So Who, or What is Your Muse?

Tiny Dancers

16 x 20 Acrylic

For years I've tried to force myself  to paint in a realistic style because I love looking at realistic artwork.  But for me its really hard work and its just not much fun, and when your extracurricular activity stops being fun its time to take stock and ask yourself what's the problem?  So, that's exactly what I did, and I came to accept that the reason I paint is for the sheer fun of it and color is my muse!  When I go into the studio I put on my favorite music and then I just wallow in the chosen colors of the day and see what emerges.  I've found that a lot of dancers have been showing up in my work lately, jumping and leaping for joy, and sure enough, that's exactly how I've felt ever since I've started having fun with my art.   Color is my muse and I love her!

I'm Not Complaining But...

Sun Serpent  9 x 12 Acrylic

The last of the Solstice Series, completed in December 2010

Seemed appropriate for a dreary winters day

I've been sequestered to the bedroom all day since Chris (my husband), has commandeered the t.v. in the living room because it was the Bears vs. the Packers.... and the Steelers vs somebody else in order to determine who goes to the all important super bowl.  I actually did wander into the studio a couple of times and looked at the paintings that I have in progress, and then I decided maybe I should go do something more productive like review the latest real estate statistics.  But somehow I ultimately ended up in the bedroom reading my Kindle and dozing through yet another episode of Iron Chef.  I did force myself to go downstairs around 6:00 and whipped up a big pot of soup for dinner, so I felt somewhat productive, but overall its been a very good lazy day.  Tomorrow is Monday and I have a busy busy week.  I've got things going on at the office just about every day this week and I need to finish a couple of paintings because there are a couple of shows I want to submit entries to.  So, I feel this lazy day was totally justified  in order to recharge the old batteries for the busy week ahead.  And just for the record, it looks like its going to be the Packers vs the Steelers for the Big Game!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Snow Flakes

Okay, so maybe its not Northeast kind of cold, but for here in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, its pretty darn cold!  Yesterday's high didn't get out of the 30's but by the weekend we'll be back in the 60's!  Nonetheless, I love the cold weather, I love the gray dreary days, and it makes me sad to think that in the very near future it will be 105 degrees again.  So in the meantime I'm trying not to think about that and I decided to create my own reality... I made it snow!

Good for the Soul!

Sun Worship 9 x 12 Acrylic
Part of the Solstice Series

There is nothing like a cold winter's day to make me want to sit on the couch bundled up in my snuggie, sipping a cup of steaming hot spiced tea watching a marathon of America's Next Top Model.    And even though we keep the house a nice toasty 68 degrees, I don't want to budge, much less get out in the world and actually try to make a living.  But eventually, feeling a tad guilty, I forced myself to at least go into the studio and do a little painting, I put some food out for the stray kitty cats and now I'm back in front of the t.v. finishing that marathon of ANTM!  I just don't know why some days I can go into the studio and I can create (what I consider) to be a masterpiece, a complete work of art!  And then on other days, like today, nothing comes out right.  Maybe its because I wasn't feeling particularly creative but I forced myself to go into the studio... and that's pretty much what my work looked like.  I guess I shouldn't do that, its just a waste of paint, and I will probably end up painting over today's work and I'll try again when I'm feeling more artistic.  In the meantime, I'll be sitting right here, enjoying the cold snap and the ANTM marathon!  I hope you're doing something equally satisfying and good for the soul!

A Trip to the Museum

Serpent Dancer  9 x 12 Acrylic

Serpent Dancer is part of the Solstice Series completed in December of 2010

My sister and Aunt and I went to the Blanton Museum last week to see the Turner to Monet exhibit which was quite impressive.  Then we went upstairs to see the in-house art collection.  And all I can say is... yikes!  Having just seen the fabulous art of many classical masters it was quite an eye opener to see some of the "modern art" the museum has on display in their ongoing in-house exhibit.  Admittedly I am not an art critic and I am by no means an art expert, AND I KNOW art is subjective and a matter of personal opinion, however, I will never understand how some art makes it into a museum.  No matter how many times an esteemed art expert tries to explain it to me, I just don't get it.  How can a big orange blob of paint on a great big canvas be considered museum quality art?  I mean, my 5 year old niece can paint better than that.  I would love to hear the sales pitch that convinces the museum curator to accept this "art" into the collection, It's got to be a real doozie!  I only wish I had the salesmanship skills to get my art noticed, I mean, I can paint a big orange blob... I just generally choose not to.  Anyway, it was a fun afternoon at the museum, quite inspirational, and as my Dad so often says, everyone is good for something, even if its just to be a bad example!

Its Finished!

Solstice Dance 36 x 48 mixed media

Solstice dance was completed on December 21, 2010, which just happened to be Winter Solstice (Yule).  This particular Yule was an incredibly special day, as not only did we have a full moon, but we also had a lunar eclipse, it was the first lunar eclipse on a winter solstice in more than 450 years... how fabulous is that?  So it seemed appropriate that this challenge was completed on such an exciting and unique day!

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Inspired by all the fireworks that I had to listen to last night, I thought I would start 2011 with a bang!  My BIG intimidating project is now finished and hanging in my dining room and I love it!  I keep walking past it just so I can take peek!  Hooray for me!

You may notice looking back at my post of October 20th, that this same canvas looked quite different.  When I had the canvas painted in shades of yellow and gold I was really liking it but then I added the turquoise and ruined it.  I kept trying to convince myself that I liked it, but it just didn't grow on me... and so once again, I went with the big paint over and started completely over.  And that is precisely why I love painting, if you screw something up, you just cover it up and do it until you get it right! 

Oh, if only I could rewind my life!  For instance, I wouldn't have pulled that nail out of my tire 35 years ago... instantly deflating the tire leaving me stranded at a convenience store at 11:00 at night with weirdos and freaks lurking all about... but it turned out okay, I survived,  I got rescued by my Dad and I've never pulled another nail out of a tire, I learned that you should leave tire fixing to professionals!  Admittedly my "stupid things" list is pretty extensive and a rewind button would really come in handy because I know I'm not through doing goofy things.

So...what about you?  Would a rewind button come in handy in your life?  What would you re-do?