Stephanie L. Gillette's Bright Art: www.MyBrightArt.com

heart painting

2012-02-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

I decided to try a new technique for my class this week. I also have decided to paint oils for the assignments whenever possible.

So, this week's assignment was to do art of something which is normally not considered art - like dog poo or stuff you find in your pocket. I took my camera along with me to the park and took photos of moss, rotting eaves of the equipment shed, puddles, etc.

When I was looking at my results, I found this heart and thought - Valentine's Day. I will do a heart! And here it is. I love it and think I will do more!!!
To see more of my paintings, go to http://www.mybrightart.com/.

shoes for the homeless

2012-02-12T08:07:00.000-08:00

With all the shoes in my closet, I don't think of not having any shoes. But if you are on the street, you wear out your shoes walking and have no second pair. And there you are.

So, there is a shoe drive in Oregon to gather shoes. I did my art project using the newspaper to make shoes. I would have liked to make a huge stack of them, but only made three.

I made them with one sheet of paper by folding. (I cheated with a little tape.) There is a whole art milieu out there though of paper folders. They use no adhesives or tape and make wonderful things - origami on steroids! It is an art form.

cancer from fellacio

2012-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

According to the article in the newspaper, cancer of the mouth and throat are up due to fellacio. That is interesting, but how do they know that is the cause?

Post baby Depression

2012-02-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

More women are depressed after having a baby. The article in The Oregonian was about getting them help.

I think that women used to have extended family around them to help and support them after having a baby. Today we are often with no other help other than perhaps spouses or significant others. It is a big adjustment to all relationships to add another person (and a very demanding one at that) into a relationship.

We know it should be a happy occasion, but like ideal holidays or such, it can't be perfect as people are involved. So, hang in there all you new Mothers, it will get better!

Man proscuted for using bad materials for breast implants

2012-02-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

This illustrates an article about Jean-Claude Mas in The Oregonian paper January 27, 2012. Mas "used industrial-grade silicone, not surgical grade to save money on hundreads of thousands of implants it sold around the world."
"The implants ahve proved exceptionally vulnerable to ruptures and leaks, allowing the inferior silicone to seep into a woman's body."
UGH! All for money!

women against domestic violence!

2012-02-04T17:28:00.000-08:00

For class, we were to take 6 articles and do some art from them. Here are my six:
The first was a class for women in bad situations like domestic violence. Women go to learn how to become strong enough to live a better life for themselves and their children. We are strong together!

family tree drawing

2012-01-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

We were to draw a tree in class, so I chose a family tree. I found old photographs which showed my family all in their 30's. (Except the one of my greatgrandparents in the top left corner.)
I had so much fun trying to capture their appearance, and sometimes did! My Mother's Mother was a Roaring 20's flapper and my Father's Father was in the calvery chasing Poncho Via in Nogalas. I like to see how my children resemble their ancestors.
Tomorrow I am back to my water spirit!

Ocean spirit begun!

2012-01-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

I am working on a painting of the ocean's spirit. I started out with warm browns/red/golds in the background. Then I thought I would do mostly blues and purples. But I added some warm for fish and coral spirits - and love this little corner.

I don't know if I even want to add in blue to this area or leave it like it is. I'll see it fresh tomorrow and go from there. I am SO excited that I am finding time to paint this quarter! I may not be able to paint every day - but will at least some days.

art quilt and Blue

2012-01-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

I hand sew the top of my quilt one winter and quilt it another. It is a great winter activity while watching the fire or TV.

This one is an ocean theme for my guest room. I laid it out on my livingroom floor to baste the layers together. Blue decided that she and her crab toy would help me! It is together although perhaps not as perfectly flat as a professional job. But when I look at any wrinkles, I will think of her!

I have a new friend coming to visit from Africa next spring and hope to have it done for her room. We'll see; school starts next week and takes up a lot of time!

Ignition or ocean?

2012-01-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

I began an abstract but decided that I didn't like it so removed most of it. Now I want to use what is here as an underpainting. The questions I have are what I want to paint. Do I want to use reds on top in an explosion of ignition? Or maybe use this as the basis for a cool painting of ocean with sunlight streaming through. It still needs a day or two to dry so I will mull it over.

