Happy Holidays & Happy Slides

The Germans will say, “Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!” which when literally translated means, a good slide into the New Year. I find that expression so funny and when I say it, I picture people on trash can lids sliding on snow into a new year.

It is a complete visual morphing of two cultures because for one, German trash cans don’t even have the same lids as American ones do. I think this is the way my mind works often. In these strange visual word associations.

2019 contained much gold leaf in my art making and some experimenting. Perhaps I should have bought bananas and duct tape instead. Have you followed some of the news events surrounding this? So much truth there and so much absurdity at the same time.

I also revisited a few childhood fairy tale illustrations by Hermann Eichhorn this year, simply for play. They are from a block puzzle set I once played with as a child. It probably has some tape on it too.

Within the set, there were a few fairy tale scenes I always favored above others. I would make sure that when I put the box away, they would be facing upwards. And never ever, would I leave the pieces all jumbled like in the picture I included below.

As the year end approaches, I wish you a very festive holiday season and a good beginning to a new year!

Thank you so much for your investment in my art this year. If you have acquired a painting, I hope you are enjoying it as much as I enjoyed painting it. I am so happy it has found a happy home.

This image of the block puzzle set is from this Etsy shop .

PS after December 15th, the online shop will be closed for updates and a little bit of hibernation.

Stay Golden

CONFESSION: Sparkly things have been distracting me. I’m feeling as if the Golden Girls have met Château de Versailles . . . but on paper.

I’m even buying frames in gold?!?! I used to loathe gold and now, I’m finding the more sparkle the better.

Today is my birthday and I’m 44. I’m wondering if I’m attracted to the glitter shimmer to make up for the “diminishing” that middle age brings in. I now need reading glasses- especially in the mornings and evenings, back pain is a new companion of mine and well, those younger people are just so plugged in. How do they even have all the opinions they do about the planet? The world, coffee, sustainable clothing and politics??? I can’t keep up. But I want to and I’m glad they are here. They care deeply about meaningful things and know how to have a good conversation.

I guess i’m thinking about these things because this year I noticed that I am too old for certain art calls. And I had four consecutive weeks where I really could do very little due to pain. So the fact is, I’m in a new season. What am I going to do with it?

Try to embrace and stay golden, I suppose. Oh, and the yoga for the back.

King Midas in His Garden

I find the myth of King Midas and his golden wish contains a few modern parallels. The bird appears to have it all, yet he still feels his life lacks luster.

Ultimately he migrates swiftly from euphoria to despair. And back again.

Beware of the man with the Midas touch.

detail of watercolor with gold leaf

Himmelblau und Morgenrot

How do you describe the color of the sky?

This summer my creative focus has been on color study, observing and learning descriptors, qualities and names. Many of the techniques were based off of a wonderful older book titled Watercolor Technique by watercolorist Rex Brandt. The introduction provided such an accurate and beautiful description of painting in the medium that I knew this was a man to learn from.

I ordered a copy of this man’s writings for my personal library simply because of this one quote.

The artist’s feelings and thoughts cannot be readjusted, buried or hidden. (Rex Brandt)

Paper and water carry the painter’s emotion through the tiniest bit of pigment. Yet the choice of pigment matters.

These included studies in color, transparency, layers and value. I played in washes and observations. I visited museums and spent time outdoors soaking in hues throughout the day.

Versions of color studies can be seen within the newly opened Bauhaus Museum in Weimar. People love a color wheel. My appreciation for color studies began last summer with a visit to the Cooper Hewitt’s exhibition, “Saturation:The Allure of Science and Color”. (Also, reason number 1000 why I believe education should be pursuing STEAM and not STEM programing.)

As Fall approaches, I will be revisiting my summer explorations.

My sky studies were my favorite portion of this summer color study. I’m thinking of sharing these studies through a type of watercolor challenge series on Instagram, because they were so fun.

Which leaves me with how do you describe the color of the sky?

