The Curmudgeon

My dad died last July. After 61 years of marriage, Mom was alone for the first time in her life. I've been inspired by her courage and determination as she has handled the things that have come up, learning to fly solo. 

Using a linen/cotton blend fabric, I drew the lines with my sewing machine. Putting the feed dogs down let me "draw" with the needle.

Whether it was maintaining their property, shooting rattlesnakes, or handling difficult decisions, she's taken it all on. I'm proud of what she has accomplished this year. 

Awhile back, I discovered that Dr. P. H. Martin's liquid watercolors wouldn't wash out of fabric. I used them to paint the background of this, giving it a washy feel.

Over the last weeks, as the anniversary of his death approached, I wanted to create something for Mom. I finally settled on a pillow she could keep on her bed. 

Detail of the torso and face. I appliqued his clothes on, machine embroidered his hair and hand stitched the face. I used a skin toned eye shadow for the face and hand bits, applied with a small makeup brush, then rubbed it in with a Qtip to set it. I then brushed off any excess.

Daddy loved to ride his bike well into his late 70s. His little dog, Peggy, was his adventure partner. Mom took a photo of them together one day that captures their very essence, which is a family favorite. It inspired this piece. 

Because the fabric is mostly linen, I was pretty sure I could needle felt wool roving into it. It worked beautifully. The dog is fuzzy and soft and feels right when I pet her.

The name, The Curmudgeon, was suggested by my daughter. That's what Dad called himself. As soon as she hit on it, I knew it was exactly right. In fact, I laugh everytime I say it. He was a character. 

The Curmudgeon, ready to sew into a pillow cover.

Although I've never done an art piece quite like this one, it was enjoyable. Fibers are a medium I have always loved, and this one gave me time to think about my parents and realize that while Dad may be gone from our sight, he certainly continues to go on in our lives. 

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Paint Two at Once

The women's organization at my church invited me to create images for Mother's Day gifts this year. I agreed to paint them and they would have prints made for the ladies.  I loved the idea and decided I'd do two very different themes for these pieces.   

Peony
10" x 8"
Watercolor batik on Arches cold pressed paper

As I drew them out with the mask pen and got them taped to my board, I decided to see how working on both at once turned out.  I didn't need two palettes for color since I was letting the paint mix itself on the paper. It turned out that as one layer was drying, I could put another layer down on the other piece.  There is a lot of lag time on this technique, and it didn't take much more time to do two than it did one.  

Wild Poppies
10" x 8"
Watercolor batik on cold pressed paper

I was pleased with the results and the prints turned out well. Then, I added glitter to the original poppy and gave it to my mother for Mother's Day. Someone else purchased the peony to remind them of their own mother, and it was gifts all around. And an enjoyable project. 

Thanks for stopping by! Alice   

Mobile Wall Hanging

When I stopped in at my daughter, Katie Kellogg's house on Tuesday after work, this wonderful thing was hanging in her living room.  She has a great eye for design, loves to work with paper- and this is a lovely piece.  

Her paper collection is very well stocked and contributes to so many great art pieces. This one was cut out on her Cricut machine thingy and is wonderful on several levels.  

Fun art by Katie Kellogg, mother of 5 and artist extraordinaire.  

The first level is just the patterns hanging there together making an eye-catching arrangement.  Add to that, the shadows cast on the wall behind add depth, while any movement of air brings it to life.  

A close-up of some of the disks in this piece.

The ability to think in a 3-D sense is one of her great gifts.  I've spent my life learning to make a 2 dimensional surface appear 3 dimensional.  She, on the other hand, figures out how to make 2-D things into 3.  And I admire that.  

Hollyhocks 2

The color scheme on this one got out of hand, but it turns out, I like out of hand! I just couldn't seem to stop with the layers. The deeper they got, the more fun it was.  

Hollyhocks, 2
Watercolor on Arches cold pressed paper
16" x 11"

Changing things up a bit in what and how I paint opened up my mind to all sorts of ideas for things I want to try.  I think I climbed out of my rut and remembered that there are many ways to express myself creatively.  Again. A good shake up is a necessary thing now and then. 

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

California Poppies

California poppies grow wild all over Southern New Mexico and Arizona each spring. You know the season is really here when the poppies turn the hillsides orange.

Among my earliest memories is of picking poppies for my mother and watching her put them in a jelly jar of water.

California Poppies
10 x 8 inches, on Arches cold- pressed paper
Photographing framed art is tricky, and the shot is wonky, but you get the idea..

This piece was painted to hang in my new office when I changed jobs in April. It brightens up the wall by my desk and makes me happy, and that's a good thing to have.

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Hollyhocks

After finishing the Poppies painting I wrote about a few days ago, I was ready to play around some more with the same techniques.  This time, I wanted to try a different color palette and darker background.  

The start of a new piece.  The stem creates a vertical division between the right and left parts of the plane. I was excited to see what I could do with those spaces.

I primed the paper again, a bit lighter than the previous painting, and drew the design with the Mask Pen on the dry paper.  

Adding the first colors pretty much sets the tone the subsequent layers will lean. 