I was sure I wanted the heat of the ignition. but now am enticed with the ocean's cooler colors. But would they do well with this background? Lots to mull over!

midnight fire

2012-01-06T12:50:00.000-08:00

I named this one, Midnight Fire. Bonfires on a beach at midnight have their own spirit. They are alive with tales and dances. Senuous - mysterious.

This painting is stronger than my first abstract, and has its own personality. I am reaching for something even more fluid with rich colors. Maybe in my next one. If I can, I will paint one more before the next quarter in school catches me. Maybe I will introduce myself to one of the painting teachers to be a mentor.

fire spirit abstract

2012-01-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

I have done the second layer on my abstract. I wanted it stronger so added some reds and yellows of flames. It seems to need more fluidity as flames are more organic.

I have had a day or two to mull it over as this layer dries. Tomorrow I hope to return to it and add more sheer reds and yellows. I am note sure what else. . .

I feel the pressure to finish it before school starts again next week. But I want to love it when it is finished too. So we will see. This quarter I am just taking 3 classes so hope I have time to paint.

Abstract painting

2012-01-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

I have begun a second abstract! I want the final to be in reds, yellows, and purples, so made the underpainting in cooler colors. I love the organic forms. most of these will be hidden by the bright colors on top, but their hints will be there. I want to make this one brighter than my first. My thought was the spirit of fire. We'll see.

Juneau, Alaska

2011-12-19T13:43:00.000-08:00

I worked on final touches today in my Juneau, Alaska painting. It is fun to add in little details for people to discover while looking at the picture. I added two crows for ". . . 2 is for mirth" in the old poem. They are overlooking the city with the same view as the viewer.

I wanted to finish it for my friend for the holidays, but it won't be dry in time. She'll just have to get her present late...

Juneau painting

2011-12-18T17:07:00.000-08:00

My painting of Juneau, Alaska has its base done. All the buildings are where they are going to be. Now I have to decide how to make it interesting and beautiful! I like the sky and the mountainside. The buildings are fun how they all pile upon each other. I don't want it photographic and kind of like how they lean towards each other like two ladies over tea.

What people do I want to put into the painting? And any animals? A bear going up the street? I also need to add the flower pots on the rooftop and decide which flowers to include. Ah, choices, choices!

Juneau begun

2011-12-17T12:58:00.000-08:00

I was demonstrating at a gallery for seven hours the other day, so spend the time beginning this painting! This photo is a little dark, but it shows my tree-covered mountainside above the city. I liked how the trees came out. The sky is a tad dark so I think I will go back and lighten it some. The buildings need more definition but I don't think I want them to be photographic. I will have to work on the balance once I get the left side of the painting done. I will work on it this afternoon!

abstract spirit coming along

2011-12-16T18:32:00.000-08:00

I worked on my abstract more! It is comign along. I think I need more of the reds though. I considered putting red speckles but am not sure. So, I am waiting to see how it feels tomorrow.

So far, I like the layers of swirls in the middle the best. the bottom one is too tight again. But I like the feel of it. It feels organic and like the spirit of a ... (I don't want to say yet!) What do you think?

Abstract painting

2011-12-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, my underpainting is dry! So now I can paint the top layer. I want to add in dark reds and more yellows to make it glow. Look for it tomorrow!

repairing oil paintings

2011-12-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

My Mother died last June. When we divided her things, I took four of her paintings which had been damaged through storage and such, which others didn't want. I brought them home. (This photo is my Mother and I with a portrait of me.)

I am going to a funeral of a good friend's Mother this afternoon. It made me think of my Mother's paintings in my studio. So I spent this morning fixing them.

I thought I would have to sand some of the places down which were gouged, but ended up not. I wiped each down with a damp cloth to take off any dust and sticky elements. Then I used NeoMeglip (a medium) and covered the whole painting so that my added bits would match those underneath. Last I painted as little as possible so that it was the original painting. I sometimes had to paint an area a tad darker or more opaque as the transparent paint would not cover the white canvas showing through! But I was pleased that the results look good. If you look closely, you can see little bumps and divits, but from 3 feet away you are good! Here they are:

These are not the best photos (glare) but the paintings are lovely. I will share them with my children.

spirit painting

2011-12-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

I have begun the underpainting for a spirit painting! Here is a part of it. I want to have some of the canvas white with the rest in soft undulating patterns. Then I will paint rich colors over the top and leave the white areas bright. I did the background in earth tones of greens, yellows, browns, and blues but will want to add a little bright red in the overpainting.

