Reflections #2...and call for help!

Reflections #2  

8x6in oil on canvas panel  SOLD

Artist Note.

This one should be labeled number 6.

I did 5 - yep 5, wipe-offs.

Much nashing and moaning.

Something is wrong...

 I paint and I enjoy the act of painting,

but do not like the end result AT ALL!

I cannot "see" clearly what I have done.

I also have no emotional response and 

I am wiping off what may not be 

as bad as I think.

It is not what I would call a block

because I can't wait to paint,

but I am in a weird place of not liking 

the end result of anything I paint.

It is rather unusual for me and I am

wondering if any of you

have experienced a similar 

situation? If so, it would be great if 

you wouldn't mind sharing it with me.

Reflections #1

Reflections#1

8x6in oil on linen mounted on panel  $135.

Reflections from a water feature I visited

in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Artist Note.

This piece is the start of what I hope will 

be a series of paintings 

based on the reflections

created by a stunning Water Feature

I visited last year

I made sketches and took lots of photos. 

enjoying that inner feeling of excitement 

all of us artists get

when something really connects.

I wanted to start a series and as luck

would have it, Carol Marine came out

with some 

marvelous water reflection paintings

on her blog at the same time

so I put the idea on the back burner.

BUT the images still persisted.

I had wanted to see if it was possible 

to "fracture" something so fluid

...intriguing...

It has not left my mind so 

I am looking forward to seeing 

what develops.

Just in case you are interested...

I have completed the HUGE painting

I was commissioned to do. Here are some 

images. The first one has the underpainting

showing at the bottom

with exaggerated warm and cool colors

at this stage..

Too large for my easel  

These two panels are made to go over a large

flat screen TV - sliding apart at viewing time.

Each panel has to hold its own in the 

design when parted, and yet become 

seen as a complete image when together.

They are mounted on an oak,

three inch deep frame so they 

would not fit on an easel.

Set-up

I placed them on two tables

 each panel is 48"x30".

My reference photos are up 

at the side for easy viewing.

Block-in wash  -close-up

Same area below -completed 

The painting is so large that reducing it down

to the viewing area of the monitor 

makes it lose the looseness of the mark-making.

so I thought some close up images may help.

The family wanted their three dogs

included. Two have passed on, sadly,

one during the painting process.

It is the largest painting I have done using the 

fracturing technique. The new owners love it!

Phew!

It Has To Be A Universe Thing...In Just TWO Days.

It started with a delivery of 

Happy Face and flowers

from a dear, dear friend who winters in France

Then on the same day I was given this

amazing and simply beautiful book from a friend

who knows my heart...

The same day another wonderful friend sent me this 

deeply moving poem.

*****

Before you know what kindness really is

you must lose things,

feel the future dissolve in a moment

like salt in a weakened broth.

What you held in your hand,

what you counted and carefully saved,

all this must go so you know

how desolate the landscape can be

between the regions of kindness.

How you ride and ride

thinking the bus will never stop,

the passengers eating maize and chicken

will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,

you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho

lies dead by the side of the road.

You must see how this could be you,

how he too was someone

who journeyed through the night with plans

and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,

you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.

You must wake up with sorrow.

You must speak to it till your voice

catches the thread of all sorrows

and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,

only kindness that ties your shoes

and sends you out into the day to mail letters and 

purchase bread,

only kindness that raises its head

from the crowd of the world to say

It is I you have been looking for,

and then goes with you everywhere

like a shadow or a friend.

—Naomi Shihab Nye

****
Then - on the very next day the morning started

 with a

Starbucks delivery from a great guy.

Then in came a Shamrock plant 
from a truly special lady...
PLUS Delicious muffins from
a smiling friend...

followed closely by 

this gem from another good friend. 

Can you guess what it is?

Yep -  a FAB holder for my panels.

The gift below was a total surprise from a a 

dear lady I have known 

for many years, but we do not exchange gifts 

and she waltzed in 

and presented it to me with a 

beautiful coordinating bow.

Four place mats of nests and birds.
Love, love them!

 But wait ...it continues, 

NO it was NOT my birthday. 
I tell you it is a 

Universe thing...

A simply lovely pair of  

silver calla lily earrings. 

(I am wearing the other one!)

This gift is from a close friend 

who is going through

tough times and can still think of 

someone else.

She also brought these beauties 

in from her garden.

Then another neat guy gave me a tall

dog treat can,  and I 

opened it up to find this gem.

A great little bird nest safely resting 

at the bottom. 

Wait..not finished yet...

I arrived back home to find a box 

on my doorstep

from my wonderful 

(honorary)niece in Florida

This was hand made by an artist

with jasper and other wonderful  symbolic

materials.

She also sent me a card made from

a watercolor chart

made by her mother...my closest friend

for 40 years before she passed on.

I held it and had tears seeing her writing

and feeling the love.

So it is rather overpowering to think of the 

bounty of His Grace and Blessings 

in my life and these 

reminders poured all over me.

I have started painting again.

Red, Yellow and Blue

Red, Yellow and Blue.

6x6in oil on canvas panel   SOLD

Artist Note.
I am still not painting but am grateful
that I am getting round to see everyone's work.
It should inspire me to get cracking...

Another Re-post. This one is from May 2012
34 months ago.

I did a series of lemons and shiny cans
It was a real challenge to see how far I
could fracture the cans and not lose the ridges.
Did not want them stiff so it was a case of
fracture
repaint,
fracture,
repaint.

 I should try them again and see if it is any easier.

Sorry about it pulling up the old comments
but neat to see  familiar names.

Sunshine Umbrella

Red Umbrella Sketch

6x6in watercolor on acid free paper  SOLD

Many of us use an umbrella for shade here in the

bright sunshine of southern New Mexico. I use one

very easily...

I was raised using one in England for a completely

different reason...RAIN!

Artist Note.

First - a huge thank you to all the 

understanding comments about my re-posting

and genuine support. WOW!
Blessings to you all.

I have chosen another post with a helpful

reminder about not being too precious with sketches.

 (re-post from 9/3/13)

My watercolor weekend was spent on doing quick

sketches like this one inspired by a photo taken at

the farmers market here in Las Cruces, NM.

I did not draw it first. I started by

placing spots of color next to each other and corrected

angles and shapes with negative painting. If you look

you can see the red of the umbrella under the green and

it doesn't bother me a bit!

The purple shoulder went out too far so I blobbed in a

small dark to indicate the lower part of the sleeve

and did not "tidy up."

These small watercolors are invaluable for me

testing what works or doesn't - what I like or don't like.

This was done on Strathmore  mixed-media #400.

I find I like the surface for a sketchy approach.

Farmers Market Scale

Farmers Market #5

Sold

This is a re-post.

I chose it because it has what could be

a valuable insight for you on a way I 

change my focus

when painting from a photo.

See

http://juliefordoliver.blogspot.com/2013/07/farmers-market-5.html

Artist Note.

I have had so many inquires asking about 

my lack of posting

I thought I had better do something positive 

instead of feeling glum.

I am going through a dry period.

It is not an artist's block...

there is a root cause that I do not want 

to go into, and thankfully,

 I do know it will pass.

Thank you for caring and sticking with me.

It means a lot.