I’m still not sure I can describe the color accurately by pigment color. You?

9 Eggs: Inspired by Christopher Robin

These nine eggs were made using materials found in my backyard and easter egg dye. I was reminded of a few childhood treasures through the process. Things I wish I could have held on to a little bit longer.

The How: I adhere the leaf to the eggs by using hosiery squares and bread ties. They are then dipped in dye and set to dry for about 30 minutes or so. (There are several videos online featuring the process. If you’d like to try it a quick google search will get you started.)

I love making these because each one is like an unexpected gift, especially as they are unwrapped. And I appreciate their resemblance to watercolor paintings.

Wishing all a Happy Easter and enjoyment of the Spring season.

Even Artists Have Seasons

I am incredibly grateful for a recent artist talk by the remarkable Alice Ballard. It was a reminder to me that there are seasons. I painted a LOT in the past two years, yet I still have so many ideas to put on paper.

Studio guilt.

It’s a real condition. The inner critic is so loud sometimes. And mine even speaks in two languages!

Why aren’t you in there in the mornings before work or at least a few minutes after work? Was ist denn los mit dir???

Alice reminded me that even if one isn’t producing, an artist is mentally always creating and processing new ideas, thoughts and work through their daily encounters. (All the emoji praise hands!) She spoke to exactly where I am ... and extended the grace I needed to hear. That these seasons provide the material for the works ahead.

And I love that.

I’ve discovered that my studio rhythm includes painting more through the months of April-December, while January-March tend to be times for where I am more in tune to the bookkeeping, reading and studying type of work. And so that is what I have been doing.

My Spring Shop is now open online. It will be open through May. I hope to add to it a bit in the weeks ahead. Putting all the works together helped me realize how productive the last two years truly have been.

Take that, Studio Guilt.

Silvester and Art Goals

Silvester is another name for New’s Year Eve in Germany (owing to St. Sylvester’s feast day on Dec. 31). The Germans will also wish you a guten Rutsch or a good slide into the New Year.

I hope you’ve had a good “slide” into the New Year. I happen to love this time of year, because I tend to be a reflective person. And I enjoy making plans and goal setting as I look back.

This past Spring I studied eggs and the nest structures of the backyard birds.

I watched all these backyard birds. The nest building, the feeding, the nest cleaning, and more feeding. Toil, yet with birdsong in between.  

And that sums up my hope for 2019. More birdsong in between.

To be occupied with a gladness of heart in the midst of the day to day.

Birdsong.

For those of who who might be wired a bit like me, here are a few questions I ask myself at the beginning of each year as I set a few creative goals. They help me set my day to day. Some are from a great workshop I attended two years ago. Others are from books I’ve read.

1. What makes me feel successful as an artist?

2. What are my roles and my goals? Is my time and are my commitments directed towards them?

3. Why do I make art and to what end?

4. Is my work career driven or mission driven? Is it about recognition or impact? Ego driven or vision driven?

5. What do I want to create this year? Why?

6. What do I want to learn this year? Why? How?

I’m still working through my answers to a few of them. For more information on the workshop visit Artist U. It’s a good one for those exploring creative careers.

Happy 2019!

Picture of an Educator

Six years ago, I left the classroom. A year and a half ago I returned. It is a profession which keeps me connected to people, yet also allows me the luxury of time for family.

But it is not easy work

Recently, I read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. In the novel, the portrait takes on the aging and sins of the man. And I thought about the strength that educators show in the midst of stress. Not only theirs but also that of the students. Does the outside depict the reality?

To me, the American Robin symbolizes spring, new beginnings, children playing and hope. This image to me captures a great unsettling I feel at the moment. School shootings are becoming normal, low pay is an insult to the profession and the hours are long. In what profession does one begin their day manning a metal detector shortly before entering a classroom to shape hearts and educate minds?

So I painted all the words I feel but cannot say. Recognizing that bleeding heart conversations are damask political curtains we hang.