It is hard to wait for it to dry!

Toadstool dance 2

2011-12-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

After finishing my first toadstool painting, I decided that I wanted to put it with a forest background. I loved doing this painting! It looks so happy and earthy! I can almost smell the earth and leaves around it.

I turned it sideways and like it that way too. Maybe I will present it to my class sideways tomorrow or upside down.
Tomorrow is my last final and then I can paint!!!

toadstool study

2011-12-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of the quarter, we had to draw/paint something you could hold in your hand. I chose a toadstool I found on our morning walk.

Now, for the final, we have to do a presentation of our object which is astounding. Well, I started with this study on an old canvas I had. I like parts of it. I like the impression of the underside of the lid and the curve of the top. So, today i will work on a final version for Friday.

I imagined my toadstool dancing in the gloming. (Night fall before it is dark)

Rooster or hen?

2011-11-30T10:21:00.000-08:00

Roosters and hens are sometimes hard to tell apart when just looking at their faces. Is this a rooster or a hen? I love the way her feathers brush up against her waddle and earflaps. (or his)

This painting is a little different as I blended the teal background into her white feathers. And used the teal to form the body/tail which you can see below her beak. That distinguished it from the whiter feathers of her chest and shoulder in the foreground.

Anyway, I like her and can't wait for her to dry to deliver her to a lady before the holidays!

Cock drawing

2011-11-29T10:22:00.000-08:00

I am doing a little painting for a friend of a rooster. I think he will be a white with a blue-teal background. It should be pretty with the bright red comb.

Juneau painting!

2011-11-29T10:16:00.000-08:00

I have started a pauinting for a friend of Juneau, Alaska. She took some photos from the top of a building (I think the Senate Building) and I have been playing with combinations. I didn't want the rooftop to be too much of the painting and wanted the feel of Juneau snuggled against the mountainside.

So, I think this is my basic composition. I can't wait to begin to paint! (I have finals through next Tuesday though so it will be after that.) But watch for it to happen!

Paul Thek - UGH!

2011-11-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

I went to an awful lecture by George Baker on a worse artist, Paul Thek. After doing wax models of raw meat early in his career, Thek turned to terrible watercolors like Dust. Of course, he was so thrilled with this great artwork that he repeated it with different words throughout his life!

And the lecture was bombastic. I will say that Baker was enthusiatic over Thek, but his tentative correlations of Thek to other artists just didn't fly. Sigh. A waste of time.

Cy Twombly Is it only the process?

2011-10-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

Today I was at the Portland Art Museum and a lady said that she didn't paint anymore as it was too hard to get started. That some people can just enjoy the doing but she thought too hard about it.

Then I saw Cy Twombly's work. He enjoyed the making of it but had terrible results. Still, he talked the art community into thinking he was a great artists - because of his "dancing with the moment of presence.." Give me a break. It is great that you can enjoy making scribbles, but don't try to pass it off as great art!

What is beautiful?

2011-10-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

For class, we are working on what is beautiful. Okay, what makes me say one painting is beautiful and another crap? It isn't just technique, it is some magical quality that some art has. Is it just making it photographic? No, that is often boring. Is it something wierd or different? No! That is just wierd or different, which might make it somewhat interesting to figure out, but not beautiful. And it is often just junk, literally as well as figuratively.

I find things which are beautiful to have a grace about them. Something special which resonates with some feeling or thought inside me. That is beautiful. The old philosophers attached this feeling to some higher being or as Plotinus said - The One. But I think it is just magic - and not attached to any higher being.

Of course, these ideas are not necessarily popular right now. But that doesn't make them wrong!

Lucinda Parker

2011-10-13T17:43:00.000-07:00

This painting was a commission done for the University of Oregon by Lucinda Parker. I was working on a paper about her and found this example. I love that she is becoming more representational within her cubism as she gets a little older and less rigid.

