... so there was that and then there is my art class being canceled AND my camera malfunctioned again. The family needs are calming (slightly), the art classes are resumed - I've realized I've got to keep going if only to be able to paint once a week. I just don't have the space at home to make it yet. My camera is going to be replaced and upgraded to a new one. Let's hope this one works!

So...maybe you can see my newest painting by...next week??? Or today??? I'm waiting for the camera to arrive.

We are going away the weekend and Tuesday is a holiday (I need to find out what Holiday it is!). Have a lovely weekend!

Small Fry

This is a painting exercise for my art class. I wanted to do it because I've always wanted to paint fish but I always get so nervous about it. It's a painting of a painting...Those bother me. I don't learn as much as I feel I could if I had the real thing sitting in front of me challenging me to decide the colors. What I did try to manage in making it my own was to re-frame it and focus on my version of it's focus.

I've got a great picture I took down at the river this summer...have a fabulous idea for this...I'm hoping to work it out soon.

PS...just realized I haven't signed it! I'll sign it and repost this.

Basking in the Glow

Here as promised here's my 6X8" baby... I wiped the bowl of pears in the exact center of the picture!

I am pleased with this first attempt and particularly the reflections. I'm also very pleased...well actually that I finished it!!

The photo is the best I could get from my light/time.

Any comments?

The Journey of a thousand steps...

Well...I'm in a very reflective mood again but what I want to impart is something MORE. My goal is always MORE...there is always more there is great ABUNDANCE to be had - always. I find lots of people are more comfortable in a box or with limits...I'm not. Direction is good...limit is ...limiting. Boundaries are also good...limits are different but similar. It's a long discussion...so let's go to the point!

FIRST...THANK YOU so much Susan(her blog Painting Daily is a huge inspiration to me)...I am so very honored and humbled by your Lemonade Award. Funny I was considering painting Lemons last week! As with you this may take me a few days to respond to properly and I would very much like to do my best to attain that goal! Thank you so much again.

SECOND...This is officially the last month I am going to pursue painting in my art class. It's the second painting I've come home so frustrated about that I just wiped the whole mess. I felt so...disappointed with my ability to verbalize my idea and cowing to the beliefs of my teacher who's favorite sentence when asked WHY for the umpteeth time is "Because that's what I told you." Now...I must make the point that I have said this ONCE in my parenting journey and I loathed the experience so having my teacher do this to me is very unnerving. I changed the entire direction of my painting based on those words of hers and I hated it. I told my self it's fine because the goal is to paint small and to paint something more loose and "quick" like a daily painter. The goal was to finish it in my 2 hour class. Well...you must be kidding. BUT...I will continue for the rest of this month to make a point to myself. I can disagree and still be agreeable because the other person is responsible for their response??? How does that sound? I must be authentic to me...that's the long and the short. I must paint for me.

THIRD...The posted picture is my elder two boys being absolutely silly (in case you missed that!) the night before their Daddy was to return home. He's leaving again after two days home. We are hoping to have him for the coming weekend. So...when Susan says I'm a busy Mom...well...sorta.... I'm a looney Mom. I'm trying to paint/draw daily (I'm managing once a week at present...but at least that's something!), mange being a unwife/unmother/unhomemaker and knit. I'm homeschooling...this is SO great check out SelfDesign Global .We do a sort of enthusiasm led learning. I'd list all the other things I squish into my time but...those are my focus points (I think..;).

So those are the big points. Thanks, Be Authentic to self, and Be Silly!

I'll post a picture (good, bad or unfinished...by ....let me see....let me be realistic...uh...WHY?) ok... Tuesday evening: 12 May 2009

How are you doing with your life goals??

Wow...didn't think this tiny pic would down load...but here she is. Is it boring? Please let me know. This is my play on white on white...I know...the stamens and background aren't...I know. That's the whole play! See?

Hope you enjoy it!

Still Here!!!

Ah yess...an exciting underpainting. I'm working on the colour now...I've made some changes (wish I'd done them in Acrylic!!) But I'm impatient too...

I'm trying to do a white on white but I think it's getting a bit too colourful. We will see tomorrow. I will try and finish it tomorrow.

Hubby was sick...then me...then Easter...now Mother's Day..blah blah. It goes and goes. Grab and ride it hey?

Our Photo shoot seems to have given beautiful photo's. I will try to share one...think the file might be too big. I'm not techy so I have no idea how to make stuff smaller either!

Hope you all had a great Easter. Please remember to plan for Mother's Day!