Todays work

Have you ever had the sort of day that you can't wait to get into the studio, only to be at a loss of what to create once you arrive?  That was the way my day began.  The past several days have been rather dreary weather wise, which has always affected my moods.  ( I could never live in the Pacific NW).  Anyway, I awoke this morning to sunshine and the urge to go down to the studio. My studio is in our basement, and although it has windows, and a lot of overhead lighting, it can still feel dark to me if the weather is dreary.

I watched a bit of TV as I puttered around trying to decide what to create.  I ran across an article by Misty Mawn in an old Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, where she is sharing her background techniques among other things.  So that is how I spent my morning, making backgrounds.  It was a lot of fun and now that they are dry, I am looking at them to see what they are showing me.  In the blue one, I see a womans body, and in the mauve one I see two large birds.  Not sure what the others are saying, but I guess I know what I will be drawing tomorrow.....weather permitting! lol

Things I'm working on....

What I am sharing today is a painting I did that taught me to never give up.  I started the painting as 12 x9 as opposed to 9 x 12.  I painted several trees and blotted on paint to add the spring buddings.   It very fast turned into a hot mess. lol.  Instead of throwing the canvas out, as I would have in the past, I decided to try to make lemonade out of lemons.  I added with stamped pattern pieces, paper napkins, paint, and painted on a face.  It is not my favorite painting, but it taught me to keep at it and see what can happen.

What I found......

As spring is arriving, so is my need to clean out my studio.  I am a firm believer in getting rid of anything I have not used in a year or so.  When it comes to art, I feel some what the same.  I say some what because I have purchased things and not used them for years, only to find a use for them much later.  I am thinking about having a spring cleaning sale on Ebay in a week.  I considered my Etsy site, but I haven't had much luck there in the past year.
Okay, so while cleaning and re-arranging my studio, I found two 5x5 stampbord boxes.  Since I have fallen in love with Zentangles, I decided to use my doodles on the lid.  Check it out...

Like perhaps many of you, I have a few unfinished art pieces.  I came across this painting and am in the process of finishing it.  I am struggling with the angelic wings, and need to find a way to make them pop.  I also plan to add a saying or word using my newly learned calligraphy.  The painting is done on a wood panel.

Calligraphy and Zentangles

As mentioned in my previous post, I am taking an on-line calligraphy class; and I also purchased a Zentangles kit on ETSY.  Here are photos of my first three Zentangle tiles, and calligraphy lettering.  I enjoy both of these art forms... they are really relaxing.  As I get better with the calligraphy, I think it will be fun to use in my paintings.

I'm still here...

Oddly enough, I have not felt much like blogging lately.  Not in a bad mood or anything, just not much to say or share art wise.
I have been taking a few new on-line classes, Brush calligraphy, Itallic Calligraphy, Shades of Gray, and probably another that I can't think of right now.  All great classes and instructors.
I  am looking into classes being offered by the Art League here in the DC area.  My thought is that I might benefit from having a teacher in the room who will critique and provide guidance.  I have the need to learn my own process and not re-create someone else's style.   This is my second year of painting with acrylics and I am still a bit in awe of them.  My drawing has improved, but I still don't know where I want to go with my painting.
My husband and I are going to visit the facility this weekend to get a feel for the location and to view the artists studios.  I really hope I will be inspired.....
I have also started Zentagles.  This is really a fun and relaxing art form.  I'll post pictures in s day or so.