I would love to try some cubist paintings. What a difference it would be from my normal ones!

Rooster ears

2011-10-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been selling my rooster and chicken paintings! So, I think I will put this little guy into a gallery this month. I think he is one of my prettier pieces so hopefully someone will buy him for a holiday gift. (To see my other fowls, go to http://www.mybrightart.com/ .)

I love the combs and ears on the roosters. Who would think that they would have soft little ears?

John Sloan

2011-10-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

John Sloan painted urban scenes in the early 1900's. This one shows the interaction between three classes of people: the lower class woman in the white dress with the red nose and lunch pail; the two upper class women who laugh at her in their hats, gloves, and coats; and the three businessmen who watch the two girls. It captures how the three groups interacted in that time.

school excitement!

2011-09-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

Just like when I was six, I am excited about school starting tomorrow! I have the jitters about will I like my teachers and will they like me. Excitement about meeting other "kids" and making friends and maybe seeing old ones from last year. And what will I learn this year? Will it change my life? All these questions! But I am 59 this year and it is college... I am off to Marylhurst to see what they will teach me about art to improve my painting!

jellyfish dance

2011-09-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready for a group show at the TRAG Gallery in Oregon City, Oregon next week. Sometimes in a group show, you have a specific amount of space and need to figure which paintings to put in your little area.

Last time I put all little paintings to get more in. But this time I am going to do two long ones and two middle sized ones. Hope the configuration I have in mind works!

This is m Jellyfish Dance painting. I wanted to do a painting in just black and white. I like it and it is a contrast to my normal bright art. Check those out at my website: http://www.mybrightart.com/.

Celtic gig

2011-09-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

It is always a joy to play music! This week I played with the Lucky Shamrocks for a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels.

We played at a local cafe in Oregon City for a few hours. I just love the experience of playing with others and matching their voices and rhythms to my playing. Great fun!

Chickens!

2011-09-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

I love painting chickens! They have such unusual patterns and textures. I just sold one last week, so thought I would put these on the blog.

The rooster has an impressive topknot and soft pink ear. I didn't realize that some chickens have large ears!

And Ms. Fancy on the right has such a beautiful tail with different type feathers that I loved painting her. I think her feathers look like a boa and I painted them in green just to show them off.

Fish spa!

2011-09-05T16:35:00.000-07:00

Recently I was in Palma - Majorca and they had the strangest thing - a fish spa. Okay, I had to try it!

What is a fish spa? These little fish with no teeth nibble on your dried skin to make it soft and smooth. Weird? YES! It is strange but seems to work.

limerick

2011-09-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Limrick is where French Napoleonic prisoners of war were kept. These men composed five line rhymes to pass the time - hence, limericks!

Here is an Irish cross. Druidism was still strong in Ireland when the priests came. They encorporated the Druid sun symbol into the Christian cross to draw in new members of the church. So we get a cross with the circle.

Guess I learned a lot this trip!

New show today!

2011-09-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

New show hung today!

I was excited to hang a solo show in the Place To Be in Canby, Oregon today. It is a classy coffee shop with lots of places to comfortably sit and talk. And they have live music tonight!

So, if you get to Canby this month, stop in for a mocha and check out my paintings! If you are far away from Oregon, you can always go to my website at http://www.mybrightart.com/.

Dragons in Wales!

2011-09-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Saint Patrick "slew" all the snakes in Ireland. (Really meaning that he got rid of the Druids who used snakes as one of their symbols.)

Lucky for us, Saint Michael "slew" all the dragons in Wales. Whew! And I was worried! (I wonder whom the dragons symbolized?)

Scotland - best known for rocks!

2011-09-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

Rock walls everywhere! I loved the rock walls between fields of black faced sheep and shaggy cows. They blended in with the fields and made me want to go home and build some around my yard.

I never got a great shot of the sheep, but here is one of the shaggy cows which thrive in the highlands.

Trying our first tour - to Scotland! day 1

2011-08-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

We are taking a tour for the first time! I am hoping to get lots of photos and drawings to later use in paintings! Lots of excitment and expectations!

