violinist's hands

Graceful and strong - those are a violinist's hands. All those small muscles work together to make wonderful music. They get strong with the discipline of holding the bow just right to make the notes clear and strong. Lovely!

Do we value art?

Do we appreciate art as a society? I am teaching an Art Appreciation class in January so am working on gathering materials. This is an example of a fairly lost art media - gouache, which makes beautiful skin tones.

But do we, especially Americans, appreciate art? Of course some of us do! But as a society? We cut out art classes in schools over sports, like football. And when we spend our money - which is a way of judging what we value, we will buy a $100 sports t-shirt over a $100 painting! Nothing against football, but as a society, more people go to football games than art shows! Of course, there are music concerts and other forms of art too. But paintings?

What do you think?

What to do on a wintry day...

PAINT! I was going to take a vacation but this mroning I awoke to rain and fog. It is cold outside and drizzly. ICK!

So, I worked on my portrait of my violinist. She has dreamy eyes as she listens to the song she is playing. Her eyes are a beautiful grey with a hint of blue - very Nordic. Her mouth is sensitive and a little vulnerable - as every artist should be.

So I am excited about this portrait. It has feeling to it already.

seagulls at sunset

They gather at sunset on our Oregon beaches. Maybe they come to hear the latest seagull gossip! So I did a Sandscape with the sunset colors and sand patterns with a few seagulls.

This makes a nice little addition to my sandscape series and is good for studying seagulls for my larger sunset painting on which I am working.

I love their soft feathers!

sand patterns

Patterns of sand. These sandscapes are awaiting all the seagulls to populate the paintings!

Meanwhile the colors glow and the patterns emerge. I love the way the darkened dry sand blends into the wet, sunset reflective sand. And then there will be beautiful seagulls in blacks and whites to contrast with the brightness soon.

Flying fingers

There is a dance as the fingers fly through a violin piece. The bow hand is the base while the left hand is the melody. Of course, this is just figuratively speaking.

The bow hand is the quiet worker who makes the music sing or squawk. It must be even tempered and have hours of practice. They say it take 10,000 hours to learn an instrument well. (I, myself have about 300!)

But this hand of the violinist - has practiced the dance of the bow hand enough to be a master.

Now the painting needs to dry a few days and then I will begin the glaze or color layer. I will make little changes as I go - for example, I want to drop the wrist down just a hair here. But it is exciting to see it develop!

violin curves and naming instruments

I am working on the underpainting for The Violinist. Sometimes the curves of the violin are a challenge. I was pleased how this one came out. Of course, more will be hidden in the final painting with the bow and her hands, but it is good to have the shape correct underneath.

Isn't it a pretty thing all in itself. Although it is loved for the beautiful notes which come from it, the wood and curves are warm and almost alive in itself. I know I named my violin - did you name your instrument?