The Scarlet Letter

Finally had FUN today, after about three weeks of hell. And I mean HELL. Easter Sunday I went to the RRCA as it was closed- to work in peace and quiet- because of it. It has been very rough. I couldn't step outside my apartment door without being questioned, I caught various attitudes at the gym, Wawa was rough, then nice, as was the crowds on the river. Religion was shoved down my throat by those religious and I was constantly corrected in everything I said. I was slapped about by every e-mail I sent and post I posted on Facebook. Even one of my copyrights was being used! Lovely to be controlled by that. Then men started telling me what my "problem" was. I eventually had to resort to my Coast Guard training to survive it. I told my best friend- well, we are all used to it- but I had no break except in my own home or the RRCA. (Script isn't working in blogger tonite- will have to write one paragraph). Then she saw it happen. Hmmmph. Anyway- Anna Vosburgh and I had lots- LOTS of fun today at the RRCA. We're teaching at Multi-Cultural Week- next week and "had" to be there to learn how to make origami frogs. But I wanted to print too, and did, and she wanted to clean her studio (she is a studio artist as well). We both are in the "Colors of Hope" Exhibition. We worked, yakked, drank coffee, smoked, just had a grand ole time. She has so helped during this. I had nothing but my journal! Then I noticed her painting "The Scarlet Letter":) And I wanted it! Just too perfect! So we made a trade, neither of us having money. Prints for her [nudes and free-forms (sqiggles)] and the painting for me. :) And even better- the model is a friend of mine who used to work at Bogart's, tattoo laden and spirited as all get out. I LOVE the painting, more and more as I look at it:) Going to hang it over my bed......It has been truly awful. Today was so nice.....I'm half tempted to get the A as my third tattoo:)! Well, I wanted to show this off!.....

My Blog

Went to Rowan yesterday- I think I only warned one prof I was coming, life has been very fast past couple of weeks. It was to good get out of town and see everyone! I asked my "advisor" if receiving my blog was annoying- I'd stop sending it. He said he didn't read blogs, only e-mails. But I know some of you read this. My mother also remarked it was also an e-mail. So to explain- this is a blog on blogger.com (I don't know when I'll get to a website, after I move probably) and when I publish it, it automatically gets sent to 10 people I have listed in my e-mail settings. I don't know what it looks like as an e-mail as I've never sent it to myself.

I'll include the recent Daily Journal pic of me- it was a nice pic and it's good to have visuals:)

Going to break I think and enjoy some plein air:)

No Pics

At work for a few hours- so I have no pics. It's a quiet Monday. Thought I'd write a bit about the recent response to my work.

Friday was the districts 10th Anniversary of Third Fridays and the RRCA was pretty busy. We were all pretty excited, local artists and musicians. We don't always make much money, but we have a great community amongst ourselves- and there is great joy in being creative together. An artist friend invited me to paint in her all seasons garden after a big hug. Sixty four geranium plants! This morning I took an early walk around the river- it's that time of year again- and just felt so lucky and blessed being here.

The "Wetlands" exhibition opened Friday, it includes my "RiverMarsh". The Monday before was drop-off day and I worked, so I was able to get a few critiques in from other artists, and then Tuesday night from those who attend art history night. It was well liked. Most told me not to change my course. I did specifically question one respected landscape painter about my use of intense greens. Add red she said. The closest I've come is purple blocking and darks. But I'm willing to experiment, and I've toned some canvas and linen with cad red for plein air. My favorite red, so I'm compromising.

Friday night's studio visits were a lot of fun and it's become very interesting now I no longer "push sales". I feel like I'm teaching. Lots of questions. The River paintings are always well received, people love the color; many think I paint with acrylic so I find myself explaining Liquin. It is very nice to pull out my sketchbooks and photo albums and state I've been studying the river now for four years (this morning the tree roots were exposed with low tide- the trees always remind me of dancing figures...), not out of discipline, but sheer passion. The subject is never ending. People are very curious about my mono prints too, it is not a typical practice here, and I enjoy explaining my process. The "sqiggles" are usually the most well liked. But I tired of hand coloring and am exploring pastel on ghosts right now. Everyone always loves the portraits and after some discussion- my questioning if I can paint realism again- a viewer said "Sure you can". Remains to be seen yet.

I was derailed with my studies the past week but happily returned to it yesterday. Wrote on Facebook I was "playing hooky" so I would be left alone and get some work done. I may play hooky all week! I don't feel like reporting my daily activities anymore.
Looking forward to the day when I can put study to practice and venture out with my french easel.....

Linen

My linen for Plein Air arrived today and I am so excited! It is so smooth and buttery. It's just a tablet of quality oil primed, to try. I don't promise results or postings as I am exploring this. We will see.

I am studying various things and trying to stay off time consuming Facebook. That took two days of discipline as some of my studies are on the computer. I didn't plan on blogging either, but I am enthused about the linen.

I have a lot to catch up on: camera, digital programs, books, Wacom, etc.

I met my new studio mate today, he is very nice. Lots of tattoos.

Three "still lifes", when I took a break from study today...

Running with Scissors

I wrote on Facebook yesterday that I feel like running with scissors; try new things. It's really exciting, maybe dangerous- after having a sale with no sales- maybe necessary right now. I laugh. I came to the conclusion with THAT- so what? It isn't in my spirit to bow to the masses. I'm curious, yes. I framed my "RiverMarsh" in antique gold yesterday. I prefer black, and I usually frame- outline- in electricians tape and carpet tacks- for twenty years. It's clean and orderly, especially if showing a number of works. And it lasts. Can be removed if someone wants a sofa frame. But working at the RRCA, I know people prefer gold. So, I'm curious if I get a response.

A psychiatrist once said I framed that way, with tape, because then all the viewer saw was the painting itself. Maybe. He wasn't too keen on my eight foot tall crucifixion! I'll never forget the look on his face, that I SHOULDN'T be painting things like that while seeking mental health.- Funny, but I've never shown my work to another psychiatrist.

Change is in the air, or in the water. Two of my female artist friends have also produced new work. I ordered linen for plein air yesterday, that is new to me as well.

I've been studying. Reading, surfing, searching. I'm not really sure how this started. Maybe with five months of art history films at the RRCA (really inspiring!) or my return to the exploration of mono prints. BTW- I may have a tattoo artist who works at Marvel Comics join me in my studio. Company! Cool.

I got it into my head that I wanted to study color theory again, but for the life of me could not find a book who's author's work I liked when I went to their website. I wanted to understand better the use of color- mixing paint- by our more prominent landscape artists. I thought about an impressionist book I found- but I don't want to paint like a "Monet Impressionist". I am more Manet, have always been. Thanks Dan for the books, have finished one.

What a fascinating source of artists the web is if you take the time! I belong to Artist Daily, which is really neat, they have free e-books if you want a quick rundown on the basics again. I just filled out a profile this week (curious) though I've been a member for awhile, and spent some time this week viewing lots of work- there are tons of good traditional artists out there! Pops the bubble of living in the district. For some time now I've been receiving e-mails from Jonathan Aller, who I met through Artist Daily- he does alla prima studies in still life and documents the process for you.

Which brings me to alla prima. How I've ended up painting (and so much fun! Though I still may attempt a still life in realism....). I found an artist, Al Gury, who teaches at PAFA, who has written two books, alla prima, and color, that I plan on studying. I'm very curious if I can push this further. Some of his paintings I don't quite like, maybe a little too messy for me, but maybe that is good...

Running with scissors. Will I fall????.......FUN!