Category Archives: mixed media

Arting for 365 Day 187: Feels So Good to be Back Home

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11/1/12Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

Move fast, cram it in, hurly burly. That is the low-down of my past two weeks. I’ve been out of town for work and while it was great and I got to work with awesome people, it just wasn’t home. So last night as I sat down to create, knowing I’d be back today, I was pretty thrilled.

One of the more exciting parts about being back? We’re spending our first night in the RV! Who would believe I’d be so thrilled to go from luxurious mountain condo to 27′ 1994 RV? Let the fun begin!

Arting for 365 Day 181: Mountain Man

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Day 181 (10/26/12): Man or Beast

~3 x 5″ watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

Oh bushy mountain man.

Your features are lost amongst a mass of facial hair that has become so untamed I wonder whether it hinders your ability to see. Were you a bear or a buffalo in your past life? A life you loved so much, it has carried over to this one.

You appear occasionally – as do all the wildlife – wandering about town.

Then you disappear into the mountains, under the cover of your bushy beard.

Arting for 365 Day 179: Robin Come Winter

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Day 179 (10/24/12): Robin Come Winter

~3 x 5″ ink and watercolor on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

Colorado received her first real dose of snow yesterday. It was, by no means a blizzard, nor will the skis even be coming out,  but it did make me feel as though winter is knocking on our doorstep.

For some reason after seeing this weather I began to think about birds – American robins in particular. This type of robin hangs around through the winter (although perhaps not at Crested Butte altitude) and I wondered, how they were they feeling about this snow? Had the copper breasted little guys prepped their winter huts? Were they cozied up, and as excited about the prospect of some winter weather as I am? One can only hope.

Arting for 365 Day 177: Buds in Abstraction

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~3 x 5″ ink & watercolor on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

Holy smokes folks, I’m cutting it close today! But as you can see, artwork #177 did get created (pat on the back for this girl).

Last night, long after the sun had gone down, I grabbed a few interesting dried flower buds from a little bowl that is decorating the house I’m staying in.  I laid them out on the table and did a small drawing. The buds’ structures were really neat and oddly sturdy – so strong, in fact, that I think you’d break a tooth if you decided to bite down on them. Luckily, I stuck to drawing.

Upon finishing the initial study of the little buds, I decided it would be interesting to break each of the structures up into sections and add color for a bit of dimension. I finished off the graphic little drawing by adding a wash of green watercolor to the background.

It’s a bit of an odd drawing- especially the juxtaposition of the strange green wash next to the clean ink work- but luckily I am a fan of odd things.

Arting for 365 Day 172: In Gold We Move Along

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I’ve been lucky enough to have some really incredible bosses over the years. So a few days ago when my former boss, and all around great lady, called to see if I’d be willing to head to Crested Butte to help her son out with his clinic, I was more than happy to do so.

I spent much of yesterday packing – both my suitcase and bins to take over to Gertie. As some of you may recall, Gertie is our new/used RV that we will be well on our way to being moved into upon my return.

As I loaded up clothes, I realized my mess of art supplies should also probably be organized, at least to some extent, to make moving a bit easier.  As I sifted through odds and ends I came across some textured, gold paper. The paper is a bit over the top and actually reminds me of a prom dress my sister had in high school (early 90s). I decided the textured find would be perfect to use for day 172’s piece.

I was able to wind down and have a lot of fun creating these two pieces before heading off for my new adventure high in the Rocky Mountains.

Arting for 365 Day 170: Self Portrait in Shadow

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Day 170 (10/15/12): Self Portrait From Shadow

8 x 10″ Watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

As I readied myself to work on yesterday’s piece, the sky became filled with an amazing light. I got up and looked out the window. The edges of clouds glowed and there seemed to be a hazy calm across everything. It lasted only a few minutes but was spectacular.

Perhaps taking the time to stop and watch the light outside was the reason for my noticing my simple shadow when I sat back down. My head’s shape filled the blank piece of paper and I was immediately taken by it. Perhaps it was the vagueness of the silhouette that I was so drawn to. The only telling sign it might be me were the ears fanning out prominently. Whatever it was, I was certain I wanted to capture the shadow in that moment.

The resulting piece is this calm, flowing, abstract piece.

Work is available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/listing/112319722/portrait-in-shadow-abstract-watercolor

Arting for 365 Day 166: Beet Again

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Day 166 (10/11/12): Beet Again

13 x 23.25″ Beet pigment and ink on paper

I have heard many a folk proclaim that beets taste like dirt. Nonsense, I say. I love the beet – pickled, raw, roasted – doesn’t matter to me, it’s all delicious. So after using the slices of beets in day 163’s project, I decided I’d boil them along with the whole beets we had, to make something delicious. As the water turned a lovely shade of purple, I realized I could use it for another beet project.

Using a turkey baster, I sucked up the juice and squirted it onto a 13 x 23.25″ sheet of paper. Sadly, the results were hardly noticeable. In the pot, the liquid appeared rich in color, but upon squirting I realized it was really watered down and made a pathetic stain that you had to strain your eyes to see. Now though, I was fixated on creating a beet piece and my excitement for eating the veggies disappeared. I grabbed one of the newly cooked beets and began drawing with it on the paper as though it were sidewalk chalk. As I did so, I realized the pigment was pulling out the original squirted on design. I rubbed more of the deep purple vegetable over where I had originally squirted the water, pulling out the underlying lines and shapes that now appeared almost raised (see below).

From here, I grabbed my trusty pens and started drawing. I outlined the shapes and some of the bits of vegetable that had stuck to the paper. I then began incorporating patterns of lines. As I was building the design up, it really looked like human innards. Intestines here, a heart there – but as I continued to add flowing lines, the innards became less apparent (although I still see them) and the flowing paths became stronger.

I am quite fond of the piece. It has depth and movement and I am fascinated with the process of creating in this manner – where one step directs the next.

As a side note, I had few beets left over that I did get to enjoy in a yummy salad.

You can buy this fun piece if you’d like!