Jan 10, 2009

What a day! It was very frustrating! I worked on my "Sadie" portrait for most of the afternoon and have nothing to show for it. It was just one of those days----I just could not find my "happy place". No matter what I did the brush stokes were just all wrong. Finally I took the gesso and painted out the days work. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be in a better place and get something accomplished!

One thing I will touch on today is my "life" transition. I went from having a studio and a 1000 sq feet of workspace to an rv with less than 400 sq feet. I do miss that. The peace and quiet of my studio. Not having to "clean up" before quitting for the day. Having everything at my fingertips and that glorious feeling of "spreading out"--strewing my creative juices everywhere. Now, I'm forced to be organized, forced to work in a small area surrounded by my love ones, forced to clean up my mess every night. Maybe that's why I can't find my "happy place"---I'm in a period of adjustment........still trying to find what works best in my small space......still adapting to all the changes I have made in my life. If I had it to do over, would I give up my studio and move into an rv----you bet ya! I don't have to worry about paying the rent or meeting deadlines or marketing. I don't have to worry about shoveling snow or salting sidewalks. I'm finally able to travel---to see what I have never seen before and experience what I have never experienced before---I get to do it on my terms and my time table---best of all I get to do it with my soulmate and the two other loves of my life, my furbabies! I know I will eventually figure it all out. There will always be those days of frustration, but I'm learning to look beyond that and see all the blessings in my life.............and they are many

Wow, two post in one day! This is Sadie. The top photo is the one I am working from for the portrait. I started this portrait a while back, but life and tendinitis made me put it aside for awhile. As you can see from the next photo, I have a ways to go. I'm working with Atelier Interactive acrylics for the first time. The surface is a portrait grade, 9x12 canvas. I already see a few corrections. The roll of fat in front of the eyes seems to have gained a bit more weight, especially around the eye area. I'll need to pare that down a bit. I also think my blacks are a little to intense, so I'll work on an adjustment there. The
lighting in the original photo is a little harsh. I will have to play with that a bit.

I'm not sure about the background color as of yet. I'm leaning toward the greenish-brown in the photo, but I sure like that "pop" of coral in the foreground. I just don't want that color to overtake the portrait.

Still waiting for some supplies to start work on my window treatment project. So many projects, so little time! I tend to jump around on projects. Keeps life interesting, if not a little confusing............but that's me

Here is a bit more on the sofa table. Sorry about the clutter behind it--still trying to find a "place" for everything in my new home. I decided against the vine work and I have continued the "mottled" texture on the legs, top, and sides. I'm pretty happy with it right now. I need to let it "rest" awhile in my mind before continuing with any other elements. I'm thinking I might like to see hydrangea petals on the "lip" surrounding the table top. Just to get another texture and a bit of that purple color.

"Two Bad Dogs", thanks for your comment. I love sofa tables too, but I never thought I would be able to have one in our rv. Finding this little mini sofa table was a great discovery for me!

Jan 2, 2009

I know this is not my window treatment project, but at least it is a project. I bought this unfinished sofa table to go behind my chairs in our fifth wheel. It works great, so now it is time to get some creative juices flowing again. I decided on a pale green---that is picture one. Next I began working on the legs. I used the original pale green, a brighter lime green, and a darker green. I worked wet into wet to achieve a nice mottled effect. Picture two shows the
legs and the hydrangea plant that is my inspiration for the piece. I'm trying to decide if I want some vines and leaves on the legs or leave well enough alone. I'm also thinking of doing the mottled green look on the top of the table, filling in the rim with hydrangea petals.

Sure feels good to be painting again. I'll keep you updated as this continues.......questions, comments are always welcome and I'll post the answers here on the blog.

My goodness, has it been a month since my last post. Here it is Christmas and I have yet to get started on those window treatments. I'll bet you all can guess what my New Years Resolution will be............

At last, I'm going to be getting my "artistic" paint brush out and dusting off the cobwebs. I just finished up the last project for the house and now we are readying ourselves for moving back into our fifth wheel for the journey southwest. My first artistic endeavor will be for the fifth wheel. We are replacing the window blinds and I'm designing some new window treatments. I'm going to be sewing some drapery panels and painting the valances on canvas! Sound a little crazy......well stay tuned I will be posting some photos as things progress. My husband just finished the cornice framework, so I will be starting the paintings very soon. I'm so looking forward to putting my own artistic stamp on our fifth wheel home. The interior is very nice, but there are hundreds more out there just like it and frankly it is a little to "beige" for me. Time for some COLOR and STYLE!

I'm afraid I'm going to have to put all my art endeavors on hold for awhile. The house has to be my priority at present. We need to get it on the market before summer is over and time is flying by........so many things to do and so little time to do them in! My reward will be great, for once the house is over and done with I will be able to focus all of my attention on my art. That is the prize at the end of it all and that is what keeps me going.