We left Portland on Sunday morning, but with a six hour layover in Philadelphia and another six hours to Glascow, we were bushed!

We were met at the airport by Clive, who collected the group of us, took us to the bus, and took care of the bags - NICE!

But we couldn't check into our hotel! Exhausted, we went shopping and bought postcard stamps but didn't only wanted to nap. We walked down to a bagpipe competition! They were having the highland games this week with the main day the next Saturday. Today was a band competition and I recognized some of the songs!

Finally - our room! We slept but were torn between wanting sleep and wanting to be out and about. Here we were in Scotland and only wanted to sleep!

Cocktails with our group and dinner. We spent our time mostly with one lady from New York. But the group seemed to come from all over the US - mostly east coast and 6 from New Zealand. Hard to be social when you are tired. Tomorrow will be a better start.

At what age do we stop dying our hair?

2011-08-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

I dye my hair to make me feel better. But sometimes the color makes my hair feel dry and I worry that I am damaging it. I have been using the more natural brands with less bad chemicals, and yet, I am still doing damage.

So, what to do? I am considering letting the grey show and letting my hair breathe for awhile. Will the touch of greys make me feel older? Less attractive? Do Americans in particular see older people as less attractive? I do feel good when people think I am younger, but...

What do you think?

clackamas county fair

2011-08-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is time for the county fair again! Across the country, kids are readying their pigs, chickens, and calves for the judging at the fair.

Here is one of my paintings of piglets snoozing in the pen from last year! Aren't they cute? I love their lacy ears!

So, come see this painting and others at the Clackamas County Fair in August!

Take back the night!

2011-08-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be lovely if you could have kids and families playing the park in the evenings: safe from drug deals and muggings? Remember when you played with hulahoops? People came out to one of our local parks to "take back the night" and play. Kids ran around doing activities, adults walked around and greeted neighbors, and everyone had fun.

It would be great if it could be like this every night. Safe. Please look out for your neighbor and her kids. Make our world a safer place to play again.

wear and tear on paintings

2011-08-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

When you have paintings in and out of galleries, cafes, etc. they get banged up a little. Just a bump there on an edge or a scrape. The edges are especially vulnerable when they are gallerywrapped.

So, once in awhile, I have a repair day. I do it when I have a lot of colors of paint out for another project - just a bit of this and a bit of that left over. So I take a look at all my paintings to be sure that they are perfect for going out again.

My Fishy Friends had a bump on a side, so they are swimming in clear waters again!

travel art book

2011-08-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

The wishes for a trip - the designs from our suitcases. Blessings all.

I am starting a travel book! I will ry to use these pencils which sort of work as watercolors with water. I haven't used them before, so we will see how it goes... I want to capture some of the scenes and experiences of our trip coming up!

Selling and shipping paintings!

2011-08-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

It is always great to sell a painting! But it is especially nice if you know and like the person buying it. I was happy to sell one of my favorite paintings today!

Shipping is critical when you are selling original oil paintings. You want to protect it as much as possible. We wrap it is white paper, then bubble wrap, and then build a cardboard box around that! If it isn't too large, it can go priority mail too.

So, look on yessy.com under Gillette and find a painting to adopt today!

first city art celebration

2011-07-31T12:10:00.000-07:00

I had scheduled a booth but with my Mother being ill I didn't think I would be in town for the First City Art Celebration yesterday, so I gave up my space! Still, I visited and volunteered to give ice water and do booth sitting for the artists for a few hours. With the heat at 85, people appreciated it!

So, next year I will have to think about it again. There was a constant stream of people through the streets of Oregon City. It was nice.

Why is Oregon City called the First City? It was the place where all the settlers coming to the Oregon Territory (which was huge) came to register their land claims. Many settlers made it from back east through the Rockies just before winter and stayed in Oregon City until spring. In fact many stayed with families in their homes here to be warm for the winter!

Sweet Duck

2011-07-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about a new show I am going to do in Canby, Oregon. It will be at the PlaceToBe cafe in September. This is a very classy new restaurant and I think my paintings will look nice there.

So, come by and see my things after September 3rd if you are near Canby! My Sweet Duck will be there. I love the little freckles on her beak.

