Small Collage

Here is another small collage. Using all of these papers is making me feel good; I just need to do about a thousand more!

Small Collages

Using some of my old collage papers I have been working on some small collages. I am continuing on my project of using up or getting rid of all my old supplies. Since I like to work in series, I can do several small collages at the same time; and using the same colors and papers make them work as a series. I still have lots of papers!

Earth and Water

In this painting there was a more definite divide between the top area and the lower area, and I made the division less strong and merged the two areas more. I was thinking landscape with this, and I had the comment from a friend that it looks like where earth and water meet. That excites me since that is what I was thinking about it, and in the past I have worked with a series called "Water's Edge" which came from the same thought. Maybe my thoughts and paintings are becoming more cohesive!

Abstracted Landscapes

Here are two examples of abstracted landscapes. I can see that I am adding more "busyness" to this newest series "Free Like A Bird" (the second image) but I like both ways of doing paintings - just the bare essence and a busier version too. I am beginning to see a common thread with the landscapes. Also, it is interesting looking at some of my older work and doing new versions. Lots of fun doing the bird series.

Another Pollack-inspired

Here is another one of my Pollack-inspired paintings. I am now working with color fields and brush marks. This is so much fun, and I am really hoping I can develop this style and continue this series for a good while. I would love comments!

Pollack-Inspired

I just saw the wonderful exhibit "Picasso to Warhol" in Atlanta and was so inspired by all the art. I was especially interested in the early Pollack work that came and led into his dripping style. The paintings were done with very thick paint, maybe some palette knife, and had no center of interest. There was a lot of movement in the work done with repeating lines, shapes and colors. So - I have been working with this concept; and since I have always loved the idea of no center of interest, I am finding this fun and feeling that I finally understand this.

Notes to Myself

One more rejection! This painting also didn't make it into a show I entered. If I want to develop my style and be true to myself, I have to keep at this and not give in to pressure to keep doing what I have done in the past. This painting is one of several I have done that are literally notes to myself. I write my thoughts and then cover up...continuing until I am satisfied it is done.

Rejection

Here is a new painting that I really am satisfied with, but it got rejected from the latest art show I entered. I really can't put too much faith in what is chosen for a show; many times I have not thought I should have won prizes when I did, but it still raises doubts about the artwork when a juror doesn't choose it. I need to rely more on my own feelings.

Another Pallette Knife Flower Painting

I now have three of these 12 x 12" canvas paintings of flowers (non-objective) done with pallette knife. I think they might go together well as a triptych. I still want to do more of these and we will just see where it leads.

Palette Knife and the Color of Spring

I can't resist painting with lots of color when the flowers and trees are in full bloom here in the south. Even though I pay for the beauty with allergies to the pollen, I still love the dogwoods, azaleas and all the other wonderful plants blooming now. It is a little early for these to be in bloom, but our weather has been warmer than usual all year. So, with lots of color I am painting the series Carolina Spring.

Painting with White

I painted this bird with almost all white; the bird is white, and I thought it would be interesting to paint the whole painting white. There is a lot of texture so color didn't seem so important. This is just a sidetrack from non-objective work; I still like to see an image.

Abstraction

This latest painting, in contrast to the last one I posted, came about quickly. I had the plan to use mostly one color with just hints of something in the painting. I am satisfied with this as of now. I will check it again in a few days to see if I still am happy with it.

A Grid with Color

I have been working this canvas for quite some time now and have not come up with anything that I like. Today I have played with the grid and some color, always layering to see what happens. Although I didn't think of this at the start, I now feel a cityscape in this. Back to my roots in the city, I have made lots of green space!

Working with Texture

Today I am working with texture. I am doing a simplified landscape with lots of texture. I painted the whole canvas one color of blue/green and then painted over it with a dry brush to leave glimpses of the under layer showing through. Trying not to cover up so much!

More Notes to Myself

I have been working on "Notes to Myself" for quite awhile; it is a series of 12x12" canvases which literally have notes to myself written on them. Then I go about covering up the notes and seeing what happens. It is just another way of starting a painting, but sometimes I really have messages for myself that I would like to remember, and usually I can remember what the message is even if it can't be read! This one I can't decided which orientation I like the best.

Almost Finished

Is a painting ever finished??? I think this one is, but tomorrow I may see something that needs to be changed. I always say that as long as a painting is in my house, it is subject to change. Usually when I do see a needed change, I make a mark or two and pretty soon the whole thing is going in a different direction. I think for intuitive painters it is interesting to document the progression of a painting just to see where it has been and where it goes. As I said, I like this today.

Work in Progress 2

Here is the second round of work on the work in progress. I like it much better when more of the marks/shapes are faded out, and the movement is greater. I'll look again tomorrow and decide what needs to be done.

Work in Progress

Here is an image of a work in progress. I am working with repetition on shapes and covering up. I wanted to make an over-all color statement and have lines and shapes moving throughout the painting. I like working this way - making marks and then covering up. Maybe a little more work and hopefully this will be finished.

Grid Without a Grid

So, now my intention with this painting, and a few others yet to come, is to paint as if I had a grid but not really having a recognizable grid. I just imagine that there is a grid and paint around the surface as is lines were there. I like working like this and plan to do a series in this way.

AARP Post

I have posted this painting to the AARP website Expressive Drawing group and have made several changes to it. I found that my paintings are looking a lot brighter/lighter on the computer than they actually are so I have tried to modify to make them look more as they really are. This painting was looking really bright at first, but I have darkend it to look more like the painting. Also, I modified the red area so it is not so dominant, and I have received the comment that it is "energetic and calming". I like this description!

Grid Again

Working with a grid again and very high-key values. I have tried this as a horizontal and verticle diptych, and I think I like the verticle best. I am enjoying the scratching through the paint and using one overall color with little value changes.

Grid

I keep going back to the grid; I guess I really like working with one. This painting is another one that I say is "Notes to Myself" as I actually write notes to myself and make some marks and symbols and then start covering up. It keeps me from having any recognizable form in the painting. Fun!

Concentration of Design Elements

Here I am working with color and texture as the emphasis for the painting. I am making my goal this year to finish all unfinished paintings/drawings or throw them away. Many of my paintings are about horizons and landscapes, but I am trying to make them more abstract than in the past. Concentrating on one or two design elements seems to help with that.

Meaning

A college painting instructor told me that abstract/non-objective work does not need to have any meaning, and I have learned to appreciate the energy of a work of art. But - for me I think I still need a meaning, whether it be an image that I see in the painting or the concept that I was working with. Maybe that is the conceptual approach to non-objective art, not just energy but also the thought. Some works go quickly and some take forever; this one which I call "Everything Under the Sun" went quickly, and I think I am satisfied with it and it is finished.

Working with a Grid, Again

I am working with a grid again and am planning to add a third painting to this diptych to make a triptych. I call these paintings "Just Fun" which is what they are. I like working this way, and I like working with 12 x 12" canvas and making a triptych 12 x 36"; so it is "just fun" for me.

Painting from Photo

Here is the painting I am doing with the previous photo as inspiration. I loved the scene that had almost no visible horizon line but I didn't want the painting to be quite as dark as the photo so I lightened it up and added a little color.

Another Photo to Paint

Here is another photo that I took at the beach last week. It was first thing in the morning, and there was really no visible horizon line. It is, not unusual for it to be very cloudy and overcast at the beach in the early morning, soon to burn off when the sun starts coming out. Since I have been working on a series of Horizons in my paintings, I thought this was a perfect addition - a barely visible horizon line. Also, I loved the bright white spot on the water. I will post a picture of the painting when done.