from the past

Here is a project from the past. I used to do show posters every once in a while for local bands. This is a background image I created for one. The photography is my own.

A) The original photo, b) is the adjusted photo. I was playing around with a tilt-shift effect. And c) is the final with a lomo effect. I love photoshop.

wild inspiration

Just a few artists and designers that inspire me.

1. Christina Hart :: Atlas of Remote Islands, 2. Lulie Wallace :: , 3. Louise Wright :: via Drawn to Minerva, 4. Paul Sheaffer :: via Society 6.

something finished

I decided that since I will be posting a lot of half-finished works I should post something that is completed too. That way I can feel like there are a few more paintings in the done pile and I can demonstrate that, yes, I can finish these projects. Going on like this makes it sound like I don't finish anything, but truly, I do. Mostly I keep a project alive when I have no deadline and I can experiment and push it a little bit farther. I have a painting I'm working on now that is very close to completion and I've decided that what it really needs is some wax — something I've never worked with — because I want elements of the painting to have a subdued and washed-out look. I also find it hard sometimes to get in the mind-frame of painting. Going from my day job as a graphic designer I sometimes find myself sitting in front of my painting thinking in Photoshop keyboard shortcuts "command + z, command +z!!" Maybe that's also a sign that I spend too much time in front of computers.

Anyway, here is a completed painting from last year. It was commissioned by my husband for some album artwork (for his folksy acoustic band). I made the support myself — it's 4 ft by 2 ft mahogany with a pine cradle — a project in and of itself. Since it was just for my husband, the handiwork is a little less than stellar in the construction of the frame. It was a learning experience. When I do commissioned work I order the best materials and frankly, it's not really worth the headache for me to build up the whole support from scratch just because of the time it takes and my carpentry well...leaves some to be desired. It is really sturdy though and I worked on it for a couple of weeks before I started painting: building, sanding, prepping. It was a long process. It's now hanging in my husband's jam space since we didn't really have anywhere else to hang it and I would probably sell it but for much less than I would normally for a painting of this size because of the above reasons.

I finished this one rather quickly because I did have a deadline so there are some things I would have fixed had I had more time.

in progress: in the garden

This is a painting I started just before the holidays. I have some more work to do but it's shaping up nicely. I like how the blonde is turning out and how the dark and lush greenery behind the women adds some mystery. My husband says it's creepy and that's why he likes it. I am happy with that. I like paintings with a little unease or mystery about them. That, or something playful or unexpected.

I taped up the edges because I wanted to do a white or color border around the edges, reminiscent of the edges of an old photograph. I think it will frame the painting nicely. This was painted with oil on cradled wood panel and the color of the border on the front will extend to the sides as well. I have some work to do on the redhead...her face is looking a little lumpy, but it should be done soon.

I'll be sure to post pics as soon as something is actually finished. :)

in progress: pierogi

This is a painting I just started so I am the most excited about it. The style is more illustrative and playful than what I normally do so it's a bit of an exploration. I wanted to include elements from Polish decorative pottery and some fun elements such as the pierogi dancing above the pot. This is just the underpainting with color blocked in for composition/layout but I am liking it so far. It is 6x6 inches on cradled wood panel.

nine works in progress...oh my

I currently have 9 paintings that are actively in progress (I'm ignoring the others, tucked in closets or hung half-finished) so I have created this site to keep me working and creating. I'm terribly good at starting something and never finishing it. It's hard when you don't have real deadlines — I paint for my own enjoyment — so there is no set time to finish a project. That said, I would like to paint more, explore more and try new styles and methods. So, here I am, posting to the world, in an effort to keep myself accountable and hopefully more prolific.

Off to paint!