Plein aire - stairs

2011-07-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

I painted outside today! Okay, I didn't do a painting, but I did paint. I worked with my husband to stain our new stairs in our backyard. Aren't they gorgeous?

Missing Mother

2011-07-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Whenever I finished a painting, I usually sent my Mother an image to share it with her. It is sad that she isn't there to share my paintings with anymore. I miss her!

Here is my Mother with my two kids when they were little. Wasn't she a beautiful lady?

painting hair

2011-07-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

This little girl's hair is soft against her face. But the braid is thick and falls along her shoulder. I love the carmel colors with the warm browns.

My painting is almost done! I always do a last sitting to go over the whole painting and do whatever touches seems necessary. I find that a fresh look (one more time) lets you add little touches here and there which make it better. Then my husband photographs it and it is done!

So, look for the finished painting this week on my website: http://www.mybrightart.com/!

painting fabric - dress

2011-07-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Today I worked on my girl's dress. I wanted it a soft material in a blue grey so that it wouldn't outshine her facial features. I love the way the folds fall across her back. It is important when painting fabric to have a highlight against a dark hue. There will be a butterfly on the pocket in yellows, blacks, and a touch of the raspberry/red.

suitcase painting!

2011-07-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the side of my suitcase! I always put feathers of one kind or another on my suitcases to add some spirit of life into my trips.

This is my first white one though. Maybe because my Mother just died last month and she is on my mind. She loved to travel and I will especially think about her on my trips.

suitcase painting

2011-07-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Here is the back of my black suitcase! I love the way the rose pops against the black background.

I did a white feather on the side but didn't take a photo of it - so will show it tomorrow.

Now they are drying in the sunshine - ready for our trip!

suitcase paintings

2011-07-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

We bought two new suitcases for an upcoming trip. I decided to paint them so that it will be easy to spot them at the airport.

My husband's is red. He is beginning to be a writer so I painted a book, etc. on his.

I added two crows on the side for the poem "two is for mirth". Mirth is wonderful for any trip!

And lastly, I put an oak tree on the back for wisdom and wonder.

What would you put on YOUR suitcase?

painting faces

2011-07-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

I love her sweet face! I finished my field of daisies so began painting my girl. It looks a little funny without the softness of the hair, but that will come along.

I am enjoying painting again SO much that it is difficult to take breaks, although my shoulder tells me how important they are! When I paint for a few hours without a break, it hurts. But I know it will get stronger with time... Patience is a virtue!

field of daisies

2011-07-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am having a grand time painting my field of daisies on this painting! It is fun to see them get larger and more detailed as they get closer. My goal was to finish the field and begin my little girl, but my shoulder began hurting.

Rotator cuff surgery is said to take a year of rehab afterward, but I find that I am in my second year and still have to take breaks from painting. So, alas, I will pause for a day and return to my painting after a break. Then I will finish my field and begin my lovely little girl!

Underpainting

2011-07-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

I decided to move the little girl a bit to the left and make her a little younger in my underpainting. She will be sweet with her little butterfly pocket and colorful sash. I haven't decided what color her dress will be yet - maybe pale yellow or blue.

I began the field of daisies in the background too. I wanted the idea of the field rather than the detailed version. I will begin the foreground flowers tomorrow - larger with more detail. I am excited about how this painting is coming along!

I have MISSED painting SO much in the last year while I went to school. I don't know if the classes this year will allow me to paint or not, but I sure hope so.

how do draw a sweet face

2011-07-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

Children should have sweet faces. But the difference between a sweet face and an ugly one on a child is in the curve of the cheek, the angle of the nose, subtle things.

I chose to paint the little girl with the daisies. I am working on drawing her face - and making it sweet. I have the charcoal drawing on the canvas - so am ready to do the underpainting. I think I will do it in a warm sienna as a base to give the painting a warm feel.

how to chose subject for painting

2011-07-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

It is exciting to think about beginning a new painting! Ah, what to do? I take my camera with me and take photos for reference as well as do drawings whenever I can. Then I brouse through my references to see what catches my eye.