Putting the first layer of paint down can be pretty random as most of it will be covered with subsequent layers as the piece progresses.  I wanted a realistic subject to be mixed with a less realistic background, hoping that mixing the two looks would make the flower shapes pop out visually.  

The finished piece, Hollyhocks
10" x  8" on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper
with glitter and sequins

Again, adding the glitter and sequins to the piece was so much fun.  Depending on where the painting is viewed from, the bling picks up light and catches the eye,  highlighting different parts of the design. I have no idea if this will be a style I use for the rest of my life or if it will be the bridge to a whole new concept, but in the meantime, it has been a worthwhile thing to try.

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Poppies, a New Concept

Recently I decided I need to shake things up a bit.  It felt like I was in a creative rut and needed to try something new.  After thinking about things for a few weeks, I decided to play with masking fluid and see what I could come up with.  

The primed paper and first layer of masking fluid

Using a Fineline Masking Fluid Pen, I drew the lines for the main shapes I wanted to portray on primed paper.  I wasn't as concerned with accuracy as far as botanical details as I was with the way the design looked.  It was fun to just draw what I liked until it pleased me.  

The lines of mask kept the paint from flowing outside of each shape, which I really liked

 

After the mask dried, I put down the first layer of color, letting the different mixtures blend and mix within the lines of mask.  I liked the way that looked and dropped in the color wherever I thought it would work.  

Each successive layer of paint and mask increased the depth of the design

After the first layer of paint dried, I applied more masking fluid with the same applicator I used before.  I added designs and lines over the blues and greens with the idea that as I added more paint to those areas, the mask would protect the lighter colors beneath.   

By the time I got to this point I was so excited it was difficult to wait for it to dry between steps

Alternating layers of color and mask, I built up the color depth and designs with each application.  The under-painting  I started with only showed up in the original lines.  I had two shades of reds that I allowed to blend together on the pre-wetted paper on the petal shapes, which was fascinating to watch. 

Poppies with Glitter and Sequins

20" x 14" on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper

Here's the best part- when the mask was removed and the whole thing was dry, I glued gold glitter in the centers of the flower shapes and turquoise and green sequins on the designs in random places! Glitter and sequins on a painting?  I wasn't sure if they would ruin the finished piece or add to it, but it was a grand experiment anyway, right?  I went for it, and it turned out to be the most fun piece of art I ever, EVER did... so far.  What a satisfying project.  

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Petrified Forest and Painted Desert Inn

Last fall we visited the Petrified Forest Nation Park.  It is near our home, so we decided to make a day of it.  There are several small hikes to get a good look at the countryside around and in the park and some really marvelous examples of petrified wood all over the place.  Sitting on the edge of the Painted Desert, it is fascinating country.  When the world opens up again and the wind dies down, I want to paint the scenes on site.  

My husband and I at the Petrified National Forest

We hiked around, including at the ruins of an old pueblo village, saw some great petroglyphs and enjoyed the visitor's center.  I always love the antics of the crows and there were plenty there to entertain me.  It's a small park, just enough for one day of exploration, but well worth our time.  However, at the northern end we came upon the historic Painted Desert Inn and that is what really caught my imagination. If you want to learn about it, this website will take care of that. I fell in love with that old building.  

 

The Painted Desert Inn has little rooms and hidden spots tucked away.  

Up the Back Stairs, 14" x  20"

So far, I've done two paintings inspired by the inn.  I love the warmth of the old, uneven masonry walls and the wobbly texture they create.  The views from the balconies of the Painted Desert are inspiring and I wandered around the place feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't live there.  

Done in gouache, this little piece was fun to paint.

7" x 10"

If you ever drive by it along I-40 and have a little time to explore, the park and inn are worth the effort to go see.  And maybe you'll even see me there. 

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Along the Right of Way

This little painting is one of my all-time favorites.  It is of a place I love to look at and is one of those pieces that practically painted itself.  I wish I could work this freely and instinctively all of the time. It is of a place I love to be; maybe that contributed.  Now and then we go to Albuquerque, N.M. along I-40 and this is part of the view on that drive.  It never ceases to thrill me because the light is always new and highlights something different to the eye. 

Along the Right of Way
Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches cold pressed paper
3.9" x 10"

My former job occasionally took me up in to Navajo country where views like this are everywhere. Each time I got to interact with the people who live on the Navajo reservation I came away feeling happy and connected- in some way I can't explain.  This painting expresses what I felt one day coming home from a senior center along this route.  The people were so kind and gracious during my visit and the love I felt for them nearly overwhelmed me.  I painted this piece soon after.  It was a two-fer; I got to express my emotions and solidify a memory.  Cool stuff.

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Staying Well and Happy

It's past time to get caught up.  Although I've let my blog lapse due to an enormous stress load, I have been creating art here and there.  I just didn't upload it or blog about it.  Self-expression is vital to human beings, in my humble opinion. For me, I tend to get grouchy when I wait too long to get creative.  Quite grouchy.

