Studio Update

Making these flowers has been such fun, but I know that these a just a diversion while my heart and mind continue their dialogue about clay versus paints. It's ongoing.

Just Claying Around

I know I started this blog as a colored pencil artist. Then I was a painter, then a collager, a printer, etc. Now I'm a clayer. I think it's addictive.

This is what I've been doing with all my leisure time. It's fun!

The only problem is that each bead has to be hand sanded and polished, unless you want a matte finish. Some beads look great like that, but I think most need a little shine.

I want to suggest some blogs for you to look at where the work far exceeds what I'm doing here. Go to Gris Bleu to see some fantastic jewelry. Most of it is in French, but the pictures tell the story. Then, go to Jibby and Juna to see some really organic work. A Flickr site that could take days to explore is http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989180@N02/. And don't forget the best site of all, Polymer Clay Daily.

But...back to painting. My friend and I took a trip to Williamsburg in the spring so we could get photos to work from. We have challenged each other to start on one painting and get together next week to encourage each other. So tomorrow I'm going to begin that painting, a carriage driver and his horses. Please come back tomorrow to check on my progress.( I still have more beads in the oven.....)

Snipping and Stamping

This was an odd day. I felt so wishy washy in my studio. Did I want to do this? or that? or that? So while I was making a choice, I put this strange lady together. Thanks to all of my blogging friends who support me in my search for 'my voice'. After two years of experimenting I'm still not sure what I should do, so I keep looking. Your comments and emails mean so much to me, I can't even tell you. I know one thing...I am doing art that I never could have done two years.

Tomorrow the plan is to get back to the painting of my sister and planning a new work for a show. Ohhhh.....um, I just remembered.....I have five paintings to do for the show in January. But don't worry. My calendar will keep me on track.

Painting of My Sister

This is the bulletin board in my studio. Right next to it is my big calendar with my life on it. My bulletin board is organized now, with the shows I'm entering lined up in order of deadline. I'm trying to be an organized businesswoman as well as an artist, but it's so hard! I'm sure many of you out there know how I feel.

Phew! This painting has given me a hard time, or should I say, I'm having a hard time with this. It's the hands, my nemesis. Most of the time I've painted them upside down, which is easier for me since I just see shapes. I'm fairly satisfied with her right hand but the rest of the painting is not even near finished. I plan to do at least three paintings of her. And she just might have to sit here in person on Saturday to let me paint her hands alla prima. My poor sister is an art teacher, but she's also a busy mom to three boys and the youngest is nine, so she never has time to make art herself. I think that happens to lots of art teachers. I'm going to try to get her to go away with me next summer to some art class somewhere. Oh, it's probably time to research that..........

One Big Painting

I worked on this most of the day, except for going to the bank and getting my hair cut.  I think another three hours should do it. What do you think? I really put in more time on this than I usually do. After two or three hours I usually get tired and have to quit, but not today. Saturday I spent about five hours in the emergency room because of a mixup with my family doctor. Everything is ok now, I just had a little bug that was making me feel exhausted. After three days of meds I feel like a new person. So tomorrow I'll charge into my studio and let the cleaning lady have the rest of the house....and she's coming at 8 am. Yikes! Sorry, I'm rambling. So this painting is way out of my comfort zone, painting alone is still a challenge for me. But this thing is huge by my usual standards. It's 24x18. I had to paint the top sideways because I couldn't reach that high.