Next I spend some time playing in my studio. . . just drawing, dreaming. Today was my drawing day. I want to get started on a painting tomorrow so need to chose! Each of these is a painting already - in my mind.

Tomorrow I will begin with a charcoal drawing on my canvas! Which canvas I chose will be determined by the subject - not the other way around. I have different shapes from which to chose so I don't have to crop a painting to fit!

1 mile 1 month of garbage!

2011-05-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

How much garbage DO you get on a street in a month? From one mile, I collected the following: (and painted the signs appropriately!) For shame!

crate

2011-05-31T17:51:00.000-07:00

Here is my crate project. It would approximately enfold a pushbroom so I added a touch to the outside to be the bristles.

THEN

You open it up! It has a sound of a crow cawing and smells of pine and flowers. There are blue crow's eggs and even a pink baby bird in one cracked one. I thought it was very successful.

wine bottle of raisins

2011-05-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

Can one construct a wine bottle out of raisins? We were to make something with at least 50 of the same object which relates to the original piece.

I made a wine bottle! Okay, it is really laying down, but still, it looks okay if you use your imagination.

Leaf Patterns

2011-05-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

My Patterns is an oil painting. I entered it in the Gresham Annual Art Show and it was accepted! It will be showing at the Muncipal Art Gallery for June.

I love this painting! I know that people think it is of the butterfly, but it is of the leave patterns behind the butterfly. I wanted to echo the patterns of the leaves in the butterfly's wings. I think it was successful. Maybe it will win a prize! But even if it doesn't, I think it is one of my favorite paintings.
To see more of my paintings, go to http://www.mybrightart.com/ and check them out!

plaster tiles

2011-05-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Our project for 3D was to take clay to make a plaster mold. Then make four plaster tiles from the mold. There had to be three levels and some texture. Here are mine.

I love the texture but they were a pain to do as they easily caught air bubbles when I poured the plaster into the cast. Still, I am glad that I did them.

Someone said the pattern looked like the Star Trek symbol, but it was from mathematics. (Maybe theirs was too.)

pigs' tails

2011-05-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

The question is - do pigs have curly tails? I looked on Google and the only ones I found looked like this . . .

Do you have a pig? Does its tail curl or just hang around?!!

I am doing a project of collected garbage from one mile of road from one month for an art project. I want to put a pig's face at the start and a tail at the end. So, should it be curly?

crates! Richard Artschwager

2011-05-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Richard Artschwager built crates, but they weren't very exciting without opening to a surprise! I did like the one which was a bunch of boxes stacked which connected with hinges. But once again, no surprise inside.

We are building the crates this week. Mine look sort of like this one but with a tall narrow crate connected on the top.

Ah, but what to put inside? I thought of a fish tank, but then I would have fish to deal with afterwards. So. . .what?

You will have to check back in a week from now to see! What would you but in a crate?

raven or crow?

2011-05-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

How do you know if it is a crow or a raven? I think they are all crows in the same bird family, but ravens are larger so have a lower voice. What do you think?

Of course, size of the body doesn't mean you have a lower voice. My great grandfather was a little guy - about 5'6" but had a booming bass voice! But I think of crows as having higher voices.

In humans, both men and women's voices lower as we become adults, but I think it is not just because our throats are getting larger. Or is it?

mary whyte: realist painter

2011-05-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Mary Whyte captures the essence of her subjects in her beautiful watercolors. They show her insight into what the people are feeling.

This is one of her Gullah series of paintings of the people of John's Island, South Carolina. I love the feelings it shows and what it might say of the hopes and dreams of a twelve year old girl.

She holds a homemade quilt like a cape. It seems like all her ancesters are there in that quilt - protecting and standing behind her.

art performance - Spy Hat

2011-05-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

The Spy Hat! The project was to build a body extension which would either aid or limit a movement or activity of the person. I made a Spy Hat. It has two periscopes: one lets you see behind you but upside down, and the other lets you see sideways with a sideways image. But none allows you to see in front of you!

I set up a simple course through the building with obstacles along the way. I started out well and got through the first room. But they left a doorway open and I meandered into a room I wasn't expecting. I couldn't recover. I couldn't find the door to get out. Finally I sat down and put my cape over my head.

