Works in Progress

Pears, Acrylic on Canvas 24"x28"

Yesterday was a bad day. Not really sure why, but the pain in my abdomen was bad and more pain pills than usual were needed. Taking more really messes up my physical and emotional well being. It's a catch 22. I'm not productive when in pain and taking enough pain medicine can make things worse. The good news is that art makes me happy.

Even though I didn't get around to making anything new, I did clean up my studio a bit, and found my cameras so that I can take some photos. The Pears is a work I have sitting on my easel right now. It has been in the works for about a month. I'm trying to find a artistic style that speaks to me, so I tried this large acrylic on canvas. I used Golden fluid acrylics with some fluid medium added. I love the translucent quality. I don't think it's finished, but still not sure what to more to do.

I have also been experimenting with zentangles and zetti style women. The zentangle is a series of blocks of patterns drawn in ink. There are some "rules" to making zentangles but for the most part it is just using my imagination and zoning out for awhile. In short: very relaxing. The zetti style women is a collage a body parts from fashion magazines and color bits for a border. There are also "rules" for zetti, I didn't just make up the weird style. Clicking around various creative websites is where I get the basic ideas from.

Zentangle, Ink on Paper 9"x12"

Zetti Lady Collage, 9"x12"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up for me is a 30 day index card challenge. The challenge is to take a stack of regular index cards, do something creative on one of them everyday, then post it online. This challenge is being sponsored by Daisy Yellow.

Pain and Painting

I've been keeping a pain journal. Everyday I write down which pain medicine I took, when, and why. It seems that since my major surgery in January pain has been a constant everyday. What I do is wait it out until it subsides and then make the most of the few hours a day when there is no pain. Where is the pain? Well that depends. Lately it is in my abdomen and pelvis. Two different pains for two different reasons. The abdomen pain started a month ago and led to a four day stay in the hospital. The doctor's are not exactly sure of the cause, but a viral intestinal infection seems to be the most likely culprit. This can take several months to get over. Everyday I have a burning sensation that does not go away until the right combination of pain medicine gets going in my system. I'm setting in bed now, with a heating pad on my stomach, waiting to feel better. Once I do, I plan to do some painting.

Henry is back in school and I have afternoons to myself. There are several creative projects in the works. Some things I have started and a couple I'd like to start. I'm working on zetti collages, zentangle birds, and some fast abstract pears. I'll upload the works in progress, once the pain is better. I also want to try this daily index card challenge for a month and some "fearless" painting. Both the index card challenge and "fearless" painting came from browsing around artistic blogs. I'll get the links once I figure that out. Until then...

from under the heating pad,
peace.

From Hospital Bed, After Hip Replacement

 in June. (I always end up with one sock on, one sock off! LOL!)

Some Klimt Inspired Artist Trading Cards

Oh how I love miniature paintings. These little works are copies of paintings by a Post-Impressionist artist, Gustav Klimt. The first two trading cards (3.5 x 2.5 inches) are copies of paintings. The second two cards are copies of sketches that I added Klimt-like backgrounds to. These are going off in the mail today for an online trade at Illustrated ATCs. com. I really liked doing my own interpretations on his drawings. Maybe a larger scale work in this manner will be next.

Winter Shoreline

I started this painting two days ago. The background was completed but I wasn't sure what to do next. I wanted to make an abstract landscape but with some tangible elements. This reminds me of a frozen lake in Michigan. I have crossed many of these in my childhood. Oil on canvas. 9 x 12.

Winter Lake Shore

I began painting again. I have one done and even another started. Today was the first snow of the year. Not much, just a dusting, but in honor of snow, a little snow inspired painting. Oil on canvas, 10 x 8.

No Daily Paintings

I been having trouble standing for long periods of time and just haven't been spending anytime at the easel lately. So no daily paintings.  This whole daily painting challenge was to find a stress reliever while fighting my second cancer recurrence. Follow this fight in my CarePages Blog. I do miss painting so I'm going to find a way to do it not standing. I'll have to get creative here.

Tangerine Sky

I've been seeing some beautiful sunsets lately and painted this one from memory. I haven't painted with oils for a long time, but I was up for the challenge. I had not touched my oil palette in months so I had to scrape the dried paint off. I don't know how some artists just keep adding oil paint to their palettes. With some fresh paint, this is what I came up with. Oil on canvas. 11 x 14.