New Art for a New Season

Hare and Jay Discussing Plans for Spring
acrylic on cradled wood panel 10x8 inch

As the weather changes, so does the choice of color and subject.  I started the above painting last Spring, a bit different for me, but it was fun to work on this.  It went along with the dolls I was working on at the time.  This painting and the ones below are all available in my Etsy shop HERE . 

Off Center
acrylic on cradled wood panel 8x10 inch

Little Painting of a Big Strawberry
oil on linen panel 4x6 inch

 

Frog
paper clay, acrylic paint, varnish, fabrics, thread and button

Frog is 18 inches long and has joints in his elbows and knees so that he can be positioned in a lot of different ways.  He is the first frog I have made, so the name Frog seemed appropriate.  Most of my dolls have been girls, however venturing into the animal world has been a lot like what I imagine writing children's books must be like; only with clay and cloth.  

I went on a photography shoot with my friend the other day.  We celebrated our February birthdays by roaming the countryside in Augusta and Douglass, Kansas taking pictures of textures, old barns, rivers, bridges and fields, enjoying lunch and coffee at local places and soaking up the unseasonably warm temperatures.  This is one of my favorite photos of the day.

Until next time. ♥

Valentine's Day

French Press
oil on canvas
2020

 Happy Valentine's Day!

The sun is out, the Cardinals are singing and I am in my studio painting this morning.  I painted the sides of a painting that has been fininshed for quite some time, but I was not positive it was done. Then suddenly it really felt finished.  That's how it works for my art making process.  I sometimes have to leave things for months before deciding.  

As I type this, I have eight small paintings (4x6 inch size) and eight larger ones (8x8 inch to 11x14 inch) in the works.  They likely will go on the backburner as garden season begins.  All my creative energy went into creating a garden at my home last Spring and Summer, and I hardly put a dent in all the plans I had made.  I am excited to dive back in, however this year I plan to keep up my painting practice if I can.  At least a little bit.

I don't know if anyone reads this blog anymore, but if you do, I hope all is well in your world.

Arthur Dove

Naples Yellow Morning by Arthur Dove
oil on canvas
1935

This painting by Arthur Dove is part of a traveling exhibition that is currently on display at Wichita Art Museum.  It is called Making American Artists:  Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 1776-1976 and was curated by American Federation of Arts.  The art in this exhibition is incredible and I found Dove's painting particularly captivating.  I ordered the book below, which arrived two days later (thanks Amazon). 

High Noon by Arthur Dove
oil and wax on canvas
1944

This painting is not part of the exhibit, but it is part of the Wichita Art Museum's permanent collection, and just as captivating.