The people went from laughing at me, sometimes being a little scared of me, to empathizing with my plight of being lost, to sad. I will be interested in seeing the video!

wire shoes!

2011-05-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Some of my classmates shoes (They gave me permission to share!)
It is fun how they match their personalities! You will have to decide what those are from their shoes!

I wonder what mine said about me?

Radcliffe style Puma shoe!

2011-05-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

I love my wire Puma tennis shoe! We were to make it the same size as the original and use at least 3 gauges of wire. Here is mine.

It has 5 pumas on it, from tiny on the tongue to large on the side. I know there is a reason to love Puma's!

Radcliffe mostly did cars but he did to one giant tennis shoe.

Mary Frank sculpture

2011-04-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

I am working on a power point about three sculpters of today. Mary Frank is my favorite! Her figures seem to be of the earth and have earthy plant patterns on them. She uses planes for arms and hair.
Very cool!

Cat with wierd ears

2011-04-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

We spent a wonderful morning at the zoo! I love to see the animals and hear the children's laughter! You can't beat it.

Here is a strange wild cat with odd ears. Isn't she lovely?

I think humans need to have contact with wild animals, even through cages. It restores us and reminds us of the wonderful world in which we are but a small part.

disjunction in art

2011-04-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

What is disjunction? Something small-large, hard-soft, etc. In today's scupture, people are using other materials than the clay and marble of the past.

The idea is to involve the space and engage viewers within the sculpture itself. This is my disjunction project. My cone is about 4 feet tall and the pothole is soft fur.

More partial cube sculptures!

2011-04-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

This was one with unusual junctions. It is fun to see what shapes you can make with cubes!

We wanted to include the whole space of the classroom within our sculpture - so had them hanging off counters, etc. I like the fluidity of this one.

Sol le Witt cubes

2011-04-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

We are studying Sol LeWitt and his partial cubes. We started with little 2x2 inch cubes made of 7 or 9 pieces. These can come in many shapes according to your "plan of action" to glue them together.

And since they were so much fun small. . .

We made 2x2 feet ones!

And played with them!

fractals! 3D designs

2011-04-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

In my 3D class at Marylhurst, we are beginning with 2 inch long sticks which form into simple designs. My fractal design is seen by itself in the middle.

Then I made 15 of them and built this design! I love the organic nature of it!

Here it is from another angle. . .

easter bunny

2011-03-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

I love this little bunny! It means spring and new beginnings for me. How about you?

I am starting spring quarter in college tomorrow. This time I am taking two art history classes, a 3D drawing class, and a sculpture class! Whew! That should keep me busy!

Girl with Red Hat

2011-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

We are studying Vermeer in art history class. This painting is done in the method which I use to paint! I love the underpainting making subtle effects on the final work.

He painted with medium (a mix of mastic and tears, linseed oil, lead, etc.) to make the paint blend and have a luminosity you don't see in most modern paintings. His monochrome underpainting gave him the tones of the painting like a modern black and white photo. Then he used more medium and paint mix to add layers of final hues. The underpainting shows through and contributes to tying the whole painting together.

I love it! The soft sfumata lighting and soft focused details show the beginnings of the impressionists to come. It is the style I want to strive for in my future works, although sometimes I get caught up in the details! (Check out my paintings at www. MyBrightArt.com to see!)

life drawing

2011-03-02T10:48:00.000-08:00

I love life drawing. It is wonderful to be able to have live models to draw. I am geting better at some of the poses and think my style is changing as I experiment.

Sometimes it is hard to try something new when you have some style which works. But if you never try something new you don't get better. So, some of my drawings come out awful - but I learn.

life drawings

2011-03-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a drawing can be simple and elegant. I am pleased with this one. It is fun to see what you can capture in a few minutes!

I was working on making you feel the weight he had on his hands. It takes a fit person to hold some of these poses for 3-4 minutes!

eggs in snow

2011-02-26T14:53:00.000-08:00

My photography assignment this week was to take 40 photos of white eggs. I found an empty birds nest which had fallen out of a tree.

So, here are my eggs in the snow! I put them on the hood of the car as it was in sunlight. The only trouble was... yes, one rolled out and splat!