When work gets too demanding, I find painting on small paper means I can still get a painting done a couple of times a month.  Or so.  This is a Fall scene from our little, rural town. 7" x 10" on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper.  

After reading all of the nonsense on Facebook in recent months, I found myself getting pretty grouchy anyway.  It just turned out the best way to handle all of the contention, hatred, arguing, fake news, deciphering which new was fake, fear, the idiots, and unrest out there, was to paint.  I've been painting, and even moving into an area of self-expression I haven't spent much time in before.  More about that in the future.

We visited Mesa Verde, in So. Colorado this past fall.  This was a scene we passed along the way.  Also on Arches 140 lb., cold pressed paper and 7" x 10".  

So, I've sworn off of Facebook for a season in hopes that I will not catch the infection.  "What?", you ask, "Where did this nut lady hear that one can get Covid19 from social media??" Fear not, I didn't mean the dreaded Corona Virus.  This infection going around is way worse, I think.  That of fear, of limiting life, of feeling like I need to correct people whose beliefs are clearly, well, wrong, and all of that junk.  Creating stuff is the vaccination for that bug.  I hope you are creating as well.  I've had some really fun stuff come out of this past 2 months which I will post in coming days.

Thanks for stopping by, and be well! Alice

Weeks Bridge

Even though there has little action here on my blog, it doesn't mean there's been no action in my studio. Life has a way of sweeping me along in its wake now and then and the past year has been one of those times. 

This painting is a commission I took on last month of Weeks Bridge in Massachusetts. What in the world I was thinking is beyond me, but it is done and delivered. Whew!

Weeks Bridge

Watercolor on paper

22" × 30"

Wearing Her Green Skirt

Up in Navajo country lies some of my favorite county in the Southwest. Buttes and bluffs, dramatic light and deep, dark shadows always tug at me. I've been enjoying working on this piece over the past couple of weeks and loving the luminous characteristics of watercolors. I'm a desert girl to the bones. 

Watercolor on Arches cold pressed paper

14" x 20"

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Gouache in the Valley of the Gods

We took a little jaunt through Southern Utah and Colorado this summer. I can't even begin to describe the beauty and wonders we saw, but I can say that it could influence what I paint for years!  Here's a little gouache piece of the Valley of the Gods in Utah. Again, too dark, but I keep trying. One day...

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Gouache Practice

Painting with gouache is still difficult, but I keep trying. Recently, I tried the same subject twice for practice. It's still darker than I'd like, but I felt I learned from them. 

Both 9" × 12" on Arches cold pressed

Not masterpieces, but better than past efforts. And fun to do. A delightful, maddening medium. 

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Since November??

Yeah, it's been since November that I posted here. Time flies sometimes, and the past 8 months or so have really flown by. However, I haven't been totally idle creatively. Here's a little piece I did in May that brings me joy. 

Rest Stop
7" x 10"
On Arches cold pressed

Thanks for stopping by!

Kitchen Mural

This must be my lucky week; first I finished the silver vase painting and tonight I finally wrapped up the mural (I started in August) in my kitchen. Where the spurt of energy came from, I have no idea, but I'm thrilled to have a clean slate to start next week off with! Maybe it'll be a 2 week lucky streak.

Working with acrylics sitting inside the sink made for a tough project. Not my medium, not an easy posture to paint from. However, it's done and I can finally get the painting gear out of the kitchen. No procrastinators here, uh uh!

Thanks for stopping by- Alice

Bouquet

Finished, FINALLY finished! I may hack off the top 3 inches, but that'd be all I'd be willing to do. This has taken ages and I'm thrilled to be done.

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

When the Work Gets Too Precious

Does your work ever get so 'precious' that you lose sight of its importance? I lost perspective on this one and got so wrapped up in perfection that I stopped enjoying it. So I quit working on it, have stayed too busy to spend time on it and began to dread picking up my brushes. Silly, right?

This morning a good friend and artist associate, Andra Jensen, gave me some great advice. She said, "#1 Lower your expectations. I get stuck like that all the time. It often has to do with my expectations. You might be holding in your heart that it has to be one of your favorites ever, or a masterpiece, where it might help calm you to think of it as a study, or an academic/practice piece. (You could always cut it up later.) It might not be your favorite, but I can pretty surely guarantee it will be someone else's."

Oh. Of course. She is exactly right. And so, work will continue and all will be well with the world again. Thanks, Andra!

And thank you for stopping by- Alice

Dr. Ph Martin's Bombay Inks

Several weeks ago I purchased a set of Dr. Ph Martin's Bombay Inks on a whim. As much as I've loved using black ink in under-paintings, I thought I'd give a colored ink under-painting a try. Yesterday was the day to give the idea a go.

The flower shape I was working on needed to be a bright, in-your-face red. Using deep red makes shadow areas harder to define so I did an underpainting with the Bombay shade, "Aqua," a nearly viridian shade of  green. It worked out beautifully. The ink was smooth, easy to use and dilute and accepted paint over the top well. I think it's a technique I'll be using again.

Thanks for stopping by! Alice

Painting Silver

Begun today, full sheet and fun!